New plans to improve our natural environment
08 June 2011
Defra have this week published the first White Paper on the natural environment in 20 years – ‘The Natural Choice’.
The White Paper sets out a detailed programme of action to repair damage done to the environment in the past, and urges everyone to get involved in helping nature to flourish at all levels – from neighbourhoods to national parks.
Fiona Ashurst spokesperson for Keep Britain Tidy said: “The importance of our green spaces, rivers, canals and coastal areas cannot be underestimated. By taking responsibility for our rubbish, not dropping litter and helping to keep these areas clean, we can help to safeguard and protect them.”
The White Paper aims to improve the quality of the natural environment across England, halt the decline in habitats and species, and strengthen the connection between people and nature. The new way of looking at nature will help the growth of a green economy which treats natural capital in a responsible and fair way, encouraging businesses to use that capital sustainably.
Launching ‘The Natural Choice’, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:
“The natural environment matters to us all – not just because it makes us feel good when we stumble across a bluebell wood or spot a pair of goldfinches, but because we are now all able to see the terrible price we would pay if we lost what we have or neglected to care for it. Nature belongs to us all, and we’ve all got a vested interest in protecting it.
“That’s why the true value of nature should be built in to the decisions we make – as individuals, organisations, businesses and governments – so that we become the first generation to leave the environment in a better condition than we found it. This is what ‘The Natural Choice’ will help us all achieve.”