Category Archives: white paper

Can governance in the UK Overseas Territories give environmental protection?

Can governance in the UK Overseas Territories give environmental protection? Concerns over environmental protection in the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) have been voiced for a number of years, with funding, development and pollution as some of the main issues. The … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Defra, DFiD, Environment, Government, International, Overseas Territories, UK, white paper | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Defra programmes and policies: an update

Over the past year, there have been a range of new initiatives from Defra to protect and enhance the natural environment, ranging from biodiversity offsetting to reviewing their public bodies. The all-party parliamentary group on Conservation and Wildlife met on … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Biodiversity offsetting, Defra, Planning, white paper | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Business and the environment: Ecosystems Market Task Force release final report

The value of the environment for business is often underestimated. Although the business world uses natural services and products for operations, it does not always understand its true reliance on nature and the need to value it correctly. Overcoming this … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Economy, Ecosystem Services, Planning, UK, Water, white paper | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Government's 'school report' shows 'must try harder' for water

Ministers, MPs, NGO’s and members of the Water Sector met this morning for the launch of the Blueprint for Water Scorecard. The Chair of the Blueprint for Water coalition, Carrie Hume, Head of Conservation Policy at the Wildfowl and Wetlands … Continue reading

Posted in Conservation, Defra, Event, Flooding, Government, Water, Wetlands, white paper, Wildlife and Countryside Link | Leave a comment

Cross-party committee challenges “Greenest Government Ever”

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has published a report of an inquiry into the Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP) today, challenging ministers to put nature in the heart of economic decision-making. EFRA is appointed by the House … Continue reading

Posted in Defra, Economy, Ecosystem Services, Environment, Government, Select Committee, Select Committee Inquiry, white paper | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The first year of the Natural Environment White Paper: an evaluation by Wildlife and Countryside Link

The Natural Environment White Paper (The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature, NEWP) was published a year ago in June. The White Paper set out four ambitions to achieve a healthy natural environment to be the foundation of green … Continue reading

Posted in BES, Biodiversity, Defra, Environment, Government, National Planning Policy Framework, white paper, Wildlife and Countryside Link | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Study shows biodiversity value of 'Green Infrastructure'

Last year’s Natural Environment White Paper called for the creation of ‘green infrastructure’ as a tool to conserve and enhance biodiversity in the UK. Defining what this would entail, the report concluded that in addition to the conservation of existing … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Ecological Networks, Insects, Land use, National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Policy, Urban, white paper | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK’s Natural Capital Committee beginning to take shape

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman last week announced the appointment of five members to the recently formed independent Natural Capital Committee. The members are experts in the fields of natural science and economics, with a considerable range of specialist knowledge and … Continue reading

Posted in Defra, Economics, Government, Valuation, white paper | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Richard Benyon MP gives evidence to Efra Select Committee on the Natural Environment White Paper

In an Efra Select Committee hearing on Wednesday (18th April), Richard Benyon MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Fisheries answered the panel’s queries into the measures outlined in the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP), published … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity offsetting, lawton review, Parliament, Select Committee, Uncategorized, white paper | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

National Planning Policy Framework released

On the 25th July 2011 the draft National Planning Policy Framework was published by Government. After the release of the Natural Environment White Paper in June this year conservation organisations have been highly anticipating the publication of the Framework, which … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Climate Change, Government, lawton review, National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Policy, white paper | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments