Only 3% of England under nature protection - report

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A new report shows that only 3% of the land in England and 8% of the sea is effectively protected for nature.

As part of a global initiative to slow the destruction of the natural world and the loss of species, the government has committed to protecting at least 30% of land and sea.

In England, little progress had been made.

The government said it would meet the goal.

The pledge has been made by more than 100 countries. The cornerstones of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework will be agreed at a major international conference in Montreal in December.

Boris Johnson promised to work with the devolved governments to increase the amount of protection they give.

The Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL), the largest environment and wildlife coalition in England, said in a report that the protection of the land and sea in England had barely increased.

The government added 0.22% to the amount of protected land with the designation of 2,800 hectares of nature in three new sites of special scientific interest.

The government is limping backwards in the race to halt nature's decline. The government's chances of effectively protecting 30% of the land and sea by the year 2030 are diminishing.

Plans for a "fundamental review" of some key EU-derived nature protection laws announced by the government of Prime Minister Liz Truss could damage rather than restore the environment, according to a report.

Mark Lloyd is the chief executive officer of The Rivers Trust.

He said that the 30x30 nature target should be a keystone for protecting rivers. This report shows that targets are meaningless if they aren't underpinned by policy and regulation.

Recent events suggest that the UK government may be dismantling the fundamental building blocks needed to achieve this target, according to the chief executive of the RSPB.

The government is committed to ending the decline of nature by the year 2030.

There is a strong economy and a strong environment. Through the Environment Act, we have been able to improve our regulations, marine protections and wildlife laws.