When Labour came into government in July 2024, we made a commitment to place nature and biodiversity protection at the centre of our policymaking, particularly as it relates to our planning system.
As you may know, in Wales, many areas of environmental policy, including planning, biodiversity and land management, are devolved to the Welsh Government. That means protecting nature is a shared responsibility, and we are working together to deliver for Wales and the whole of the UK.
Since taking office, we have acted decisively to reverse years of environmental decline overseen by successive Conservative governments. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill is progressing through Parliament. This Bill will help protect two-thirds of the world’s oceans and support the global goal of safeguarding 30 per cent of marine areas by 2030. Our actions today strengthen environmental security for future generations.
On land, the UK Labour Government has launched a £70 million Nature Restoration Fund to support projects that restore nature, not just offset harm. Our goals include creating three new National Forests and investing £400 million in woodland and peatland restoration.
These initiatives will create 14,000 green jobs and enhance flood resilience through natural solutions. Last year, 5,765 hectares of new woodland were established in England, meaning that woodland creation rates over the past year were 27% higher than in 2023/24 and 156% higher than in 2021/22.
Species recovery is a key government priority. Through the Species Recovery Programme, we have invested £13 million to protect over 150 threatened species, including water voles, hazel dormice, and Atlantic salmon. More than 15,000 animals and plants have been relocated, and 12,000 animals have been bred in captivity to support population growth. We are currently expanding and refreshing this scheme to ensure it works as effectively as possible. We are also addressing wildlife crime with new funding to deter offenders, supported by the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
In Wales, the Welsh Government’s planning policy continues to protect green spaces and ensures that protecting ecosystems remains central to decision-making. Wales has led the way by banning snares and glue traps and has recently granted legal protection to European beavers, making it an offence to harm them or their habitats. The Welsh Labour government’s Wildlife and Rural Crime Strategy is also improving enforcement and strengthening collaboration with Natural Resources Wales.
Together, the UK and Welsh Governments are working to ensure nature thrives, not falters, and that communities are best protected from climate impacts, and our land and seas are healthier and stronger by 2030.