Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Acknowledged
Create a National Invertebrate Strategy with five-yearly implementation plans and accountability targets.
Recommendation
We commend the success of the National Pollinator Strategy and eagerly await the 2025–2035 update that we expect to be published by September 2024. There is scope to build on the work of the strategy by creating a complementary ‘National Invertebrate Strategy’ that would include provisions for invertebrates that carry out other important ecological roles. As seen in the creation of the National Pollinator Strategy, the National Invertebrate Strategy should include the publication of an implementation plan, containing accountability targets, linked to the strategy every five years for non-pollinating, agriculturally beneficial, invertebrates. (Paragraph 58) Insect decline and UK food security 47
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the importance of invertebrates and states that provisions will be included in new Environmental Land Management schemes and existing Environment Act targets will deliver benefits. However, it does not commit to creating a new, dedicated 'National Invertebrate Strategy' with an implementation plan and accountability targets as recommended, instead focusing on current reviews of the Pollinator Strategy and existing frameworks.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Defra agrees that ecologically important invertebrates including pollinators, are a group worthy of provision, and government resources are currently focused on reviewing the Pollinator Strategy’s latest Action Plan. Working with the Pollinator Advisory Steering Group, a Defra-led review is underway to both assess the progress made on actions in the current plan and to look at what the key priorities should be for pollinator protection beyond the end of the current strategy and action plan in 2024. Provisions for invertebrates will be included in our new Environmental Land Management schemes. Farmers and land managers will play an essential role in halting the decline in species, including invertebrates, by 2030. The schemes will offer a range of support for more regenerative approaches to farming, and creation or restoration of habitats in appropriate areas. In Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan update of January this year premium payments were announced for 21 high priority actions that will achieve greater environmental benefits, supporting habitats and species. For example, this included payment uplifts for creating scrub and open habitat mosaic, managing species-rich floodplain meadows, and managing riparian habitats. Delivery of the Environment Act targets for species abundance and species extinction will also deliver benefits for a range of invertebrates. The indicator for the species abundance target includes 1,177 species across a range of species groups which, between them, depend on the majority of habitats found in England. Improvements to these habitats will benefit all the species that depend on them, including those not included in the indicator. The indicator for the species extinction target comprises over 8,200 taxa and includes species from the majority of terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate groups. Some invertebrate groups are not represented in these indicators due to lack of available data - please see response to Recommendation 11 for more details.