Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the UK's ability to meet the Aichi global biodiversity targets by 2020; what steps she is taking to ensure the UK meets those targets; and if she will make a statement.

Biodiversity is a devolved issue; actions to deliver biodiversity outcomes are set out in individual country strategies - the England Biodiversity Strategy Biodiversity 2020, and Scottish Biodiversity Strategy http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2013/06/5538. Wales’ biodiversity strategy, The Nature Recovery Plan for Wales, to be published by the end of this year, will set out the action to reverse the decline of biodiversity in Wales. The Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy http://www.doeni.gov.uk/nibs_2002.pdf is under review and a new Biodiversity Strategy for Northern Ireland will be published by the summer.

The UK submitted its 5^th National report to the CBD in May 2014 and it is available on the CBD website at https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/gb/gb-nr-05-en.pdf. Key actions taken by the UK include:

· Continued designation of protected areas, especially at sea, and the development of a UK Marine Strategy;

· Continued work to improve the management and condition of all designated sites, with 96% of SSSIs in England in favourable or recovering condition;

· Integrated, landscape-scale approaches to improving the natural environment, such as Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) and river-basin management plans.

· Agri-environment programmes to support environmental improvements on farmed land, for example with 67,000ha being brought under management for creation of priority habitat in England since 2011, and the development of country policies and strategies for issues which impact on biodiversity such as such as forestry, water, invasive species, pollinators, and fisheries.

· Research to develop knowledge and evidence-based guidance, such as ecosystem assessment and payment for ecosystem services.

The most recent update on progress is presented in the UK Biodiversity Indicators, published in December 2014: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4229. The indicators show a mixed picture, with recent improvements in the area of land in agri-environment schemes, sustainable fisheries, air pollution, the extent of protected sites on land and at sea, the condition of areas/sites of special scientific interest, status of species of European importance and plant genetic resources.

However, pressures on biodiversity remain high and there is more to do, which will require the engagement of all sectors and civil society as a whole.