Government Announces Major £90 Million Fund to Combat Wildlife Extinction
In a landmark move to address the biodiversity crisis, ministers have pledged £90 million to safeguard hundreds of England's most threatened native wildlife species from extinction. This substantial funding, described by the Environment Department (Defra) as the largest-ever investment in species protection, aims to support critical conservation efforts across the nation.
Addressing a Critical Decline in Wildlife
The UK is recognised as one of the most nature-depleted countries globally, with alarming statistics revealing that wildlife populations have plummeted by a third since 1970. Currently, one in six species faces the risk of extinction, highlighting an urgent need for intervention. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating that it represents a decisive step towards reversing nature's decline and ensuring its protection for future generations.
Allocation of Funds and Conservation Projects
The £90 million investment will be distributed through two key channels:
- £60 million will be allocated to Natural England's species recovery programme over the next three years, supporting hundreds of local projects focused on habitat restoration, captive breeding, and species reintroductions.
- £30 million will be dedicated to species recovery efforts across England's national forest estate, aiming to restore nature-rich landscapes and fragile ecosystems such as ancient woodlands and chalk streams.
This funding round more than doubles the previous allocation of £32.2 million between 2023 and 2026, which supported over 600 species including water voles, hazel dormice, and oystercatchers. Natural England will confirm specific projects for the 2026 to 2029 period in May, with early indications suggesting a wide range of species will benefit.
Proven Success and Future Goals
Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, highlighted the reversibility of species decline, citing past successes such as the recovery of red kites, lady's slipper orchids, pool frogs, and large blue butterflies. He noted that the organisation's species recovery programme has already protected more than 1,000 species and prevented the national extinction of at least 35, including recent achievements like the hatching of red-billed choughs in Kent after 200 years and the return of the large marsh grasshopper to the Norfolk Broads.
Juniper expressed confidence that the new funding will enable further progress through a combination of good science and effective partnerships, helping to halt and reverse wildlife declines. The initiative aligns with the government's environmental improvement plan, which sets legal targets to halt species abundance decline by 2030 and reduce extinction risk by 2042.
Broader Context and Campaign Launch
This announcement comes as Defra launches a new campaign titled Wild Again: Restoring England's Wildlife, reinforcing its commitment to nature recovery. However, it follows assessments from green groups indicating that the UK is significantly off-track to meet its legally-binding target of protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. The funding uplift is seen as a crucial step towards addressing these challenges and fostering a sustainable future for England's diverse ecosystems.
