Over 15,000 people and organisations sent responses to a call for ideas on the Natural Environment White Paper, a record number for a Defra consultation.
Work is now continuing to develop the White Paper for publication in the spring. One of the key elements of current Government thinking is the concept of biodiversity offsetting, where society is compensated for its environmental loss, by a developer paying to create or restore an area of habitat elsewhere.
Defra said that while development was necessary for communities to grow and expand, it could also damage wildlife and habitats. Greater use of offsetting is increasingly being viewed as a potential tool to protect the natural environment.
Commenting on the level of response, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:
“I’m delighted with the overwhelming response that we have had to our call for ideas on the Natural Environment White Paper. We’ve received over 15,000 replies from individuals, NGOs and businesses, which goes to show that people really care about the natural environment and want a say in how it is managed.
“This is exactly the kind of debate that we had hoped to stimulate. A healthy environment is something that we all need, and all enjoy, so it’s vital that people get involved. We will take these ideas forward as we look to create a new vision for our natural environment and seek opportunities to enhance its value.”
Defra said that biodiversity offsetting would not stop development or affect the rules about where development could or couldn’t take place. , It was also not intended to weaken protection for species or make it easier to build on the most valuable conservation sites. A statement issued by Defra said:
“The Natural Environment White Paper will be a bold and ambitious statement outlining the government’s vision for the natural environment, backed up with practical action. It represents an opportunity to change the way we think about and manage the natural environment, seeing it as a system and valuing the services it gives us.”
The White Paper, which will cover England only, will be published in Spring 2011. The responses are currently being analysed and a summary of the key messages will be published on the Defra website prior to the publication of the White Paper. Further information on on biodiversity offsetting is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/offsetting/index.htm.
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