Evaluation of Biodiversity 2020 Annex 4: Theme 2 - Putting people at the heart of biodiversity 1 Evaluation of Biodiversity 2020 This report is the copyright of Defra and has been prepared by CEH under contract to Defra. The contents of this report may not be reproduced in whole or in part, nor passed to any other organisation or person without the specific prior written permission of Defra. CEH has used reasonable skill and care in checking the accuracy and completeness of information supplied by the client or third parties in the course of this project under which the report was produced. CEH is however unable to warrant either the accuracy or completeness of such information supplied by the client or third parties, nor that it is fit for any purpose. CEH does not accept responsibility for any legal, commercial or other consequences that may arise directly or indirectly as a result of the use by CEH of inaccurate or incomplete information supplied by the client or third parties in the course of this project or its inclusion in this project or its inclusion in this report. 2 Contents List of Abbreviations and Acronyms .............................................................................................. 4 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.1 Purpose of the evaluation ....................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Overview of Biodiversity 2020 ................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Theme 2 ................................................................................................................................... 7 2 Priority Action 1: People Engagement ................................................................................... 8 2.1 Evaluation framework ............................................................................................................. 8 2.2 Theme 2 Priority Action 1: Key activities ................................................................................. 9 2.3 Q1: Is there increased awareness and improved understanding of the value of biodiversity? 12 2.4 Are more people engaging with the natural environment?.................................................. 17 2.5 Are more people taking positive action for nature? ............................................................. 27 3 Priority Action 2: Biodiversity values incorporated in decision-making ................................ 34 3.1 Evaluation framework ........................................................................................................... 34 3.2 Theme 2 Priority Action 2: Key activities ............................................................................... 35 3.3 Do businesses and organisations have better awareness of green market opportunities? . 37 3.4 Is there guidance and tools to support the integration of natural values in impact assessment?...................................................................................................................................... 47 3.5 Are natural values better integrated into decision-making? ................................................ 57 4 Priority Action 3: Innovative financing mechanisms ............................................................ 71 4.1 Evaluation framework ........................................................................................................... 71 4.2 Theme 2 Priority Action 3: Key activities ............................................................................... 72 4.3 Overview of the main innovating financing mechanism being used in the UK ..................... 74 4.4 Are new tools or innovative mechanisms making a meaningful contribution to funding for nature? ............................................................................................................................................. 76 4.5 Are there some tools or mechanisms that worked better that others and why? ................ 84 5 Priority 2 and 3 Workshop Note ......................................................................................... 95 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 95 5.2 Integrating biodiversity values into decision-making ............................................................ 95 5.3 Innovative financing mechanisms ....................................................................................... 103 5.4 Priorities for Defra action .................................................................................................... 107 5.5 Evidence and knowledge sharing ........................................................................................ 107 5.6 Appendix 1: Workshop participant list ................................................................................ 109 5.7 Appendix 2: Evaluation workshop agenda .......................................................................... 110 3 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms BAME Black, Asian and minority ethnic CaBA Catchment Based Approach CBD Convention on Biological Diversity DEFRA Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs EKN Ecosystems Knowledge Network EMTF Ecosystem Markets Task Force HLF Heritage Lottery Fund IFM Innovative Financing Mechanism LEP Local Enterprise Partnership LGS Local Green Space LNP Local Nature Partnership MENE Monitoring of Engagement with the Natural Environment NCC Natural Capital Committee NIA Nature Improvement Area PA Priority Action PEG People Engagement Group PES Payment for Ecosystem Services 4 1 Introduction On behalf of Defra, CEH and ICF undertook an evaluation of Biodiversity 2020. The evaluation is based on a synthesis of existing indicators and evaluative evidence, and a series of expert workshops and interviews. This document presents the evidence base for Biodiversity 2020 Theme 2, Priority Actions a, 2 and 3 – on ‘engaging people in biodiversity and the wider natural environment’, ‘incorporating biodiversity values into decision-making, and ‘innovative funding mechanisms’. 1.1 Purpose of the evaluation In August 2011 Biodiversity 2020 was published, building on the Natural Environment White Paper1, setting out the strategic direction for biodiversity policy in England to 2020 on land (including rivers and lakes) and at sea. In the 25 Year Environment Plan2 the Government committed to publish a new strategy for nature building upon Biodiversity 2020, and to evaluate the current strategy in order to learn lessons that can strengthen the future strategy. The purpose of this evaluation was to assess progress towards the Outcomes set out in Biodiversity 2020 (relating to land and freshwater only), and identify lessons and opportunities to improve delivery in the future (i.e. under a new strategy). Specifically: 1. What progress has been made towards delivering the Strategy Outcomes? 2. What worked and why? Which actions or activities had the greatest benefit in terms of delivering our desired outcomes? And, conversely, what has prevented progress? 3. What lessons can be learned and opportunities identified for furthering progress under a future strategy? 1.2 Overview of Biodiversity 2020 Biodiversity 2020 is a national strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services, implementing the CBD in England. It sets out the Government’s ambition by 2020 ‘To halt overall biodiversity loss, support healthy well- functioning ecosystems and establish coherent ecological networks, with more and better places for nature for the benefit of wildlife and people’, in line with the CBD Aichi Targets. In accordance with the aim to meet the Aichi targets, the Strategy has four intended Outcomes, which relate to habitats and ecosystems on land; marine habitats, ecosystems and fisheries; species; and people: • Outcome 1: Habitats and ecosystems on land: ‘By 2020 we will have put in place measures so that biodiversity is maintained and enhanced, further degradation has been halted and where possible, restoration is underway, helping deliver more resilient and coherent ecological networks, healthy and well-functioning ecosystems, which deliver multiple benefits for wildlife and people’, including: 1https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228842/ 8082.pdf 2https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/693158/ 25-year-environment-plan.pdf 5 o 1a. Better wildlife habitats with 90% of priority habitats in favourable or recovering condition and at least 50% of SSSIs in favourable condition, while maintaining at least 95% in favourable or recovering condition; o 1b. More, bigger and less fragmented areas for wildlife, with no net loss of priority habitat and an increase in the overall extent of priority habitats by at least 2000 km2; o 1c. By 2020, at least 17% of land and inland water, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, conserved through effective, integrated and joined up approaches to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services including through management of our existing systems of protected areas and the establishment of nature improvement areas. o 1d. Restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems as a contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation. • Outcome 2: Marine habitats,