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Hilary Benn announces chair of wildlife review

News release

Ref: 249/09
Date: 27 October 2009

Professor Sir John Lawton has been appointed to chair the review of England’s wildlife network announced by Hilary Benn on 28 September 2009.

To report by June 2010, the review will explore if England’s collection of wildlife areas represents a coherent and robust ecological network that will be capable of responding to the challenges of climate change and other pressures.

Announcing the appointment while giving the annual Darwin Lecture at the Natural History Museum, Hilary Benn said:

“I am delighted that Sir John has agreed to chair this review. As a distinguished ecologist he will bring a wealth of experience to the review team while they carry out this work that is vital for the future of our wildlife.”

Commenting on his appointment, Professor Lawton said:

“I greatly welcome this review and am delighted to have been asked to chair it. Climate change poses a major challenge for England’s wildlife, but it is by no means the only threat. We need to ensure that the existing protected-area network is fit for purpose, and if it isn’t, what we do about it.”

Notes to editors

  1. Professor Sir John Lawton CBE FRS is Chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Vice-President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Vice-Chair of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and a Fellow of WWF-UK.  He was President of the Council of the British Ecological Society 2005-07, Vice-President of the British Trust for Ornithology 1999-2007 and Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) 1999-2005.  He was Director (and founder) of the NERC Centre for Population Biology at Imperial College, 1989-99 and before that held academic posts in the Universities of York and Oxford.
  2. The full membership of the review panel will be announced shortly.

End

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Page published: 27 October 2009