The Nature Security Assessment on Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse and National Security was published 20 January 2026. It is a cross-government strategic assessment, developed by analysts and subject matter experts across Government. The Assessment was not produced by a single department, it brings together scientific evidence, policy analysis and national security expertise to inform long-term resilience and security planning.

The Government’s plans for restoring natural habitats are set out in the 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan. I refer the Hon Member to information on gov.uk - Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025 - GOV.UK.

We are exploring how to drive greater ambition for nature and climate in the Fourth National Adaptation Programme.

Defra's peatland funding includes grants to address different challenges across England's peatlands.

Protections for peatland include the National Policy Statements for major renewable energy developments, guiding developers to avoid peatland, and where not possible, mitigate or compensate for impacts.

The National Planning Policy Framework states relevant development proposals should contribute to creation or restoration of habitats which can act as carbon stores, and contribute positively to the natural environment, and supporting nature’s recovery.

Normal biodiversity net gain (BNG) processes apply to onshore wind development. For large schemes consented through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project route, mandatory BNG applies from November.

Defra is delivering the change to land use needed to increase our resilience to the impacts of climate change. This includes restoring the peatlands, wetlands and woodlands that store carbon and reduce wildfire risk to farmland, homes, infrastructure and nature. Following the 2026 wildfires we are considering options to improve wildfire resilience.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that children and young people can access and enjoy nature, and the benefits this can bring for their health, wellbeing and development.

Through the Environmental Improvement Plan, the Government is committed to expanding opportunities for people to access, enjoy and connect with nature, including for children and young people.

The Government also supports initiatives which help children and young people connect with nature, including the Department for Education's National Education Nature Park programme, which empowers children and young people to make a positive difference to both their own and nature's future.

Defra is in the process of reviewing the Deer Act 1991 and other legislation which underpins the protection and management of deer. Any proposed changes in the law will be subject to Parliamentary time and suitable opportunities for making legislative changes being available.

APHA holds data on the number of gamebird and egg imports. The age of the animal is not recorded on the import notifications, so Defra cannot provide data on gamebird chicks. In the interest of privacy, the department cannot publish information on the place of destination of the imports.

The Government is committed to meeting the statutory Environment Act target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to at least 16.5% by 2050. We continue to support local authorities and partners to increase tree cover, including in towns and cities, through a range of tree planting and establishment programmes.

Defra is investing in action for habitats and species to achieve biodiversity targets set in the Environment Act and Environmental Improvement Plan. Since 2023, action has been taken on an area twice the size of the Isle of Wight to create or restore wildlife-rich habitat

The new £30 million Wildlife-rich Habitat Fund is expected to deliver thousands of hectares of new habitat across England’s Protected Landscapes and we announced our largest ever investment in threatened species recovery. £90 million over three years, including £60 million for the Species Recovery Programme and £30 million for recovery on the national forest estate.

Defra has no current plans to introduce a registration and accreditation system for organisations that deliver wildlife rehabilitation services in England.

As set out in the Land Use Framework and the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, this Government committed to strengthening the evidence base on gamebird rearing, release and shooting in England.

Defra’s Gamebird rapid evidence review was published in 2020 and is available here. Further research into these findings was published in 2025 and available here. A Call for Evidence, launched on 4 September will gather any further information and evidence on the potential environmental impacts of gamebird release, including native biodiversity and to improve our understanding of both the positive and negative impacts associated with these activities.

As set out in the Land Use Framework and the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, this Government committed to strengthening the evidence base on gamebird rearing, release and shooting in England.

Defra’s Gamebird rapid evidence review was published in 2020 and is available here. Further research into these findings was published in 2025 and available here. A Call for Evidence, launched on 4 September will gather any further information and evidence on the potential environmental impacts of gamebird release, including native biodiversity and to improve our understanding of both the positive and negative impacts associated with these activities.

MHCLG and Defra are jointly coordinating work on current and future risk mapping, including risk hotspots and national-level risk assessments.

Measures have been taken to reduce wildfire risk including the ban on the sale of disposable barbecues introduced on 14 August as well as the use of the emergency alert system within parts of the UK. The Secretary of State for MHCLG also wrote to local authorities across England reminding them of the powers available to restrict activities that could increase fire risk, including the use of Public Spaces Protection Orders to limit barbecues, campfires and other forms of open fire in vulnerable areas.

This sits alongside wider measures including advice being made more visible, including through social media during high-risk periods, the Cabinet Office Prepare website, the Fire Kills campaign and StayWise, the NFCC-led education platform.

Addressing wildfire requires more than emergency response, it depends on coordinated action across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, with clear roles for MHCLG, Defra, fire and rescue authorities, land managers and wider partners.

The Defra Infrastructure Board is an internal cross-government forum, with representation from a range of government departments and public bodies. It draws on expertise from across government, with relevant technical experts attending as required.

The Government recognises that biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation can pose risks to food security, water security and economic resilience. We are therefore taking action to strengthen the UK's preparedness and resilience to these risks through resilience planning, investment in nature and infrastructure, and measures to improve food system and supply chain resilience.

We have launched the Taskforce on the National Security and Resilience Risks of a Changing Climate and Nature Loss and commissioned a three-year Nature Security Research and Development Programme to improve indicators, analytical tools and early-warning capability, helping the Government to identify emerging risks and strengthen resilience planning.

To strengthen food system resilience, we are implementing the 2025 Food Strategy and working across Government to improve preparedness for supply chain disruption and longer-term risks. We are also investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery and have committed £11.8 billion over this Parliament to support sustainable farming and food production.

To improve water resilience, we have secured £104 billion of investment in the water sector, including new reservoirs and measures to reduce leakage. Water companies’ published Water Resources Management Plans show how they can close the predicted water supply demand gap.

Internationally, the UK's climate and nature programmes support the protection and restoration of forests, oceans and other critical ecosystems that underpin global food production, water resources and economic stability, including through the UK's International Climate Finance programme and the Government's intended £400 million investment in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility.

No, this Government has not made such an estimate.

MHCLG is the lead department for wildfire. Defra works closely with them on wildfire preparedness and incident response. In England and Wales, the Met Office’s Fire Severity Index is used to evaluate how severe a wildfire could become if one were to ignite under current weather patterns. Defra is undertaking a range of research projects to review new and existing evidence on wildfire and best practice approaches to building environmental resilience and manage this natural hazard.

The Forestry Commission publishes planting statistics annually. Approximately 17,571,000 trees were planted in England between April 2023 and March 2025 contributing to the statutory tree canopy target. Approximately 3% were within built up areas.

Government funding is supporting planting in urban areas. This includes working with the Tree Council to invest over £3 million since April 2025 to plant trees outside woods. Approximately 125,000 trees have been planted in urban areas across 28 local authorities. We are currently developing future options for planting support for urban trees.

Tree planting rates over the last two years (2024/25 and 2025/26) are the highest in England for more than two decades, with over 13,500 hectares of trees planted over these two years.

This Government is committed to protecting peatlands. In September 2025, the Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) Regulations 2021 were amended, expanding restrictions on unnecessary burning practices, to enhance protection of upland deep peat and improve the resilience of moorlands. A range of new scientific evidence, subject to appropriate academic rigour, was assessed within the context of the cumulative evidence base. Evidence showed that burning, especially repeated burning, results in a departure from the typical structure of these habitats and can impact how they function.  The Government remains satisfied that the Regulations are supported by the available evidence.

Defra continues to monitor the growing evidence on this topic. As part of its delivery of the Third National Adaptation Programme, Defra has commissioned a wildfire and peatland study, which includes looking at the effectiveness of a range of peatland land management systems and practices in creating wildfire resilience. Defra will continue to monitor these results and engage with key stakeholders.

This Government is committed to protecting peatlands. In September 2025, the Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) Regulations 2021 were amended, expanding restrictions on unnecessary burning practices, to enhance protection of upland deep peat and improve the resilience of moorlands.

Under the Regulations, land managers can apply for a licence to burn to reduce the impacts of wildfire where there is no feasible alternative and where there is a clear, evidenced need. Applicants must provide robust evidence demonstrating why alternative vegetation management methods are not feasible and must set out what wider actions they are taking to move the site away from the need to burn in future.