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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the implications for her policies on protecting endangered species in the UK are of the State of Nature 2016 report, published by the RSPB on 14 September 2016; and whether she is taking steps to protect such species.

The Government noted the State of Nature report and considered it a useful contribution to the evidence base for assessing species status. As well as indicating the need for ongoing action, the report highlights cases where our policies, often delivered in partnership with landowners, farmers and conservation groups, are benefitting species, for example by improving the quality of our rivers and streams or creating wildlife habitat on farmland through our agri-environment schemes.

Species protection is a key element of Biodiversity 2020, our biodiversity strategy for England. Actions we are taking include protection, improvement and creation of habitats, for example support for farmers under agri-environment schemes such as Countryside Stewardship, where we are making progress in turning round the fortunes of birds such as the cirl bunting and stone curlew.

Natural England funds a targeted recovery programme for some of our most endangered species and is working with partners to increase the investment in species restoration.

We are committed to the goal of being the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than that in which we found it, building on our long history of wildlife and environmental protection.