Defra's consultation on the Nature Recovery Green Paper: Protected Sites and Species closed on 11 May 2022.
You can read our full response here: NFU response to Nature Recovery Green Paper: Protected Sites and Species
Green Paper proposals
The proposals set out in the Green Paper support the government's ambition to restore nature and halt species decline by 2030.
The paper includes options to reform species protections and modernise funding arrangements. It also looks at what institutional and delivery arrangements would best support nature recovery objectives.
NFU view
We've called for any proposed changes to be pragmatic and practical for farmers, and based on science and evidence.
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: "British farmers are passionate about maintaining and enhancing our countryside, providing a variety of habitats to support wildlife and plant species, protecting watercourses and reducing emissions.
"Ongoing engagement with farming is crucial throughout this process, as is linking with the new Environmental Land Management schemes where appropriate."
The Nature Recovery Green Paper sets out proposals for:
- A new system of protections for sites and species.
- How the private sector can play its part. Building on the success of the UK Woodland Carbon Code and Peatland Code, Defra is looking for ways to accelerate investment into nature.
- Scaling up private investment in nature.
- A roadmap to achieve protection of 30% of land and sea by 2030.
- An assessment of Defra’s delivery landscape, exploring what institutional and delivery arrangements would best support the government’s objectives for nature recovery.
"It is important that any future framework for nature and new environmental targets are flexible in meeting the needs of and delivering for both agriculture and the environment and sit alongside equally ambitious plans for domestic food production and UK food security."
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw