UK Target 1: The UK will ensure that all areas are under participatory, integrated and biodiversity inclusive spatial planning and/or effective management processes addressing land- and sea-use change, to bring the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance, including ecosystems of high ecological integrity, close to zero by 2030, while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities[1].

Commitments:

UK

• We will establish marine plans in all UK seas in line with the objectives of the UK Marine Policy Statement.
• As a member of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, the UK will have a sustainable ocean plan in place by 2027. 
• Through the UK Marine Strategy, the UK is committed to the following targets relating to marine ecosystems: the extent of habitat types adversely affected by physical disturbance caused by human activity should be minimised; the extent of adverse effects caused by human activities on condition, function and ecosystem processes of habitats is minimised.
• Through the UK Marine Strategy, the UK is committed to the following targets relating to marine habitat loss: the physical loss of each seabed habitat type caused by human activities is minimised and where possible reversed; habitat loss of sensitive fragile or important habitats caused by human activities is prevented, and where feasible reversed.
• We will establish, by 2028, a UK wetland inventory, in support of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, mapping our wetlands for the first time and underpinning future actions to protect these vital habitats.

England

• The National Planning Policy Framework requires that plans and decisions should apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development. In practice, this means that all plans should promote a sustainable pattern of development that seeks to: meet the development needs of their area; align growth and infrastructure; improve the environment; mitigate climate change (including by making effective use of land in urban areas) and adapt to its effects.
• We will introduce a Land Use Framework to balance food production and nature’s recovery.
• We will publish Local Nature Recovery Strategies covering the whole of England for use by public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver nature recovery and wider environmental commitments by the end of 2025 or shortly after.
• We will continue to implement the Biodiversity Net Gain condition for new planning permissions that was launched on 12 February 2024 to support nature recovery. This means that new developments must provide a 10% gain for biodiversity, and that where it is not possible to deliver the net gain on-site, developers will invest in off-site habitat creation and enhancement.
• We have published the revised Town and Country Planning Consultation Direction 2024 which includes suitable criteria and arrangements that apply for consulting the Secretary of State where a local planning authority has resolved to grant planning permission for development affecting ancient woodland. This is an ongoing consideration for local planning authorities where development affects ancient woodland. 
• We will review and monitor the effectiveness of marine plans and related policies at least every three to six years. 

Scotland

• We will ensure we secure positive effects for biodiversity from our National Planning Framework 4.
• We will ensure that every local authority area has a nature network improving ecological connectivity across Scotland.
• We will update the National Marine Plan to guide sustainable development and use of Scotland’s seas, helping to address the global nature and climate crises.
• We will increase the environmental benefits derived from Scotland’s forest and woodland resource, focussing on protecting and enhancing associated biodiversity. To do this, we will promote design and management practices which further these ambitions and help deliver greater environmental benefits.

Wales

• We will update our statutory Natural Resources Policy and continue to embed the priorities identified in it across Welsh Government and the wider public sector.
• We will continue to update and use our statutory Area Statements to guide our place-based actions to deliver the priorities identified in our Natural Resources Policy. In addition, we will further develop and publish our Nature Networks maps which provide spatial guidance for the delivery of Global Biodiversity Framework Targets 2 and 3.
• We will work with local planning authorities and key stakeholders to develop and pilot strategic planning guidance for Policy 9 of  Future Wales. This promotes opportunities for green infrastructure and resilient ecological networks for nature recovery and climate change adaptation. Authorities should include these areas and/or opportunities in their development plan strategies and policies.
• We will deliver our ambition for achieving a Net Benefit for Biodiversity (NBB) in our planning system, as set out in Planning Policy Wales (PPW) through local authority development plans and green infrastructure assessments. To achieve NBB, PPW includes the introduction of a stepwise approach and the use of the Diversity, Extent, Condition, Connectivity and Aspects of ecosystem resilience (DECCA) Framework to promote ecosystem resilience and extra protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
• The Welsh National Marine Plan sets out a framework which requires  proposals to avoid, minimise or mitigate against adverse effects on marine ecosystems, while encouraging those that restore or enhance them. 

Northern Ireland

• We will ensure we secure positive effects for biodiversity from our national planning policy, Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland, Edition 2 (SPPS).
• We will develop and implement nature recovery plans and programmes to secure effective management of our protected sites.
• We will work across government, authorities and stakeholders to align policies and programmes to enhance protection for nature and ecological connectivity, deliver biodiversity gain and support landscape scale ecosystem restoration.
• In 2026, the Marine Plan for Northern Ireland will be adopted.

UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

The British Virgin Islands 

• We will establish and implement protected and conserved area management plans that consider climate resiliency and landscape approaches.
• We will undertake a broad-scale Marine Spatial Plan for our entire exclusive economic zone (EEZ), considering the full range of activities currently occurring and projected to occur.
• We will develop a National Ocean Policy to establish a strategic framework for integrated marine planning and management of our nation’s marine space and the activities that occur within it.

The Falkland Islands

• We will actively participate in the integrated, cross-boundary management of marine ecosystems in the South-West Atlantic, that considers cumulative impacts and contributes to the good condition of marine and coastal ecosystems.
• We will develop an integrated land-water management plan to tackle dryness and erosion.

Gibraltar

• We will publish a new Gibraltar Development Plan that will include policies to preserve Gibraltar’s natural environment.
• We will continue to work to meet the conservation objectives of Emerald Sites protected in Gibraltar under the Bern Convention.
• We will work towards inclusion of Gibraltar’s protected areas in the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve.
• We will increase the extent of terrestrial and marine protected areas, including the designation of micro protected area networks.

Guernsey

• We will develop a marine spatial plan by the end of 2027 for all of Guernsey’s territorial waters that will consider all marine activities and opportunities, and the preservation of marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

The Isle of Man

• By 2025, we aim to manage biodiversity change to minimise loss. 
• We will continue the development of marine spatial management as appropriate, including the network of well-managed Marine Protected Areas, to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of fisheries, key habitats and species.

England

• The National Planning Policy Framework includes a requirement that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment and protect and enhance biodiversity.
• The Planning and Infrastructure Act created the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) that will ensure developments support recovery of protected sites and species. By unlocking the positive impact development can have on improving our environment, the NRF will help deliver our climate and nature commitments, while ensuring the planning system is clear, fast and cost effective for developers.
• Planning Practice Guidance was issued in February 2025 to explain how Local Nature Recovery Strategies should be used to inform plan making and planning decisions across the country.
• The mandatory requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain has commenced, beginning with major development in February 2024, and for small site development in April 2024.
• We will continue to monitor, report on and update the marine plans to ensure they are supporting the delivery of our ambition. 

Scotland

• We will implement our current Land Use Strategy (2021–2026) and its next iteration to see that all land and seascapes support action to address the biodiversity crisis. Rural Land Use Partnerships will support action that is inclusive and participatory. 
• The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 supports the essential role of farmers and crofters in delivering biodiversity restoration.
• We will introduce our National Marine Plan 2 that protects and enhances the natural goods and services our marine environment provides.
• Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 includes policies to tackle the climate and nature crises.

Wales

• Section 6 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 requires public authorities to seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity in the exercise of their functions in relation to Wales, and in so doing, promote the resilience of ecosystems, so far as consistent with the proper exercise of those functions.
• At the national level, the Natural Resources Policy sets out the priorities for Wales for managing its natural resources and ecosystems. 
• At the local level, Natural Resources Wales’s Area Statements provide a vital local evidence base for the sustainable management of natural resources, which local authorities must also have regard to in their Local Development Plans.
• Future Wales National Plan 2040 is a national development framework with a strategy for addressing key national priorities through the planning system. This spatial plan is setting the direction for investment in infrastructure and development to contribute to achieving decarbonisation and biodiversity objectives.
• Planning Policy Wales sets out the land use planning policy of the Welsh Government. This system manages the development and use of land to prioritise long-term collective benefit, reconciling the needs of development and conservation to ensure sustainable management of natural resources at a national level.
• At the national level, the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 requires marine plan authorities to review and report on the effects of policies in their plan and their effectiveness at securing the plan objectives. The most recent report was the Welsh National Marine Plan monitoring report 2022 to 2025.
• The Environmental principles, governance and biodiversity targets: White Paper sets out proposals to introduce a Bill into the Senedd that will embed environmental principles into Welsh law and establish a new environmental governance body in Wales to oversee compliance with environmental law by public authorities.
• The Nature Recovery Action Plan for Wales will be refreshed in 2026 to reflect the current policy context of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the proposed Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill.

Northern Ireland

• The  Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland, Edition 2 (SPPS) sets out land use planning policy for Northern Ireland. This system manages the development and use of land to reconcile the needs of development and conservation while ensuring sustainable management of natural resources at a national level, safeguarding the needs of future generations.
• The Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 sets a duty that requires every public body, in exercising any functions, to further the conservation of biodiversity, particularly in relation to restoring or enhancing a population of any species of flora or fauna and/or any habitat.
• The  Environmental Improvement Plan for Northern Ireland forms the basis for a coherent and effective set of interventions that can collectively deliver real improvements in the quality of the environment and have marine plans in place.
• The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 require DAERA, as the marine plan authority, to prepare marine plans. The Marine Plan for Northern Ireland has been developed within the framework of the UK Marine Policy Statement and will facilitate the sustainable development of the marine area.

UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

The British Virgin Islands

• The Virgin Islands Strategic Blue Economy Roadmap 2020–2025 was developed with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It sets out an integrated approach to ocean-based sustainable development which brings together economy, environment and society, consistent with the Sustainable Development Agenda (2030), Aichi Target 11 and the Paris Agreement (the roadmap was developed before the GBF was agreed and is therefore consistent with the Aichi Targets agreed under the CBD for 2011–2020). 

The Falkland Islands

• The Falkland Islands Environment Strategy 2021–2040 sets out the Falkland Islands’ objectives for the next 20 years, so that we can work towards a shared vision for the future of our environment.
• The Islands Plan 2022–2026 Delivery Plan sets out the blueprint for the Legislative Assembly and will stand as proof of the actions that we intend to take on behalf of generations to come.

Gibraltar

• The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out Gibraltar’s long-term strategy for protecting and enhancing its environment over the next quarter century. It provides a structured framework to guide policy, planning and environmental management.
• The Nature Protection Act, Gibraltar Nature Reserve Management Plan, Biodiversity Action Plan, Marine Reserve Management Plan and associated Regulations and conservation objectives help to protect and preserve terrestrial and marine environments.

Guernsey

• Guernsey’s Island Development Plan 2016 takes an integrated spatial approach to land use planning. The Plan includes the designation of the most important sites for biodiversity in Guernsey as ‘Sites of Special Significance’ in which developments will only be accepted where they will not have an adverse effect on their special interest.
• Guernsey’s biodiversity strategy, the Strategy for Nature, is a framework that aims to integrate biodiversity in decision making, connect the community to nature and safeguard nature to increase its resilience to threats such as climate change.

The Isle of Man 

• Managing our Natural Wealth, the Isle of Man's First Biodiversity Strategy 2015–2025sets out a vision for the future health of our biodiversity, and maps out the framework for action to conserve and enhance our natural richness for the health, enjoyment and economic well-being of all the people of Isle of Man.