Belinda Gordon, Director of Policy & Public Affairs, Landscape Institute, responds to the government’s proposed ’30 by 30′ strategy for nature restoration.
At the COP16 biodiversity conference in Colombia this week, Environment Secretary Steve Reed has set out how the government plans to deliver its commitment to protecting 30% of the UK’s land and sea for nature restoration by 2030. Under the criteria, only 7.1% of land is currently protected.
Belinda Gordon, Director of Policy & Public Affairs, Landscape Institute, said:
“Nature is in crisis – around the world, but particularly in the UK, which has suffered a 19% decline in species since 1970 and is one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. It is encouraging that the government has now set out its approach for delivery on its commitment to the ‘30 by 30’ targets.
Action, rigour and speed are essential, but for the government to achieve these targets while also meeting its ambitions for housebuilding and critical infrastructure will place demands on policymakers, the public, and the environment.
We welcome the proposed enhancement of Protected Landscapes, which will play a key role. However, we believe there are also significant opportunities to contribute to targets by leveraging Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) through strategic landscape management.
A landscape-led approach, as delivered by landscape professionals, is integral to the success of the ‘30 by 30’ strategy, and can help the government address competing objectives in housing, climate resilience, and public health.
The Landscape Institute and our members can work with the government on aligning ‘30 by 30’ with a future Land Use Framework and updated Environmental Improvement Plan. We can turn nature restoration into an opportunity, supporting a multi-functional and sustainable approach to making best use of the land as a finite resource, in line with the UK’s European Landscape Convention commitments.”