Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 37
37
Paragraph: 164
We welcome the Government’s pledge to protect 30 per cent of the UK’s land and...
Conclusion
We welcome the Government’s pledge to protect 30 per cent of the UK’s land and seas by 2030, but simply designating areas as protected is not enough. The UK’s protected areas are poorly managed. More focus must be given to preserving and enhancing the quality of protected areas. There are also significant differences in the treatment and status of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty compared to National Parks. Over a year and half ago the Glover Review identified these issues and recommended actions to address them: as we consider this report, a full Government response to the Review is yet to be issued.
Paragraph Reference:
164
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The government recognises the importance of well-managed protected areas for nature recovery, and acknowledges that there is scope to improve the effectiveness of their management. We have committed to protecting 30% of our land and seas by 2030, and we want our protected areas to be in good condition, delivering for nature, climate and people. The commitment is UK-wide and will contribute to the global ambition to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030. We are developing an ambitious Nature Recovery Green Paper, which will set out our approach to achieving our 30x30 commitment, including considering the condition of our protected areas and how we can improve the way they are managed to deliver better outcomes for nature. The Green Paper will set out the immediate steps we must take to get on track to meeting our target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. We have committed to review and respond to the Glover Review of Protected Landscapes, and are carefully considering its recommendations in the context of our wider ambitions for nature recovery. Our response will be published later this year. We are committed to ensuring that Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks can continue to deliver their important functions. We recognise that there are differences in the treatment and status of AONBs compared to National Parks, and that there may be scope to improve the way these areas are managed. We will consider these issues further in our response to the Glover Review.