£14.5m funding boost announced to support the conservation of England's most endangered species

Nature conservation projects aimed at reviving endangered species in England have secured £14.5 million in funding. The funding will be used for breeding programs and improving habitats for species such as water voles in London and crayfish in Yorkshire. Estimates suggest that 15% of England's species are at risk of extinction. Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, emphasized the success of previous recovery schemes and stated that the decline in nature can still be reversed. One of the projects to receive funding is the Wiltshire Chalk Partnership, which aims to restore flower-rich grasslands that are critical for insects such as butterflies. These butterflies, including the wart-biter bush cricket, marsh fritillary, large blue, Adonis blue, and Duke of Burgundy, are habitat specialist species that declined by 27% in the last 50 years due to urban growth and farmland expansion. The UK ranks as one of the most nature-depleted countries globally, and the funding for nature conservation is not only important for local preservation but also for global species protection. The White-clawed crayfish, another species being supported through the program, is considered endangered worldwide, with the UK population declining by up to 70%. The introduction of non-native crayfish species and pollution in freshwater rivers and streams has contributed to their decline. The Claws for Thought Project plans to establish a new rearing facility to support crayfish in their early vulnerable years. The project's existing breeding program has achieved a 60% success rate in raising crayfish to breeding age, significantly higher than in the wild. Other species that will benefit from the funding include the large marsh grasshopper, lapwings, and the grey long-eared bat.