New research commissioned by Wildlife and Countryside Link reveals that annual investment in protected nature sites needs to increase from around £1.1 billion today to approximately £2 billion to restore England’s protected places by 2042, the deadline for key Environment Act nature targets. This investment would also help deliver 30by30 – the commitment to protect and effectively manage 30% of England’s land and sea for nature by 2030.

England’s protected places, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Landscapes, and National Parks, have the potential to be the crown jewels of a thriving landscape – places where wildlife flourishes and people can experience nature at its best. But decades of underinvestment, pollution and intensive industry have left too many habitats damaged and wildlife disappearing. With the right protection and investment, these places could once again become the thriving heart of nature's recovery across England and help keep our country safe from climate risks.

The research estimates that delivering 30by30 on land could create or restore at least one million hectares of wildlife-rich habitat – helping to build a bigger, better-connected network where nature can flourish.