The Environmental Targets (Biodiversity) (England) Regulations 2023

PART 2 Long-term biodiversity target: species’ extinction risk

Species’ extinction risk target

4.  The long-term biodiversity target for species’ extinction risk is to reduce the risk of species’ extinction by 2042, when compared to the risk of species’ extinction in 2022.

Measurement of species’ extinction risk target

5.—(1) The target in regulation 4 is met by 31st December 2042 if the extinction risk value for 2042 calculated in accordance with paragraph (2) has a greater value than the baseline value, with the extinction risk value for 2042 and the baseline value being expressed as values in a range from 1 to 0 where—

(a) a value of 1 would indicate that all baseline species were of Least Concern; and

(b) a value of 0 would indicate that all baseline species were Regionally Extinct.

(2) The Secretary of State must ensure that an extinction risk value for 2042 is calculated in 2042 using the same methodology that was used to calculate the baseline value(1), to indicate the aggregate risk of extinction for all baseline species at the time of its calculation.

(3) In this regulation—

“baseline species” means a species listed in the 2022 Red List Index for England;

“the baseline value” means the value of 0.9070, being the value set out in the 2022 Red List Index for England to indicate the aggregate risk of extinction for all baseline species.

(4) In this regulation—

(a) a species is considered to be of Least Concern when it is classified as such for the purposes of calculating the 2022 Red List Index for England;

(b) a species is Regionally Extinct when it is classified as such for the purposes of calculating the 2022 Red List Index for England.

Reporting date for the species’ extinction risk target

6.  For the purposes of section 6(1) of the 2021 Act (environmental targets: reporting duties), the reporting date for the target in regulation 4 is 1st July 2043.

(1)

An explanation of how the 2022 Red List Index for England is calculated can be found in the document named “Outcome Indicator Framework for England’s 25 Year Environment Plan: D5 Conservation status of our native species – Technical background document for D5 Conservation status of our native species” published in October 2022, which can be found online at http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6315201438941184 . A printed copy of this document may be obtained from Natural England, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester WR5 2NP.