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State of Nature report higlights devastating nature decline

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A landmark State of Nature 2023 report shows that nature is continuing to decline at an alarming rate across the UK, which is already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

Leading wildlife organisations, including Suffolk Wildlife Trust, have published a landmark State of Nature 2023 report. It shows that nature is continuing to decline at an alarming rate across the UK, which is already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

The State of Nature 2023 report shows:

  • One in six species is now at risk of being lost from Great Britain
  • The wildlife studied has, on average, declined by 19% since monitoring began in 1970
  • The majority of important habitats are in poor condition, though restoration projects have clear benefits for nature, people and adapting to climate change

People’s concern about nature loss, climate change and degraded wild places is a significant voting issue. Suffolk Wildlife Trust is one of 46 local Wildlife Trusts in the UK calling on politicians of all parties to commit to an ambitious programme of policies to support nature’s recovery.

Five priorities for politicians

In response to the report, and with a General Election expected in 2024, Suffolk Wildlife Trust - along with the wider Wildlife Trusts movement - is calling for party election manifestos to include five general pledges to help bring nature back:

1 - Bring back the UK’s lost wildlife

The next UK Government must work across departments to put nature into recovery by protecting and restoring at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. Currently, less than 8% of land in Suffolk is legally protected for wildlife. A nature recovery network should join up wild places, and damaging fishing practices – such as bottom trawling – must be banned.

2- End river pollution and water scarcity

With the UK among the worst countries in Europe for water quality, the next UK Government must sufficiently fund enforcement agencies to do their job. None of Suffolk’s rivers currently meet Government targets for good water quality and ecological health. By 2030, nutrient pollution from farming, sewage and development must be halved, there must be stronger protections for waterways and more wetlands should be created to tackle flood and drought.

3- Fund wildlife-friendly farming

The destruction of nature and impacts of climate change are the biggest threats to food security in the UK. More than 70% of land in Suffolk is farmed and farmers are the custodians of nature in the countryside. They must be supported and incentivised to help wildlife recover by creating more space for nature, significantly reducing pollution, and halving harm from pesticides by 2030. The budget for nature-friendly farming should increase to at least £4.4 billion a year.

4-Enable healthy communities

More than a third of the population – nearly 9.5 million households in England – are unable to access green places near their home, and even in a rural county like Suffolk lots of people still have poor access to nature where they live. The next UK Government must support the creation of more nature-rich greenspace in neighbourhoods, fund and integrate green prescribing into community-based health services and enable all children to access outdoor learning opportunities.

5 - Tackle the climate emergency by protecting and restoring natural habitats

All of Suffolk’s local authorities have declared climate emergencies and several have adopted the ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Nature can make a huge contribution to achieving net-zero targets if habitats are restored because peatlands, woodlands, and other wild places store carbon. Additionally, the next UK Government must integrate climate adaptation strategies across all departments, create a nature recovery network to help wildlife adapt to change, protect blue carbon stores from damage, and invest in energy efficiency.

Further details of the five priorities highlighted by The Wildlife Trusts are available here: www.wildlifetrusts.org/general-election-2024-our-priorities

Christine Luxton, Chief Executive of Suffolk Wildlife Trust, says:

“Suffolk has fantastic wildlife and nature-rich landscapes; wetlands bursting with rare orchids and invertebrates, heathland home to nightjars and natterjack toads, water voles and otters in our rivers, and woodland and hedgerows harbouring dormice and turtle doves. But these precious habitats and species are under huge pressure from pollution, habitat loss and climate change.

“Despite being home to some of England’s most recognisable places for wildlife, less than eight per cent of land in Suffolk is legally protected for nature, and just like elsewhere in the UK, wildlife in Suffolk has seen massive historic declines. We desperately need more, bigger, better-connected places for wildlife, so nature can recover and adapt to climate change, and we can create healthier, happier, and more prosperous communities. Nature recovery is the answer to so many social challenges and it’s up to our elected representatives to ensure that is reflected in policies ahead of the next election.”