Indicator assessment
There were increases in real terms in public
sector spending on UK biodiversity in all years between 2000/1 and
2007/8. In 2007/8 expenditure totalled £525 million, more
than doubled since 2000/1. Over the same period UK GDP
increased by 19 per cent. The indicator is therefore assessed
as improving since 2000.
Description of trends
The trend for public sector expenditure on UK
biodiversity shows a year-on-year increase - since 2000/1 spending
has grown by 11% a year on average to the current level of £525
million. The increases in public sector expenditure in the UK
should be considered in the context of the need to increase
funding, in tandem with the appropriate policy and legislative
measures, to a level sufficient to meet biodiversity targets.
Relevance
Spending is one way of assessing the priority
that is given to biodiversity within Government. Funding for
conservation work is critical to delivery of many of the targets of
the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
Background
This indicator is based upon published and
unpublished estimates of spending by the public sector combined
with a range of estimates and assumptions about the element
relating to biodiversity, using expert opinion from within the
relevant organisations wherever possible. The information is
collated by the Environmental Statistics Service in Defra. A
technical background report on the method used to compile the
figures is available from the link below.