Last week, Defra published the results of a key study, Making Space for Nature, which reports how robust wildlife sites are across England, and on what might need to change in the future to safeguard nature right across the landscape.

The findings are pretty bleak and the report stresses that massive change is needed from all parts of society if we are to restore nature, with strong leadership from government and better collaboration between communities, land managers, charities and business.

And we all have a chance right now to say how we think nature should be included in public policy. The government is drafting a White Paper on the natural environment; the first for more than 20 years – and Defra has asked for input on what the Natural Environment White Paper should include.

It will also attempt to incorporate the findings of Making Space for Nature. There are four short questions to answer or there is a longer document “An invitation to shape the Nature of England” which you may want to comment on in more detail.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to help mould nature conservation in England. White Papers guide future policy and could propose changes to the law. This could set the foundations for how conservation is done in England for the next fifty years or more. WWT will be responding. There are many opportunities within the discussion paper for WWT to comment. Among other topics it covers:

How to better educate and enthuse people about the natural world – something WWT has been doing for a very long time
Seeking out the most innovative and successful approaches to delivering nature conservation here and abroad – again something WWT has a long and successful track record on
The future of all wetlands and their wildlife in England and how to safeguard them – an opportunity to express WWT’s thoughts on a range of wetland issues and water policy
Hopefully, the outcome of this White Paper will help us do our good work into the future. Please consider your thoughts too and respond directly to Defra or, if you have thoughts that relate to WWT, please email conservationpolicy@wwt.org.uk
.

Ground-breaking aerial research conducted by WWT has helped to secure two new EU Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in Liverpool Bay and the Outer Thames Estuary by demonstrating how important these areas are for red-throated divers and common scoters.

The new marine SPAs which, between them, span more than half a million hectares, have been added to the previously designated Carmarthen Bay in Wales, which was also granted protected status following findings published by WWT.

Under the European Birds Directive, member states are obliged to classify and protect suitable sites for the conservation of birds.

Over the last decade, WWT and its consultancy have pioneered the use of aerial surveys in the UK to monitor waterbirds and seabirds at sea. These have provided the first comprehensive and accurate ornithological assessment of UK inshore waters and have identified important areas for designation as marine SPAs, ensured the appropriate siting of offshore wind farms, and resulted in several major ornithological discoveries.

In Liverpool Bay, the coastal waters stretching from Anglesey in Wales to the Lancashire coast now have protected status after WWT revealed how important they are for biodiversity. And after the Thames was found to be home to more than 10,000 red-throated divers – one of the largest concentrations in Europe – it was also designated SPA status.

The ground-breaking research – initiated by WWT’s Peter Cranswick and a small team to assess the effects of the Sea Empress oil spill in 1996 – has monitored vast areas from the air. And the findings have achieved a huge amount for conservation.

The surveys found:

Up to 50,000 common scoters over Shell Flat (located off the coast between Blackpool and Cleveleys). None were known to occur there before and the UK estimate for wintering common scoters was subsequently changed from 27,000 to over 100,000.
That scoters occur up to 20 km from shore (previously thought to be just a few km).
More than 10,000 red-throated divers in the Thames – one of the largest concentrations of divers in Europe. No-one had any idea about this previously.
Red-throated divers are widely distributed throughout near-shore waters – again, this wasn’t known previously.
In addition to helping to establish the SPAs, WWT’s research also prevented a proposed £300m windfarm development from destroying what is now known to be the UKs best common scoter site.

Futhermore, it shaped the Government’s decision to exclude any offshore wind farm developments in shallow waters (less than 10m deep) in Round 2 of its offshore wind power energy drive.
.

A short film of last year’s mission to Madagascar to rescue the endemic pochard from imminent extinction has been posted on YouTube. It tells the story of the team of WWT and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust staff who worked with the local Malagasy community and the support of The Peregrine Fund to take clutches of eggs into captivity to establish a safety net population.

The team are currently back in Madagascar to establish a major conservation project to breed birds, restore wetlands and ultimately reintroduce the pochard within its former range. Follow their progress on the blog.

Help support our work in Madagascar by donating to our Madagascar pochard appeal..