The Secretary of State must by regulations set a target (the “species abundance target”) in respect of a matter relating to the abundance of species.

The specified date for the species abundance target must be 31 December 2030.

Accordingly, the species abundance target is not a long-term target and the duty in subsection (1) is in addition to (and does not discharge) the duty in section 1(2) to set a long-term target in relation to biodiversity.

Before making regulations under subsection (1) which set or amend a target the Secretary of State must be satisfied that meeting the target, or the amended target, would halt a decline in the abundance of species.

Section 1(4) to (9) applies to the species abundance target and to regulations under this section as it applies to targets set under section 1 and to regulations under that section.

In this Part “the species abundance target” means the target set under subsection (1).