Accredited official statistics

England biodiversity indicators

A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services, Biodiversity indicators: 2024 assessment.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
29 May 2012
Last updated
10 December 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

1. Introduction to the England Biodiversity Indicators

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2. Assessing indicators

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3. Overview of assessment of change for all indicators and their component measures

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4. Official statistics

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5. Indicator development plan

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Extent and condition of protected areas

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Extent and condition of priority habitats

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Status of threatened habitats of European importance

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Habitat connectivity in the wider countryside

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Status of priority species: relative abundance

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Status of priority species: distribution

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Status of all-species: relative abundance

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Status of species of European importance

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Birds of the wider countryside and at sea

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Insects of the wider countryside (butterflies)

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Mammals of the wider countryside (bats)

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Plants of the wider countryside

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Biodiversity and ecosystem services: greenhouse gas removal by forests

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Status of pollinating insects

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Biodiversity and ecosystem services fish size classes

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Animal genetic resources

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Plant genetic resources

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Public awareness, understanding and support for conservation

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Taking action for the environment: volunteer time spent in conservation

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Taking action for the environment: Households encouraging wildlife in their garden

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Funding for Biodiversity

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Integrating biodiversity considerations into local decision making

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Global Impacts of UK Consumption

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Spring index

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Air pollution

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Marine pollution

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Pressure from invasive species

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Surface water status

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Area of land in agri-environment schemes

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Area of forestry land under certified sustainable management schemes

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Sustainable fisheries

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Biodiversity data for decision making

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Details

Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth: genes, species and ecosystems. It includes all species of animals and plants, and the natural systems that support them. Biodiversity matters because it supports the vital benefits humans get from the natural environment. It contributes to the economy, health and well-being, and it enriches our lives.

The 2024 publication of the Biodiversity Indicators provides a full update of all indicators for which new data are available. We have also improved the way in which we publish the indicators and set out a development plan for the indicators, on which we welcome feedback from users.

The UK and England Biodiversity Indicators are currently being considered alongside the Environment Improvement Plan Targets and the new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets. When this work has been completed the references to Biodiversity 2020 and the Aichi Global Biodiversity Framework Targets will be updated and any changes to indicators will be explained in the relevant chapters.

Updates to this page

Published 29 May 2012
Last updated 10 December 2024 + show all updates

  1. Annual update.

  2. Percentage figure amended.

  3. Additional sentence added linking to the new publication 'Indicators of species abundance in England'.

  4. Attachment 2a added.

  5. Natural England and Defra have identified a data licensing issue with the data contained in the England Biodiversity Indicator 2a and have had to temporarily withdraw the indicator. We are working together to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and aim to republish the indicator later in the year.

  6. Title of one of the indicators amended.

  7. Change to total figure for number of Rivers and canals (Total number of water bodies = 3,900) and not 3,901.

  8. Two images amended plus some minor textual changes.

  9. Image 1.5 amended.

  10. Correction to condition of protected sites long term assessment.

  11. Annual update November 2023.

  12. Major amendments to the text of the landing page.

  13. Natural England and Defra have identified a methodological issue with the protected sites data contained in England Biodiversity Indicator 1. The affected part of the indicator has been temporarily removed.

  14. Amendments to links to blog article and summary of the review.

  15. We have been made aware of a potential issue with the data relating to England 1. Whilst this is being investigated we have removed this year’s indicator. Until this is resolved the indicator from last year remains relevant.

  16. We have been made aware of a potential issue with the data relating to England 1. Whilst this is being investigated we have removed this year’s indicator. Until this is resolved the indicator from last year remains relevant.

  17. Publication updated with 2022 version.

  18. Revision made to England Biodiversity Indicator 18 (Spring Index).

  19. Typos in the review summary amended.

  20. Attachment added detailing Defra and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) review of Biodiversity Indicators.

  21. Paragraph wording amended.

  22. Booklet updated, text amended and 2 documents ‘12a Animal genetic resources’ and ‘Technical background – Animal genetic resources’ replaced.

  23. Publication updated with 2021 version.

  24. 2020 assessment published

  25. Revisions to various indicators.

  26. One sentence of text and two links removed, as per instructions from the responsible statistician.

  27. Annual update.

  28. Annual update.

  29. Latest scheduled update as to progress of biodiversity indicators meeting goals and objectives published by the government for 2020.

  30. Update: Indicator C9a: Animal Genetic Resources was corrected and updated 30 November 2016

  31. New biodiversity indicators published

  32. Publication of the England biodiversity indicators delayed until 19 January 2016 due to statistical reasons.

  33. some minor corrections and amendments to the release and indicator 5

  34. Technical background papers updated.

  35. New biodiversity indicators published for 2014.

  36. Revised publication and annexes and addition of updated background technical papers

  37. 2013 edition

  38. First published.

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