United Kingdom
Graham Tucker, Wyn A. Jones, Susan P. Davies, Joan Edwards
Abstract
The chapter describes the main nature conservation challenges in the United Kingdom, its main policy responses and actions, and their achievements and lessons, primarily over the last 40 years. This covers the country’s natural characteristics, habitats and species of particular importance; the status of nature and main pressures affecting it; nature conservation policies (including post-Brexit), legislation, governance and key actors; species measures (e.g. concerning persecution of birds of prey, strictly protected species, and species reintroductions); protected areas and networks; general conservation measures (e.g. development planning and biodiversity offsetting, marine spatial planning, peatland and coastal habitat restoration, forest expansion, rewilding, and climate change adaptation); nature conservation costs, economic benefits and funding sources; and biodiversity monitoring. Likely future developments are also identified, including potential divergence from EU nature legislation. Conclusions are drawn on what measures have been most effective and why, and what is needed to improve the implementation of existing measures and achieve future nature conservation goals.