Policy paper

Conserving biodiversity: the UK approach

This document sets out the approach to conserving biodiversity within the UK for anyone with a policy interest in biodiversity conservation.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Documents

Conserving Biodiversity - The UK Approach

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This statement has been prepared by the UK Biodiversity Standing Committee on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Partnership. Its purpose is to set out the vision and approach to conserving biodiversity within the UK’s devolved framework for anyone with a policy interest in biodiversity conservation.

In different parts of the UK, our ability to set our own priorities and find our own answers is important, and a key part of achieving sustainability, but the challenges are shared and we have common goals. This document sets out what these are, and is a demonstration that we are all committed to meet them. It has been agreed by the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and by the UK government.

The framework complements One future - different paths, the UK’s framework for sustainable development, which recognises the importance of living within environmental limits in order to conserve biodiversity. It sets out an approach to biodiversity conservation that is designed not only to meet the commitment to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010, but to guide action well into the second decade of the 21st century at a time when the challenges faced by the natural environment are great.

It comprises

  • A shared purpose in tackling the loss and restoration of biodiversity
  • The guiding principles that we will follow to achieve it
  • Our priorities for action in the UK and internationally
  • Indicators to monitor the key issues on a UK basis

Updates to this page

Published 24 May 2011

Sign up for emails or print this page