The moss carder bee could soon be buzzing in greater numbers along the North East coast, the starry lady’s mantle, a member of the rose family, thriving again in the North Pennines with the lady’s slipper, a wild orchid, flourishing nearby.
These and more than 350 other threatened species, some only found in this country, will be beneficiaries of a £60mn species recovery programme announced by Natural England and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Thirteen projects will receive funding from the programme to help restore species at least partly in the region out of 130 nationwide. Among them, the Tees Rivers Trust is being supported in its project to reintroduce native oysters to the Tees estuary.
A full list of projects included in the announcement can be found here.
Wilder and healthier
Since 1970, say Natural England and Defra, wildlife populations have fallen by a third, with one in six species at risk of extinction in Great Britain including some of our most treasured wildlife.
“Projects supported through the programme will target 364 threatened species, from birds to beetles, moths to mammals, spiders to snails and sharks to seahorses, to bring us closer to our goal of a wilder, healthier country for generations to come.
“Farmed landscapes have seen some of the sharpest declines in wildlife,” said Natural England and Defra, “yet healthy ecosystems are the foundation of productive, resilient agriculture. A number of projects will support farmers and land managers to restore nature alongside food production, for example, projects that support the recovery of pollinator species and their habitats will, in turn, support crop yields.”
Native species recovery hubs led by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) would spearhead ex-situ breed-for-release programmes across the north and south of England, acting as catalysts for ambitious conservation translocations, supporting the recovery of 16 rare invertebrate species and increasing abundance.
The programme would also engage new and diverse audiences, including zoo visitors, scientific and special interest groups, offering insight into England’s unique biodiversity and inspiring greater public connection with and action for nature.
“Back from the brink”
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “Nearly one in six species in Britain are threatened with extinction and this government is taking action to reverse that decline. Through the largest-ever investment in species recovery, we are backing projects across the country to protect threatened wildlife, restore habitats and secure the future of some of England’s most iconic species.”
Natural England chair Tony Juniper said: ““For decades Natural England’s vital species recovery work has revealed how even the rarest of the rare can be brought back from the brink. The red kite, lady’s slipper orchid, pool frog, beaver and large blue butterfly are among examples that demonstrate the many opportunities at hand and what can be achieved for nature and wider society.
“We know that good science and effective partnerships can help restore species to favourable status, and this funding will enable us to support many initiatives to help halt and reverse the decline of our wonderful wildlife.”
Over the past three decades the programme had helped protect over 1,000 species and prevented the national extinction of at least 35 species.
Defra said it was investing a further £30mn dedicated to species recovery on the national forest estate, bringing the total government commitment to £90mn.
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