Many thanks to those who contacted me about our uplands and peatlands.
I would like to assure you that I am committed to protecting our uplands, the wildlife that thrives there, and the people who live there too.
I agree that restoring nature is crucial and I am pleased that the Prime Minister has committed to protecting 30 per cent of the UK’s land by 2030 and will be making nature a key focus of COP26. As well as this, the Environment Bill has now been amended to require a historic, new legally binding target on species abundance for 2030 with the aim of halting the decline of nature in England.
As you may know, the UK is moving to a new agricultural system which will reward farmers and land managers for the work that they do to enhance the environment. The environmental land management schemes being introduced will pay for sustainable farming practices, the creation and restoration of habitats, natural flood management, species management, and making landscape-scale environmental changes, among other things. I know that the uplands provide rich opportunities for the provision of environmental public goods and will be well placed to participate in these schemes.
Peatlands are our biggest terrestrial carbon store and I am glad that ministers have published an England Peat Plan which provides an ambitious framework to improve the management of these areas. Alongside this, a Trees Action Plan sets out the long-term vision for the planting and management of woodlands and trees. These plans are underpinned by the £640 million Nature for Climate Fund which will support a trebling of tree planting across England by the end of this Parliament and help to restore 35,000ha of peatland by the end of this Parliament.
In areas like the Pennines, incentives under the future agriculture policy will be developed to support projects that deliver both the capital required to achieve the re-wetting of land, coupled with maintenance payments to preserve it for the future. Further, the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force is coordinating work and developing new solutions to manage peatlands that are important for food and farming. By summer 2022, ministers will have recommendations for a more sustainable future and the possibility of new schemes that reward farmers and land managers for producing public goods.
Finally, I would like to assure you that raptor persecution is one of six national wildlife crime priorities. The Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group considers what action should be taken to prevent crime, gather intelligence on offences and enforce against. The National Wildlife Crime Unit also gathers intelligence on illegal activities and provides assistance to police forces when required.
I will continue to monitor this issue. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
