150 species saved in England, but ‘time running out’ to halt decline

LONDON: A multi-million pound conservation programme in England helped save 150 struggling species but “time is running out” to halt the decline, the head of Natural England, which led the initiative, said Wednesday.The public body, responsible for protecting and enhancing England’s natural environment, invested a £13 million ($17.6 million) grant in efforts to support animal and plant species such as water vole, oystercatcher, lady’s slipper orchid, the hazel dormouse and Atlantic salmon. “From the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall to Cumbria and Northumberland, 63 different projects involving 78 partners have transformed landscapes and supported the recovery of 150 species, many of which were on the brink of national extinction, through research, captive breeding, habitat creation, and conservation translocations,” the body said in a statement released Wednesday.More than 15,000 individual animals and plants were translocated to expand species territories under the projects, which ran from August 2023 to March 2025. Notable successes include the reintroduction of black grouse to the North Yorkshire Moors, northern England, and the return of the large marsh grasshopper to the Norfolk Broads in east England after an 85-year absence. Despite the achievements, the chair of Natural England Tony Juniper warned more needed to be done. “A rising number of nature recovery projects, both large and small, are making a huge difference up and down the country,” he said in the press release.“We know we can turn round species decline and improve ecosystems with the right targeted actions, the drive and the funding. But time is running out fast,” he added.Juniper called for more projects, more volunteers and more investment, particularly from the private sector.