Accredited official statistics

Public awareness, understanding and support for conservation

Updated 10 December 2024

Applies to England

Last updated: 2024

Latest data available: 2023

Introduction

This indicator addresses people’s awareness of biodiversity and understanding of its value, concern about biodiversity loss, as well as support for performing actions that can help to conserve biodiversity. The indicator groups people according to the extent to which they are aware of the threat to biodiversity in England, their level of concern about the loss of biodiversity and the number and type of actions they take to support and protect it.

The data used to produce this indicator previously came from the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey (MENE). This survey was replaced by the People and Nature Survey (PaNS), which started data collection in 2020. This year’s update of the indicator with PaNS data is not directly comparable to the MENE data due to methodological changes (see the comparison report for more details).

Note that data in this indicator is collected over a financial year (that is, April in one year to March in the next). In the most recent year, data runs from April 2023 to December 2023.

Data for this indicator can be found in the published datafile. We also have a similar indicator at the UK level.

Type of indicator

Benefit indicator

Type of official statistics

Official statistic

Assessment of change

Due to the change in methodology in 2019/20 there is insufficient data to make long or short term assessments based on comparable data.

Key results

In 2023, 39% of people in England were ‘highly engaged’ with the issue of biodiversity loss compared with 42% in 2020/21. These are people who are aware of the threat to biodiversity in England and are concerned about the loss of biodiversity. They take actions to support and protect biodiversity, including some actions requiring higher effort.

In 2023, 14% of people in England showed ‘some engagement’ with the issue of biodiversity loss, which is unchanged from 2020/21. These are people who are aware of the threat to biodiversity in England, are concerned about the loss of biodiversity and take some ‘day-to-day’ actions to support and protect biodiversity.

In 2023, 15% of people were ‘not engaged’ with the issue of biodiversity loss, compared with 15% in 2020/21. These are people who are aware of the threat to biodiversity but not concerned about it.

In 2023, 33% of survey respondents stated that they were ‘not aware’ of the threat to biodiversity in England compared with 30% in 2020/21.

Figure 1: Public engagement with biodiversity loss in England: awareness, concern and action, 2020/21 - 2023

Source: Natural England, People and Nature Survey for England, Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey

Notes about Figure 1:

• Groups are defined as: ‘not aware’; ‘not engaged’; ‘some engagement’; and ‘high engagement’, according to responses to survey questions described in the methodology section below.
• Data was taken from questions 46, 47, 50, 52 and 59b in the PaNS data (see Technical annex for more details)
• Each year of the survey on the y-axis runs from April to the following March. The latest round of survey is not yet complete and runs from April 2023 to December 2023.
• Respondents refer to those who answered the survey and provided a response other than “Don’t know” or “Prefer not to say”.

Further detail

The PaNS survey also records respondents’ engagement with more pro-environmental behaviours than included in the groups for Figure 1 (see Technical annex). These included day-to-day actions, such as recycling and preferring to buy seasonal or locally grown food, and higher effort actions, such as signing petitions and posting online content related to the environment (Figures 2 and 3).

In 2023, of those reporting that they undertook one or more of the higher effort pro-environmental behaviours specified in Figure 2, 93% indicated that when they see litter, they pick it up, 69% indicated that they try to persuade people they know in person to do more to help the environment and 67% indicated that they vote for political parties with strong environmental policies.

Figure 2: Percentage of respondents engaging with higher effort pro-environmental behaviours in England, 2023

Source: Natural England, People and Nature Survey for England

Notes about Figure 2:

• Data was taken from question Q50 How often do you do the actions below when you have the opportunity? Please select one answer only (Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Always/ whenever I have the opportunity, Not applicable, Don’t know, Prefer not to say)
• Results from Q50 were summarised so that answers from ‘rarely’ - ‘always’ counted as engaging in that activity, whereas answers including ‘never’, ‘don’t know’, ‘prefer not to say’ or ‘not applicable’ were not counted.

In 2023, of those reporting that they undertook one or more of the day-to-day pro-environmental behaviours specified in Figure 3, 82% indicated that they recycled items, 81% indicated that they brought their own bags when shopping and 77% indicated that they switched off lights and appliances to save energy/to protect the environment.

Figure 3: Percentage of respondents engaging with day-to-day pro-environmental behaviours in England, 2023

Source: Natural England, People and Nature Survey for England

Notes about Figure 3

• Data was taken from question Q52 Thinking about the last month, which of the following have you done? Please select all that apply.

Awareness, understanding and concern for the natural environment may also relate to other behaviours, such as how often the respondents access green and natural space (Figure 4). Of those who visit green or natural space every day 76% reported some level of concern for the loss of biodiversity compared to 60% of those who never visit green or natural space.

Figure 4: Levels of concern over loss of the variety of life amongst respondents reporting their frequency of access to green and natural space in England, 2023

Source: Natural England, People and Nature Survey for England

Notes about Figure 4

• Data was taken from questions Q1 In the last 12 months, how often, on average have you spent free time outside in green and natural spaces? and Q47 How concerned are you about the consequences of a loss of variety of life in England?

Relevance

Public understanding and opinion on the value of biodiversity has strong implications for the acceptance and adoption of conservation measures. People value the natural environment in different ways and for different reasons. They may simply value it for its own sake, because it makes our local environment more attractive, or because they enjoy experiencing nature-rich green places for recreation. Regular opportunities to experience the natural environment are known to have positive impacts on human health and well-being.

Web links for further information

• People and Nature Survey for England
• PaNS survey methods and technical details
• Comparability between the People and Nature Survey and the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Report
• Analysis of comparability of People and Nature Surveys across UK nations
• Defra Awareness research: Engaging people in biodiversity issues
• Natural England: Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment, People and Nature Survey for England

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the many survey respondents who have contributed by providing data and to the many colleagues who have helped produce this indicator, particularly Natural England.

Technical annex

Methodology: People and Nature Survey

In May 2013, Defra published a research report titled Engaging people in biodiversity issues. In this study, a system was defined with a set of evidence-based criteria and decision rules that can be used to assign people from the general population into 5 discrete groups, based on their responses to a survey developed as part of the study. The system reflects different levels of awareness of, and engagement in, biodiversity issues. The definitions of the 5 groups developed give internally consistent findings in terms of attitudes and behaviours. Within the research, the groups were of sufficient size to allow further analysis and policy targeting. This study, which captured all parts of the awareness, concern and action spectrum, has been used as a template for the development of the indicator presented here.

The indicator groups respondents as follows:

• Group 1: Does not anticipate a loss of biodiversity in England
• Group 2: Believes there will be a loss of biodiversity in the future but is not concerned about the loss of biodiversity
• Group 3: Believes there will be a loss of biodiversity, is concerned about a loss of biodiversity and performs 0 to 2 ‘day-to-day’ actions to support and protect biodiversity
• Group 4: Believes there will be a loss of biodiversity, is concerned about that loss and performs all 3 ‘day-to-day’ actions or 1 to 2 ‘day-to-day’ actions and at least one ‘higher effort’ action
• Group 5: Believes there will be a loss of biodiversity, is concerned about that loss and performs all 3 ‘day-to-day’ actions as well as 1 to 2 ‘higher effort’ actions

Respondents that fall into group 1 are labelled as ‘not aware’, respondents in group 2 are labelled as ‘not engaged’, respondents in group 3 are said to show ‘some engagement’ and respondents in group 4 or group 5 are combined and said to show ‘high engagement’. A ‘higher effort’ action is a behaviour that has the capability to persuade others and lead to changes that might impact on biodiversity loss at a national level. Higher effort behaviours require the participant to act outside the realms of regular daily life and are adopted by only a niche group of people. The higher effort actions asked about in the questions used to inform this indicator are; volunteering with a project or organisation to help protect the environment/wildlife; and signing of a conservation petition or participation in a conservation campaign (online or other).

‘Day-to-day’ behaviours are more a measure of engagement rather than of behaviours that will actually prevent biodiversity loss. The day-to-day behaviours asked about in the questions used to inform this indicator are: wildlife gardening; green consumerism; and membership of an organisation that helps to look after wildlife or the natural environment.

Questions on awareness of, concern for, and actions taken to prevent biodiversity loss, which were based on questions used to define the ‘Public Engagement with Loss of Biodiversity’ system in the Defra Engaging people in biodiversity issues report, have been incorporated into the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) survey and subsequently taken forward (with alterations) into the People and Nature Survey for England (PaNS). More information about the PaNS survey, including sample size, and the exact wording of the questions, can be found in the survey methods and technical details.

In this indicator, we use data from the adult survey, Module 4: Environmental attitudes and behaviours and Module 5: Gardens and gardening behaviours. Data were weighted by the specific weight provided for that module detailed in the Weighting guidance.

Survey questions: People and Nature Survey

Below are the components of questions included in the composite indicator (Figure 1). For the purpose of actions, results from Q50 were summarised so that answers from ‘rarely’ - ‘always’ counted as engaging in that activity, whereas answers including ‘never’, ‘don’t know’, ‘prefer not to say’ or ‘not applicable’ were not counted.

Awareness

Q46. We would like you to think about all species of animals and plants that are alive on our planet. Thinking about the variety of animal and plant life in the next 50 years, Do you think there will be…?

Please select one answer only.

1. less variety of life
2. no change to the variety of life
3. more variety of life
4. Don’t know
5. Prefer not to say

Concern

Q47 How concerned are you about the consequences of a loss of variety of life in England?

Please select one answer only.

1. Not at all concerned
2. Not very concerned
3. Neither concerned nor unconcerned
4. Concerned
5. Extremely concerned
6. Don’t know
7. Prefer not to say

Actions

Q50 How often do you do the actions below when you have the opportunity?

• I vote for political parties with strong environmental policies
• I volunteer time for an environmental cause
• I donate money to or am a member of an environmental organisation

Please select one answer only

• Never
• Rarely
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always/ whenever I have the opportunity
• Not applicable
• Don’t know
• Prefer not to say

Q52 Thinking about the last month, which of the following have you done?

Please select all that apply

• Bought products with an environmental label

Q59b Thinking about this [garden/space/garden or space] which of the following statements, if any, do you agree with?

Please select all that apply

• I encourage wildlife in my [garden/space/garden or space] (e.g. feeding birds)

Recent developments

This indicator has been updated for the first time with new data since 2019. This new data is taken from PaNS, which differs from the MENE survey in several key respects. Differences in sample size and selection, survey mode (face-to-face vs online) and question content mean that a meaningful comparison cannot be made between the two surveys. Wherever possible, care has been taken to apply the same methodology to the two datasets. Historic MENE data is still presented in this indicator for information but care should be taken not to draw parallels between the first part of the timeseries (2014-2018, MENE) and the latter period (2020-2023, PaNS). For more details of the differences between PaNS and MENE, see the comparison report.

Key differences in the questions between PaNS and MENE are presented in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Comparability between PaNS and MENE questions used in the awareness, support and understanding indicator

MENE question	MENE answers	PaNS question	PaNS answers
Thinking about the variety of life in the next 50 years, which of the following statements do you most agree with?	1. There will be less variety of life 2. There will be no change to the variety of life 3. There will be more variety of life	Thinking about the variety of animal and plant life in the next 50 years, Do you think there will be…?	1. less variety of life 2. no change to the variety of life 3. more variety of life 4. Don’t know 5. Prefer not to say
How concerned are you about the consequences of a loss of variety of life in England?	1. Not at all concerned 2. Not concerned 3. Neither concerned or unconcerned 4. Concerned 5. Extremely concerned 6. Don’t know	How concerned are you about the consequences of a loss of variety of life in England?	1. Not at all concerned 2. Not very concerned 3. Neither concerned nor unconcerned 4. Concerned 5. Extremely concerned 6. Don’t know 7. Prefer not to say
Thinking about the last 12 months, which of the following environment-related activities do you do? Please choose all that apply	1. I usually buy eco-friendly products and brands 2. I am a member of an environmental or conservation organisation 3. I volunteer to help care for the environment 4. I donate my time at least once every three months to an environmental or conservation organisation (NB. a yes to this action or the one above counts as a yes to ‘volunteering’ for indicator purposes) 5. I have signed a conservation petition or participated in an online/other conservation campaign	How often do you do the actions below when you have the opportunity? a) When I see litter, I pick it up b) I vote for political parties with strong environmental policies c) I contact an MP or council about an environmental issue d) I sign petitions or participate in a campaign or demonstration about an environmental issue* e) I volunteer time for an environmental cause* f) I donate money to or am a member of an environmental organisation* g) I try to persuade people I know in person to do more to help the environment h) I post online content related to the environment	1. Never 2. Rarely 3. Sometimes 4. Often 5. Always/ whenever I have the opportunity 6. Not applicable 7. Don’t know 8. Prefer not to say
Thinking about the last 12 months, which of the following environment-related activities do you do? Please choose all that apply	1. I usually buy eco-friendly products and brands 2. I am a member of an environmental or conservation organisation 3. I volunteer to help care for the environment 4. I donate my time at least once every three months to an environmental or conservation organisation (NB. a yes to this action or the one above counts as a yes to ‘volunteering’ for indicator purposes) 5. I have signed a conservation petition or participated in an online/other conservation campaign	Thinking about the last month, which of the following have you done? Please select all that apply	1. Composted food waste, or put food waste out for collection 2. Switched off lights and appliances to save energy/ to protect the environment 3. Recycled items 4. Brought your own bags when shopping 5. Bought products with an environmental label* 6. Bought produce that is grown locally or in season 7. Bought second-hand items 8. Watched wildlife/nature programmes 9. Taken shorter showers to save water or energy 10. None of the above [exclusive] 11. Don’t know 12. Prefer not to say

Development plan

In line with our commitment to the Code of Practice for Statistics, we are keen to hear from users of these statistics, please send your feedback to: Enviro.Statistics@defra.gov.uk. Once we have received feedback on the usefulness of this statistic, we will continue development, which may include:

• Reviewing the usefulness of the statistic and the current methodology. In particular, as the wording for the actions section of the indicator has changed (see Table 1), we could consider whether an update to the groupings could be possible and if any of the other higher or everday actions could be included (see Figures 2 and 3).
• Considering whether this same methodology could be applied to the UK version of this indicator. A full report on the comparability of people and nature surveys across the UK has been published by Natural England.
• Considering the incorporation of new questions into the ‘Further detail’ section of this indicator to provide evidence for nature access policy policy and public good.

Historic indicator: Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment

In 2018, 10% of people in England were highly engaged with the issue of biodiversity loss compared with 5% in 2014. These are people who are aware of the threat to biodiversity in England, are concerned about the loss of biodiversity and take actions to support and protect biodiversity, including some actions requiring higher effort.

In 2018, 53% of people in England showed some engagement with the issue of biodiversity loss compared with 45% in 2014. These are people who are aware of the threat to biodiversity in England, are concerned about the loss of biodiversity and take some ‘day-to-day’ actions to support and protect biodiversity.

In 2018, 9% of people were aware of the threat to biodiversity but not concerned about it compared with 12% in 2014.

In 2018, 28% of survey respondents stated that they were not aware of the threat to biodiversity in England compared with 38% in 2014.

Figure 5: Public engagement with biodiversity loss in England: awareness, concern and action, 2014, 2017 and 2018

Methodology: Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment

The MENE survey ran from 2010 to 2019 and conducted hundreds of face-to-face interviews to understand how people use, enjoy and are motivated to protect the natural environment. The indicator used the same hierarchical system as described above to group people in England according to the extent to which they are aware of the threat to biodiversity in England, their level of concern about the loss of biodiversity and the number and type of actions they take to support and protect it.

Questions were taken from sections E2 (Attitudes to environment), E4 (Pro-environmental activities) and E7/8 (Access to private gardens). Unweighted responses were used for this version of the indicator.

Total sample size (approx.): ~45,000 a year, but individual questions can be inserted for quarters (periods of 3 months)

Frequency of survey cycle: Continuous data collection: 800 interviews/week

Frequency of reporting: Annual

Survey start date: 2009

Survey method: Face-to-face interviews

Sample size for the 2014 indicator: 3,419

Sample size for the 2017 indicator: 3,666

Sample size for the 2018 indicator: 3,498