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Wildlife indicators show improvements

   

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Ref: 376/08
Date: 27 November 2008

Government indicators published today show encouraging signs for the health of England’s wildlife. 

The eight indicators cover public attitudes to biodiversity, nutrient levels in rivers and lakes, salmon stocks and the abundance of species sensitive to climate change. 

For the six indicators where there is sufficient data to make a judgement, all show upward trends, including an improvement since 2000 in the quality of rivers and salmon stocks. 

They also show an increase in the number of people volunteering for wildlife and visiting nature reserves and woodlands. 

The eight indicators are:

  • Headline Indicator : public attitudes to biodiversity;
  • Changes in abundance of climate sensitive species;
  • Public enjoyment of woodland in England;
  • Number of visits to nature reserves in England;
  • Volunteer time spent in biodiversity conservation and citizen science activity;
  • Membership of biodiversity organisations in England;
  • Nutrient levels in rivers and lakes in England; and
  • Water and Wetlands Indicator W6:  number of rivers in England with sustainable salmon stocks

All 51 indicators and previous assessments are available at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/biodiversity/indicator.htm

Notes to editors

  1. The England indicators are distinct from, and complement, the UK indicators. The data underlying the indicators are gathered on different cycles; some are gathered annually, or even monthly; others are updated on a three year, or longer, cycle. 
  2. Since the baseline assessment in 2003, a full report was produced in 2006, and subsequent updates, including 10 on International Biodiversity Day,in May, and a further 11 in August 2008.
  3. The indicator (C1) on changes in abundance of climate-change species at monitoring sites provides context, so it is not possible to say whether the increase is good or bad, while F6 on public enjoyment of woodland is not assessed as the data available from different years are not comparable.

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Page published: 27 November 2008