Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030; and what role ecological expertise will play in supporting sustainable development, habitat protection and delivery of that target.

Our 30by30 commitment, to effectively conserve and manage 30% of our land and seas by 2030, sits at the very heart of our aim to ensure nature’s recovery.

We will publish a 30by30 Delivery Plan, to show how we will lead, support, and inspire action across England to go further and faster in progressing 30by30. We are working closely with experts from Natural England, the Biodiversity Expert Committee, and with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee at a UK level.

At sea, over 40% of English waters are designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Our focus now is on putting in place any management measures needed to effectively protect them. Management measures are developed by experts, including ecological experts, in the Marine Management Organisation informed by ecological advice from Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies.