On Thursday, amidst debate about the future of food and environment policy in Britain, Defra released official biodiversity statistics which show that, in the short term at least, measures to protect biodiversity in the UK appear to be failing.

The stats were published as National Trust Director General Helen Ghosh urged the government to extend funding for farming and environment measures currently covered by CAP Pillar 2 funds, and warned that food and the environment face a decade of uncertainty as new regimes are established in the country. Dame Helen said the Trust is already seeing examples of farmers reneging on environmental commitments, or reverting to damaging short-termist practices, in what she said was a “Very understandable, but heart-breaking” response to uncertainty over Brexit.

Out of 42 biodiversity indicators assessed in the long-term, which range from freshwater ecosystems to agricultural biodiversity, 20 are rated as improving (this ‘long-term’ range covers periods ranging from the 1960s to the present day, to the past 17 years at the shorter end of the scale). In the long-term, Defra estimates that biodiversity is deteriorating in 11 areas, has remained static in three areas, and the environment department is missing information in a further eight areas.

In the short-term, the traffic light system paints an even bleaker picture; only 11 of Defra’s 39 short-term indicators are shown to be improving, whilst 12 have remained static and a further 12 have declined. There is insufficient data available on a further four measures. 

Areas of concern identified by Defra include:

• The percentage of UK surface water bodies in ‘High’ or ‘Good Ecological Status’
• The percentage of UK habitats of European importance in favourable or improving conservation status
• The status of pollinating insects
• The abundance of protected wild species which are supposed to be receiving special attention
• The amount of farm land being actively managed for nature

The stats pose worrying questions about Defra’s ability to function after deep and repeated spending cuts at the department. Defra’s spend on biodiversity has been cut by a quarter since the first days of the Coalition government. Even under the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition, Commons Committees overseeing the environment department’s work aired grave concerns over “A hollowed-out Defra’s ability to ensure its wide-ranging set of delivery bodies could deliver effective services.” The short-term biodiversity trends suggest that, in many areas, cracks are beginning to show.

Reacting to the stats release on Thursday, Friends of the Earth nature campaigner Paul de Zylva said, "Our birds, bees and butterflies are under threat and the government’s response has been completely inadequate.

"In 2010 the UK government boasted about leading international efforts to restore nature - but three years from the 2020 deadline too many indicators are static or heading in the wrong direction.

"Ministers must make the protection of our natural environment a top priority and stand up to the vested interests who want to ride roughshod over our green and pleasant land.
 
“If Michael Gove wants a Green Brexit, he must build on existing EU regulations and develop a tough set of measures to boost habitats and allow our precious wild species to thrive.”