April 22, 2022

British Ecological Society report on protected areas and nature recovery

The UK government has committed to protecting 30% of the land and sea of the four nations to support nature recovery by 2030 (30×30).

The British Ecological Society’s new report on protected areas and nature recovery looks at what the UK government needs to do if it is to meet an effective 30×30 target. The report highlights evidence gaps, makes policy recommendations and emphasises the central role that protected areas play in nature conservation in the UK.

Journalists dialled in to hear four of the authors take them through the science and recommendations and answer questions such as:

• What kind of protected areas are there in the UK?
• What are the benefits they provide, and how can we measure them effectively?
• What is the current state of protected areas and what are their biodiversity trends?
• How can the effectiveness of protected areas be improved?
• How can UK area-based conservation support nature’s recovery on land and in the sea?

Speakers included:

Prof Rick Stafford, Professor of Marine Biology and Conservation, Bournemouth University

Dr Joseph Bailey, Lecturer in Geography, York St John University

Prof Jane Hill, Professor of Ecology, University of York

Dr Paul Sinnadurai, Senior Ecologist (Climate Adaptation), Brecon Beacons National Park Authority