Proposed changes to the planning system, land management support and environmental legislation.
Last week the UK Government made a number of announcements as part of its plans to drive economic growth that could profoundly affect the UK’s nationally and internationally important wetlands, such as the Broads, the Northumbria Coast, and the Solent. These include:
If enacted, the Government’s proposals will profoundly affect the ability of the UK to meet some of its most critical commitments. These include:
Wetlands are critical to our future, and across the UK, communities depend upon wetlands for their prosperity and wellbeing. The ecosystem services wetlands provide include:
As numerous studies have shown, protecting our environment and protecting our economy are indivisible. However, HM Treasury recognises that we are drawing down on the ‘natural capital’ (the stocks of goods nature provides) we depend upon faster than it can naturally replenish. Today, the UK ranks among one of most nature-depleted countries on Earth, and this is partly driven by wetland loss. England alone has lost around 90% of its freshwater wetlands over the last 500 years, and many of the wetlands that remain face a range of pressures.
Given that so many species live and breed in wetlands, or use them as vital stopping off points on migration, protecting and restoring wetlands is one of the very best ways to restore our lost natural capital. This was recognised by the Natural Capital Committee, who made the investment case for the creation of 100,000 hectares of wetlands, helping to deliver the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan and with an attractive return on investment of up to 9:1.
It is critical the UK Government fulfils its existing commitments as mandated by the British People, maintaining protections for wetlands and delivering Environmental Land Management Schemes. Anything less would be a catastrophe for wetlands, nature and communities. Any reforms should focus on better implementing rather than seeking to change existing legislation. e.g. funding agencies. Moreover, we should not rest here. To address the biodiversity crisis and meet their commitments the UK Government needs to go further and faster in restoring ecosystems. This must include embracing WWT’s ‘Blue Recovery’ proposals to create 100,000 ha of multi-benefit wetlands.
Our Blue Recovery proposals will help Government and businesses to meet their commitments, address the climate, nature and wellbeing crises the country faces and bring hope to people across society. Economic growth needs nature to be in recovery at the very least, without this any economic growth plans will be on shaky foundations that will fail future generations.
WWT stands ready to work with the Government to establish the partnerships and secure the policy framework to make nature’s recovery a reality alongside economic growth plans. WWT calls on the Government to stand by its nature commitments and, crucially, to ensure they are delivered.
For further information please contact supporter@wwt.org.uk
If you’d like to show government your support for wetlands please sign our Wetlands Can! pledge:
Sign the pledgeReferences:
i The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
ii The Bern Convention is a binding international legal instrument in the field of nature conservation and requires the UK to protect certain habitats and species. Setting-up the Emerald Network (a network of sites to ensure the long-term survival of the species and habitats of the Bern Convention requiring specific protection measures) at national level is considered as one of the main tools for the Contracting Parties to comply with their obligations under the Bern Convention. These obligations are met via the Habitats Regulations and the sites they protect; if they were to be removed without equivalent protection this would breach Bern Convention commitments.
iii Developed under the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) brings together countries and the wider international conservation community in an effort to establish coordinated conservation and management of migratory waterbirds and their habitats throughout their entire migratory range, including the UK.
iv https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/bulletins/uknaturalcapitalaccounts/2021