The Government believes that we need to protect the environment for future generations, make our economy more environmentally sustainable, and improve our quality of life and well-being. We also believe that much more needs to be done to support the farming industry, protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable food production.
- We have published the first White Paper on the natural environment in twenty years, containing a series of measures to protect biodiversity and wildlife. We have also delivered a new, ambitious biodiversity strategy for the next ten years.
- We will create new Green Area Designations to allow local people to protect the green spaces which are important to them. We are also improving green spaces through the creation of Nature Improvement Areas, supported by £7.5 million of funding.
- We secured a historic deal at Nagoya which will, for the first time, protect important wildlife and habitats around the world.
- We have launched a national tree planting campaign – the Big Tree Plant – which has already planted 100,000 trees and aims to plant a million over the parliament.
- We have announced a £110 million revamp which will bring more otters, salmon and other fish back to England’s rivers. The money will be used to kick start restoration worth at least £600 million to improve the health of more than 880 lakes, streams and other water bodies.
- We’re in the process of drawing up Marine Conservation Zones which will safeguard large areas of our marine habitat for the first time.
- We have set up a new Animal Health and Welfare Board which will for the first time bring together experts, including farmers, veterinarians, welfare experts and others from outside Government together with Defra’s Chief Veterinary Officer, to make direct recommendations to Ministers on policy affecting the health and welfare of all kept animals such as farm animals, horses and pets.
- We are implementing the findings of our review of farming red tape, which recommended 200 ways to slim down farming regulation. We are sorting out Labour’s Rural Payments Agency.
- We are ensuring that country of origin food labelling gives people the confidence to buy British.
- We will help to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of the whole food chain, including farms and the fish industry, to ensure a secure, environmentally sustainable and healthy supply of food with improved standards of animal welfare.
- We have announced a £26 million package of support for hill farmers, including an extra £6 million a year available to hill farmers for environmental stewardship schemes and a new £20 million Rural Community Broadband Fund.
- We have signed off on a deal to make it a crime to import illegal timber.