An updated overview of biodiversity in the UK has been published by Defra providing an insight into the health of the natural environment in which we live.
Biodiversity is best described as the variety of individual species, the genetic diversity within species and the range of ecosystems that support them.
Eighteen indicators were agreed in 2007 by the UK Biodiversity Partnership - UK Government, the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Non-Governmental Organisations - with the intention of summarising a selection of key priorities for biodiversity in the UK.
These indicators include the population status of key species; plant diversity; the status of priority species, habitats and ecosystems; genetic diversity of rare breeds of sheep and cattle; protected sites; management of woodland agricultural land and fisheries; impacts of air pollution and invasive species; expenditure on biodiversity; and the amount of time given by volunteers to nature conservation activities.
The latest report concludes that out of the thirty-four component measures within the indicators, over the long-term ten have shown a deterioration, nine have shown improvement, two have shown little or no overall change, twelve had insufficient data for an assessment and one is provided for contextual information and is therefore not assessed.
Assessing change going back to the start of the current decade, seven measures have shown deterioration, fifteen have shown improvement, nine have shown little or no overall change, two had insufficient data for an assessment.
You can read the indicators in full on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s website - www.jncc.gov.uk/biyp. The presentation includes charts, assessments, commentary, data tables, data sources, and technical and other supporting information.
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