皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app proposals set out a detailed programme of action to repair damage done to the environment in the past, and urges everyone to get involved in helping nature to flourish at all levels - from neighbourhoods to national parks.

皇冠体育app plans are contained in 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Natural Choice鈥�, the first White Paper on the natural environment in 20 years, and are directly linked to the groundbreaking research in the National Ecosystem Assessment published last week that showed the strong economic arguments for safeguarding and enhancing the natural environment.

皇冠体育app White Paper also acts on the recommendations of 鈥楳aking Space for Nature鈥�, a report into the state of England鈥檚 wildlife sites, led by Professor John Lawton and published in September 2010, which showed that England鈥檚 wildlife sites are fragmented and not able to respond to the pressures of climate change and other pressures we put on our land.

Launching 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Natural Choice鈥�, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp natural environment matters to us all - not just because it makes us feel good when we stumble across a bluebell wood or spot a pair of goldfinches, but because we are now all able to see the terrible price we would pay if we lost what we have or neglected to care for it. Nature belongs to us all, and we鈥檝e all got a vested interest in protecting it.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why the true value of nature should be built in to the decisions we make - as individuals, organisations, businesses and governments - so that we become the first generation to leave the environment in a better condition than we found it. This is what 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Natural Choice鈥� will help us all achieve.鈥�

Key measures in the White Paper, which also takes forward recommendations contained in 鈥楳aking Space for Nature鈥�, include:

Reconnecting nature

• New Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs), transforming rural and urban areas and providing bigger, connected sites for wildlife to live in and adapt to climate change. With a 拢7.5聽million fund for 12 initial NIAs to demonstrate just what can be done. Professor Sir John Lawton has agreed to chair the panel to allocate funding.
• Biodiversity offsetting - new way for developers to ensure we don鈥檛 lose wildlife sites and make them better by making and improving other sites.
• New Local Nature Partnerships to strengthen joined-up action across local agencies and organisations, with a 拢1 million聽available this year.
• Phasing out peat - working with the horticulture industry to phase out peat use, which will help to protect and restore our peatlands, which are valuable carbon sinks, habitats and part of our ecological network. A task force to consider all options to phase out use of peat in the supply chain will be chaired by Dr Alan Knight OBE.

Connecting people and nature for better quality of life

• Green Areas Designation allowing local communities to give protection to areas that are important to them for recreation, the view or their importance for wildlife.
• Better urban green spaces for the benefit of cities and towns. Support for parks, gardens, and tree planting which benefit people and nature alike
• More children experiencing nature by learning outdoors, through practical support to schools and reducing red-tape for outdoor learning.
• **Strengthening local public health activities **which connect people with nature for better health
• New environmental volunteering initiative 鈥淢uck in 4 Life鈥� to improve places in towns and countryside for people and nature to enjoy.

Capturing and improving the value of nature

• Natural Capital Committee - an independent body to report to the Government鈥檚 economic affairs committee chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. This body will put the value of nature at the heart of the Government鈥檚 economic thinking, and advise Government about the best way of securing our natural assets for the future.
• An annual statement of green accounts for UK Plc - showing where our economy has withdrawn from the value of nature鈥檚 bank balance, and where we have invested in it. This will help measure green growth alongside GDP.
• A business-led Task Force chaired by Kingfisher Group Chief Executive Officer Ian Cheshire, to expand the UK business opportunities from new products and services which are good for the economy and nature alike.

皇冠体育app White Paper aims to improve the quality of the natural environment across England, halt the decline in habitats and species, and strengthen the connection between people and nature. 皇冠体育app new way of looking at nature will help the growth of a green economy which treats natural capital in a responsible and fair way, encouraging businesses to use that capital sustainably. 皇冠体育app actions contained in the Natural Environment White Paper will create a radical shift on how we view our natural assets by incorporating the natural environment into economic planning and ensuring there are opportunities for businesses that are good for nature and good for a strong green economy.

鈥淚n the past we have undervalued what our natural environment gives us,鈥� Caroline Spelman added. 鈥淭his White Paper changes that, because we cannot afford to make the same mistakes again.

鈥淲e can all gain from the economic, social, and health benefits nature gives us, but we need to recognise that if we withdraw something from Mother Nature鈥檚 Bank, we鈥檝e got to put something back in to ensure that the environment has a healthy balance and a secure future.

鈥淲hat I鈥檇 really like to see happening as a result of this White Paper is more children enjoying nature and continuing that interest into adulthood, so that they pass that passion for the environment down through the generations. That would be a legacy well worth leaving.鈥�

Notes

皇冠体育app Natural Environment White Paper, 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Natural Choice鈥� can be found at .

皇冠体育app Government also published today its response to Professor Sir John Lawton鈥檚 independent review of England鈥檚 wildlife sites and ecological network, Making Space for Nature. This can also be found at .

皇冠体育app National Ecosystems Assessment published on Thursday 2 June can be found at .