“England’s natural environment is in decline and its deterioration is harming the economy, an independent advisory group has told the government.
The Natural Capital Committee says pressures will rise with population growth and has called for a 25-year investment plan.
Its report said measures like investing in improved air quality and greener cities would bring economic benefits.
Defra said it had set “long-term goals” to halt “decades of decline”.
‘Great opportunity’
The committee also advised that creating hundreds of thousands of hectares of woodland and wetlands would lead to multi-million pound benefits, including avoiding flooding and improving health.
It says the government, businesses and society as a whole should be involved in the 25-year strategy to protect England’s “natural capital” – its assets which include forests, rivers, land and wildlife.
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Analysis
By Roger Harrabin, Environment Analyst
When the government came to office ministers said they wanted to leave the environment in a better state than before. They set up a committee to report on the state of the UK’s natural assets.
Their report says the elements of the natural environment which provide valuable goods and services to people – like clean air, clean water, food and recreation – are in long-term decline.
That’s the bad news. The committee says the good news is it can be put right. They say a 25-year investment plan will bring returns comparable to other infrastructure projects.
Good value investments include saving on health spending by cleaning up dirty air, preventing floods by restoring peat bogs and creating wetlands, improving fisheries and improving green spaces in cities to get people outdoors and improve their mental and physical health.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30996096 (extracts)
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