Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
Ministers defined ‘protected’ land for 30by30 commitment based on biodiversity protection
Conclusion
Ministers have set out the criteria they plan to use to establish whether land in England is considered to be ‘protected’ for the purposes of the 30by30 commitment. We note that an area is to be considered ‘protected’ if it can be shown that it is “protected against loss or damage to important biodiversity values, through legal or other effective means”. (Conclusion, Paragraph 89)
Government Response Summary
The government confirmed its 30by30 vision and criteria, stating it is developing more detailed guidance on interpretation and application, alongside an action plan and assessment/reporting processes, all to be published later in 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Our 30by30 update at COP16 confirmed our vision for 30by30 on land in England, and the criteria for land that can contribute to this target. We are developing more detailed guidance on how the criteria should be interpreted, including how the protection criterion can be applied in practice. We plan to publish this guidance, alongside our 30by30 action plan, later in 2025. We are also developing the assessment and reporting process to enable additional land to contribute towards 30by30 in England. We aim to ensure this process enables land to be withdrawn from the target if it is clear that biodiversity outcomes are no longer being delivered. We will provide an update on the assessment and reporting process later in 2025.