The Natural Environment White Paper - what happens next?
The much anticipated Natural Environment White Paper has been published. This marks the culmination of effort, pressure and engagement from The Wildlife Trusts and its members on Government to recognise the need to make the natural environment a priority. However, this pivotal moment just marks the first step of the journey on nature’s road to recovery.
In the build up to the 2010 General Election, The Wildlife Trusts called for a White Paper on the Natural Environment to identify the policy changes needed for nature’s recovery. We were delighted when the Coalition Government committed to produce a White Paper. A consultation over the summer 2010 resulted in Defra receiving more than 15,000 responses - the most a Government White Paper has ever received!
The Wildlife Trusts’ members were fundamental in demonstrating to the Government just how much people value their natural environment and that nature is worth protecting and restoring. Thank you for your engagement so far – it has made all the difference.
The Wildlife Trusts have pushed for Government to take leadership and to establish a framework to enable people and communities to value, and take action for, wildlife. We want to see the recovery and restoration of the natural environment happening everywhere in the UK.
We now need to keep up the pressure on Government to ensure they meet their commitments set out within the White Paper. Please continue to support The Wildlife Trusts at this exciting time, not only for wildlife and the natural environment but for each and every one of us, as we embark on nature’s road to recovery.
Find out more - watch our videos
Watch videos. Chris Packham (The Wildlife Trusts' Vice-President) tells you why you should get involved and Stephanie Hilborne (Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts) explains why nature and the Natural Environment White Paper are so important.
Your Responses
What value carbon offsetting?
What value carbon offsetting? The act of paying someone else to clean up your mess and mistakes! Surely it is OUR responsibility to clean up OUR mess? Planting has to be managed for biodiversity, not for easing government and corporate conscience. Is it not a potential disaster to think that carbon-sinks planted now will have an immediate effect in the reduction of atmospheric pollutants? British biodiversity ranks very high on the world stage in every category; it's a shame our British Bulldog appears to be wearing false teeth!
The White Paper is very weak.
The White Paper is very weak. 92 commitments but no bespoke legislation for the environment and lots of restated policy commitments does not amount to very much at all.
The big announcement is Nature Improvement Areas, but don't the Wildlife Trusts already have 100 such projects anyway? I hope the Wildlife Trusts will press for more from this.
Are you sure this is the
Are you sure this is the paper you wanted?
The paper says:
"Too many of the benefits we derive from nature are not properly valued. The value of natural capital is not fully captured in the prices customers pay, in the operations of our markets or in the accounts of government or business. When nature is undervalued, bad choices can be made."
So to appreciate the value of a woodland walk you need to pay for the privilege as a customer? The inclusion of 'in the prices customers pay' seems to have been added to change the meaning from the Natural Ecosystem Assessment that the value (in ££s) of the natural environment is not fully appreciated towards a decision that to appreciate it we need to turn woodland walkers, hikers etc into paying customers.
The paper says:
"More businesses should benefit from new market opportunities..... Government and business have a shared interest in protecting natural capital and should work together."
New market opportunities? Privatise local parks and woods anyone?
If it wasn't all clear:
"We will publish an action plan to expand markets and schemes in which payments are made by the beneficiary of a natural service to the provider of that service."
And do you really support biodiversity ofsetting? Carbon offsetting was troubling enough but destruction of biodiverse habitats is a vandalism that cannot be undone.
Watching Springwatch
Watching Springwatch highlights the wealth of wonderful wildlife that we have in the UK, on land and sea. We must act now to protect & enhance our environment so we can all prosper.
As a member of Dorset
As a member of Dorset Wildlife Trust it upset's me to see wildlife places that have been turned into industrial land & shopping centres shorely we have got enough. Our wildlife is one of the thing's that make's this country beautiful as well as the countryside which i think is one of the most beautiful in the world, so let's all stand up & be counted.
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