UK Target 4: The UK will ensure urgent management actions to halt human induced extinction of known threatened species and for the recovery and conservation of species, in particular threatened species, to significantly reduce extinction risk, as well as to maintain and restore the genetic diversity within and between populations of native, wild and domesticated species to maintain their adaptive potential, including through in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable management practices, and effectively manage human-wildlife interactions to minimise human-wildlife conflict for co-existence.

Commitments:

UK

• Through the UK Marine Strategy, the UK is committed to the following targets relating to Grey Seals: Grey Seal pup production does not decline substantially in the short or long-term; population abundance and distribution are consistent with favourable conservation status.
• Through the UK Marine Strategy, the UK is committed to the following targets relating to sensitive fish species: the population abundance of sensitive species is not decreasing due to anthropogenic activities and long-term viability is ensured; population abundance and geographic distribution meets established favourable reference values for each fish species listed in the Habitats Regulations; for listed fish species, the area and the quality of the habitat is sufficient.
• Through the UK Marine Strategy, the UK is committed to the following targets relating to marine birds: the population size of marine bird species has not declined substantially since 1992 as a result of human activities; widespread lack of breeding success in marine birds caused by human activities should occur in no more than three years in six; there is no significant change or range reduction in population distribution of marine birds caused by human activities. 
• Through the UK Marine Strategy, the UK is committed to the following targets relating to cetaceans: there should be no significant decrease in abundance of cetaceans caused by human activities; population ranges are not significantly lower than favourable reference values for the species. 
• We will update the Breeds at Risk and Native Breeds at Risk lists annually to monitor pressures on our native breed populations and safeguard livestock diversity.

England

• We will take targeted action to conserve and recover threatened species.
• We will halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 and then increase abundance by at least 10% to exceed 2022 levels by 2042. 
• We will restore or create over 500,000 ha of wildlife-rich habitat outside of protected sites by 31 December 2042, with an interim target to restore or create a total of 250,000 ha of a range of wildlife-rich habitats outside of protected sites by December 2030.
• We will improve the Red List Index for England for species extinction by the end of 2042, compared to 2022 levels.
• We will ensure that by December 2030, 50% of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) features have actions on track by 2030 to achieve favourable condition.
• By December 2030, we will double the number of farms providing sufficient year-round resources for farm wildlife, compared with 2025.
• We will develop an inventory for crop wild relatives and landraces to build an evidence base to inform their effective conservation.

Scotland

• We will introduce a programme of species recovery and continue effective species recovery, reintroduction and reinforcement programmes.
• We will manage existing and emerging pressures to improve the conservation status of seabirds.
• We will implement measures to protect and recover Scotland’s wild Atlantic Salmon and migratory fish populations.
• We will deliver fisheries management measures for Priority Marine Features identified as most at risk from bottom-contacting mobile fishing gear outside Marine Protected Areas and implement fisheries measures in Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in offshore waters.

Wales

• The Welsh Ministers will prepare and publish an updated list of the living organisms and types of habitat which in their opinion are of principal importance for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity in relation to Wales. This will replace the current interim list.
• Wales will continue to report against a set of National Milestones, including to reverse the decline in biodiversity with an improvement in the status of species and ecosystems by 2030 and their clear recovery by 2050. This is supported by an indicator on the status of priority species in Wales and another on the extent of healthy ecosystems.
• We will continue to support initiatives such as the Natur am Byth partnership to deliver projects focussing on species recovery assessments and recovery of Wales’ most endangered species populations.

Northern Ireland

• We will continue to work with the Northern Ireland Species Recovery Partnership to deliver on Species Recovery Principles and 35 Species Action Plans to unlock greater long-term action at scale for species.
• We will publish the first habitat/land cover model Living Map of Northern Ireland to guide delivery of species actions.
• We will develop action plans to address specific pressures on nature including nutrient pollution, wildfires, invasive species and climate change.
• We will designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to support species under threat and develop and implement management measures for these MPAs where required. 
• We will implement actions to aid the conservation and recovery of key elasmobranch and seabird species as detailed in the draft Northern Ireland Elasmobranch Conservation Strategy and draft Northern Ireland Seabird Conservation Strategy.

UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

The British Virgin Islands 

• We will establish an endangered species list with legal protection.

Gibraltar

• Gibraltar has a species abundance target for 2030 which requires that the overall species abundance index on 31st December 2030 shows that we have halted the decline in the abundance of species.

The Isle of Man

• We will continue to improve, maintain and enforce legislation for the protection of threatened species and habitats.
• We will regularly review and revise both the Biodiversity Strategy and Delivery Plan to take forward the work up to and beyond 2025.
• The Isle of Man Government will continue to promote a policy of 'no net loss' for semi-natural Manx habitats and species and that unavoidable loss is replaced or effectively compensated for.
• We will continue to target conservation action on key species and priority habitats through Biodiversity Action Plans. 

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

• By 2030, we will implement measures to ensure native biodiversity in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is maintained, in recovery or restored, or, where affected by factors outside SGSSI, measures are in place to mitigate or limit those effects.
• We will monitor ecosystems and species to understand their recovery following habitat restoration projects, and to identify change which may result from anthropogenic pressures.

England

• The Species Survival Fund will help drive the action we need to halt the decline in species, supporting projects to tackle habitat loss, safeguard our fragile ecosystems and create wildlife-rich habitats.
• We will use the Species Recovery Programme to support projects taking targeted action to conserve and recover our most threatened species, tracking the number of priority actions taken for threatened species.
• We will incentivise farmers and land managers through our agri-environment schemes to support the recovery of threatened species.
• We will support the England Species Reintroduction Taskforce to provide evidence-led advice and guidance on existing and potential species conservation translocations in England.
• We will incentivise farmers and land managers through our agri-environment schemes to implement measures to support farm wildlife alongside productive farming, by providing year-round resources for farmland species.
• We will implement actions towards achieving Good Environmental Status for breeding seabirds in England under the UK Marine Strategy.
• We will publish Local Nature Recovery Strategies to cover 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. 
• The Landscape Recovery scheme supports ambitious, long-term projects to deliver environmental and climate goods at a landscape scale. Between Rounds 1 and 2 (launched in 2022 and 2023 respectively), 56 projects have been selected. One of the themes for Round 1 was recovering and restoring England’s threatened native species, and projects aim to target the conservation of more than 260 flagship species. 
• We will support farmers and land managers to manage wildlife-rich habitat using appropriate agri-environment options for the habitat type, so the habitat can stay, or become of, sufficient quality.
• We will use the Nature Restoration Fund to pool developer contributions for environmental mitigations, allowing for strategic conservation measures at scale. In 2026, we will launch the first set of Environmental Delivery Plans to enable the roll-out of the fund.

Scotland

• The Species on the Edge partnership programme run by NatureScot and seven nature conservation charities is dedicated to improving the fortunes of 37 priority species found along Scotland's coast and islands.
• The  Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 sets out the ambition for Scotland to be ‘nature positive’ by 2030, and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045.
• We will map genetic diversity risks across Scotland and ensure mitigation of genetic diversity risks across protected areas and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) is included within Biodiversity Action Plans to reduce risks in protected areas by 2030.

Wales

• Wales has created a set of National Milestones that include reversal of the decline in biodiversity, with an improvement in the status of species and ecosystems by 2030 and their clear recovery by 2050.
• 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. A key aspect of this duty is the embedding of biodiversity considerations throughout all public authorities’ functions and specifically requires them to have regard to the Section 7 lists of species and habitats of principal importance to Wales.
• The Welsh Ministers will prepare and publish an updated list of the living organisms and types of habitat which in their opinion are of principal importance for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity in relation to Wales by the end of 2024.
• Welsh Government policy is in place to protect species through the Habitats regulations, Wildlife and Countryside Act and Section 7 of the  Environment (Wales) Act 2016.
• The Natur am Byth partnership targets the recovery of some of our most endangered species in Wales.
• The Welsh Government Programme for Government – Update includes a commitment to work towards the establishment of an Environmental Governance Body, and a statutory duty and targets to protect and restore biodiversity.

Northern Ireland

• 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, including actions for habitats and species.
• The Northern Ireland Blue Carbon Action Plan 2025–2030 and the Marine Protected Areas Strategy for the Northern Ireland Inshore Region 2025–2030 provide the foundation for the conservation, recovery and restoration of marine habitats and species. This may include the introduction of management measures where appropriate.
• The draft Seabird Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for Northern Ireland and the draft Elasmobranch Conservation Strategy for Northern Ireland outline actions required to aid the recovery of key species. Both strategies are to be finalised and published in 2026.

UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

The British Virgin Islands

• Vision 2036: Building a Sustainable Virgin Islands sets out an overall vision to have a well-balanced, people-centred Virgin Islands built on spirituality, social justice and equality; nurtured by trust, cultural knowledge and participatory governance; and strengthened by economic, environmental and social sustainability. One of the national outcomes of this policy is environmental sustainability. 

Gibraltar

• The Gibraltar Nature Reserve Management Plan and Gibraltar Marine Reserve Management Plan, together with the relevant conservation objectives for protected areas in Gibraltar, recognise the importance of restoration and management activities to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
• 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 Environmental Governance Act sets out long term targets for biodiversity.

The Isle of Man 

• Managing our Natural Wealth, the Isle of Man's First Biodiversity Strategy 2015–2025 sets 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 the Isle of Man.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 

• Protect Sustain Inspire (PSI) – A values-driven approach to the stewardship of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands 2021–2025 sets out the Islands’ seven priority areas for the period 2021 to 2025 and includes an overview of the range of activities and delivery commitments that will take priority. Delivering PSI – The Government’s Implementation Programme provides detail on the implementation programme for the PSI commitments beyond 2025.