Focus on the target 

We are now six years away from 2030.  This is the date, according to the UK Government, by which the decline in species abundance will have halted and 30% of land and sea will have been protected for nature’s recovery.   

It’s important to say these are far from arbitrary targets that can be changed at whim by whoever is next in power.  These are not goal posts that can be easily shifted.  There is a weighty scientific consensus that 30% of the planet is the minimum space required to ensure that wildlife is able to survive and thrive.  This is now an international commitment, signed up to by 188 countries under the Global Biodiversity Framework. The urgency of getting there by 2030 betrays just how close we have come to an irreversible tipping point.   

At the Trust, we were one of the first organisations in the UK to set out this ‘30 by 30’ ambition in our Wilder 2030 strategy published in late 2019.  Back then, we had a nice round decade to achieve this goal.   

In the past four years, not only have all Wildlife Trusts and environmental NGOs adopted this as a core strategic aim, but from a policy perspective we have seen significant progress on paper – we have an Environment Act, an Environment Improvement Plan, and a whole raft of commitments and targets (some more ambitious than others).   

But sadly, the reality on the ground across the UK and in our two counties hasn’t changed at the pace needed if we are going to stay on track.   

Some might look at the space designated or protected for nature in Hampshire and on the Island and think we don’t have far to go  – but it’s vital to understand that while we are fortunate to have designated landscapes like the national parks – this doesn’t, sadly, mean that they are good for wildlife or where nature is recovering. and less than 50% of our SSSIs are in favourable condition.  None of our chalk streams or rivers are in good overall health.  There is a lot more to be done.   

We estimate that on top of improving existing protected areas so they are in good condition, we would need to secure another 60,000 hectares for nature across Hampshire and on the Island to reach 30%.  Using the universal relatable measure – that’s 84,000 football pitches! 

When we published Wilder 2030, we set out our aim to double the amount of space the Trust actively manages for nature and as part of this to acquire 1,000 hectares between 2020 and 2030. We have been making strides towards that total, acquiring several new sites, totalling more than 300 hectares since 2020.  We have pioneered new programmes, like the Nutrient Reduction Scheme, which have unlocked new sources of funding to enable us to rewild at scale.   

We also set a goal to support and inspire landowners to make an additional 5,000 hectares of space wilder.  Again, our progress against this target has been positive and we are working alongside more and more enlightened partners, who are radically shifting the way they manage their land. The launch of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Rewilding Network last year demonstrated the real appetite from individuals to do more.   

But, while there are steps that we should celebrate, this all leaves a lot of space that we still need to secure for nature and the clock is ticking.   

The picture is the same across the UK.  When the State of Nature report was published in 2023 it revealed that wildlife was faring worse than it had in 2019 – with 1 in 6 species at risk of extinction (up from 1 in 7).  A recent report from the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) stated that the Government was securely on track to meet just 4 out of 40 legally binding environmental targets.  

X factor 

So returning to the beginning – 2024 really is a critical year and there are some huge opportunities ahead.  The General Election, expected in the autumn, will see us vote in the Government and parliament responsible for steering us towards those pivotal goals during the next five-year term to 2029.    

None of the political parties have published their manifestos yet and while the drafts may be circulating, there is still time to shape the promises made both locally and nationally.  Those seeking to hold on to or gain power will care more than ever about what their potential voters think about issues. 

It’s going to be a very noisy election – with lots of very challenging issues vying for attention, but we can’t let nature and the environment sit quietly or risk being drowned out. 

Collectively, the environmental NGO sector has millions of members and supporters. If we all start singing the same song, then political parties and candidates cannot fail to hear.  

We need to ensure that politicians are in no doubt that we want a wilder, healthier, more sustainable future.  We need them to know that this is not a niche issue – our physical and mental wellbeing, along with our economic prosperity, depends upon it.   

At the end of the day, we are going to need courageous, bold and brave politicians who are prepared to prioritise our natural environment and do things differently. And fast.  

We will need your help. Over the coming months, we will be joining forces with other local and national organisations and groups to make noise for nature and ensure we get noticed. If you want to be part of our General Election campaign team, please sign up to our newsletter and we’ll let you know how you can get involved and share the details for our first organisers session in early spring.   

But first this…. 

Locally, the opportunity is upon us to draw the road map to recovery.  The Environment Act set out the requirement for each county to create a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).  This should act as the key mechanism to deliver the National Nature Recovery Network (NRN) and help reach some of those big-ticket goals mentioned earlier.   

After an extended gestation, the guidance and direction has now been given out to ‘Responsible Authorities’ (these are Hampshire County Council and IOW Council respectively for Hampshire and the Island).  The strategies will consist of a local habitat map for the NRN and a statement of biodiversity priorities.   The consultation phase – where organisations and individuals can input into what should be included in these strategies - is happening now.  The Trust is involved with all of the workshops and steering groups and we have been contracted by Hampshire County Council to lead the community engagement for the Hampshire LNRS.   

We are determined that the LNRS succeed where other action plans and strategies have previously failed.  They must be ambitious and bold.  They must have the buy in from those that will need to deliver them (including Local Planning Authorities) and they must be integrated with effective mechanisms for implementation.  They must also be forward thinking – properly considering the trajectories of climate change and wider trends, so that investment can be focused where it will best support climate mitigation and adaptation and anticipate inevitable shifts for communities, species and habitats.  

We need the LNRS to effectively direct funding - leveraging private and public investment, including through Biodiversity Net Gain (which finally comes into force on 12 February) and create the framework for good decision making about appropriate land use and planning. 

Eye on the prize 

If done well, the LNRS could not only set out an evidence-based plan for where nature is and should be, but could underpin effective, sustainable development for our two counties – easing current challenges for planning authorities and others by front-loading environmental considerations, rather than dealing with them as after-thoughts or obstacles to get around.   

But for this to happen, we do need everyone to believe in the LNRS and its importance and potential – and that includes, importantly, those Responsible Authorities that are tasked with leading it. If this ends up as a tick-box exercise, or a well-meaning document that sits on a shelf, we will have all failed in our aim.  

You can have your say on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. In Hampshire, there is an online survey and you can also register your interest in attending one of the face-to-face or online workshops happening in the next few weeks. Keep an eye out for more information about how you can contribute to the Isle of Wight Strategy, which is now being coordinated by Arc Consulting. 

Let’s use our passion, local knowledge and loud collective voice to make sure 2024 hits the mark and is a truly pivotal year for nature’s recovery.