Nature protection and biodiversity - Drivers and pressures (United Kingdom)

The key issues that are either currently, or are predicted to pose, a significant threat to the highest proportion of priority species and habitats are:

·         Habitat loss (particularly due to agriculture or changes in management practices),

·         Infrastructure development (mainly housing infrastructure and development on the coast)

·         Climate change including adaptation and mitigation actions taken in other sectors.

For UK priority habitats, the top ten reasons for adverse condition of protected areas are: overgrazing (typically in the uplands); moor-burning; coastal squeeze; drainage; water pollution from agriculture and discharge; air pollution; undergrazing (typically in the lowlands); inappropriate scrub control; and lack of appropriate forestry/woodland management (including management of deer grazing).

To halt biodiversity loss, the country conservation strategies seek to make biodiversity part of the mainstream of policies and incorporate the relevant UK BAP targets at the country level.  Many actions are being taken at a variety of levels, and often in a cross-cutting manner.  There is a statutory requirement on public bodies to have regard for biodiversity conservation when undertaking their functions.