HC Deb 17 June 1998 vol 314 cc331-7

1 pm

Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)

One in eight of the world's plants are facing extinction. That is the conclusion of the World Conservation Union's red list. The list is a first attempt on a global scale to identify all threatened plants. Thirty-three thousand species, representing 12.5 per cent. of the world's known higher plants, are at risk of extinction. Many are of great horticultural beauty, some are medicinal, many are trees, and others are relatives of crop plants that could be of great importance for the sustenance of those crops in the future.

I am not critical of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. On the contrary, I have been impressed by the seriousness of its parliamentary answers and by what it has done to date. I understand from non-Government sources that the British delegation to the Bratislava conference of parties to the convention on biological diversity did well, as Britain did with its chairmanship of the CITES—the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species—standing committee.

Like hundreds of thousands of other people, I am concerned about species' disappearance. Judging from the reaction of the British press to the publication of the red list, it seems that many of their readers share those concerns. We therefore owe a debt to Dr. Mark Collins of the conservation unit in Cambridge, to Dr. Kerry Walter and David Ingram and others at the botanical gardens in Edinburgh, and, indeed, to the distinguished staff at Kew for what they have done. The red list is produced in Britain. It is done through a global network of experts, but Britain can take some pride in the fact that it was mostly organised by scientists here.

We should not simply wring our hands. This is a public issue. It is also a window of opportunity, and the purpose of this debate is simply to ask how we can mobilise resources. I have three points to make of which it was sensible to give notice. First, what is happening at home under the biodiversity action plan in the United Kingdom? In particular, what is happening in respect of the Darwin initiative? There is no point in going into detail about any of the 19 species such as the Lundy cabbage, but we should ask what is being done for the relatively few species listed as being at risk in the UK.

Secondly, what is happening Europewide? The Uppsala conference agreed on the need to identify and protect plant sites. Thirdly, in the developing world, the loss of resources is often the indirect, but sometimes the direct, cause of poverty. Let me give just one example. One in three of the dipterocarp trees under threat in south-east Asia underpin the forest economies. A lack of action will simply add to the poverty, as well as damage the environment.

I know that the Government have much to say, so I will sit down at this stage, because it is more important that we hear what they have to say than that I take my full 15 minutes.

1.5 pm

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Mr. Nick Raynsford)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) for raising this important issue. I thank him for his kind remarks about the work of our Department.

The conservation of plants is sometimes overshadowed by concerns about animal species—the so-called "charismatic mega fauna" such as elephants, tigers and whales. As an illustration of that, we currently have five red lists of threatened animal species, but have only just got the first red list of threatened plants. That is despite the fact that more than two thirds of the 35,000 species in which trade is monitored and regulated by CITES—the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species—are plants. I am therefore very glad to have the opportunity today warmly to support the sentiments expressed by my hon. Friend about the importance of plant conservation, and to outline some of the practical steps which the Government are taking to tackle this essential task.

Like my hon. Friend, I hope that today's debate will stimulate interest in this issue, and help to ensure that the red list receives the recognition and wide attention that it deserves. I very much appreciate my hon. Friend's kind remarks acknowledging the efforts that the Government have been making in this direction.

As my hon. Friend has said, the list is a Herculean undertaking, which has taken 15 years to complete. I pay tribute to the efforts of the many botanical and conservation scientists who have devoted so much of their time and expertise to this impressive co-operative effort, which was literally worldwide. The picture that it paints is, as my hon. Friend said, a worrying one, with one in eight of the world's plants threatened with extinction.

The red list is, of course, not an end in itself, but a catalyst. What is important now is what the countries whose species it lists and what the international community generally do with it. The list identifies the species under threat. It aims to serve as a stimulus and a challenge to botanists and conservationists around the world to contribute to knowledge on plants and the threats to them, and to promote increased conservation action. We need now to think carefully about how the red list can best be translated into co-ordinated practical action.

My hon. Friend raised three particular issues. The first was what we are doing domestically. The red list includes 19 species which are found in the United Kingdom, including the Lundy cabbage, which he mentioned, and the English sandwort. I am happy to be able to tell my hon. Friend that species action plans are currently being prepared for 14 of these species, with the aim of ensuring that these precious parts of our natural heritage continue to exist and to flourish in the UK. Of the other five species, we shall, in close consultation with our scientific advisers—the Joint Nature Conservation Committee—be monitoring the English sandwort and the Welsh groundsel.

There are doubts about the taxonomic classification of one of the other UK species, the Little Robin. The Aran mountain ash is a new addition to the red data list, and the Jersey pink is found only on Jersey, which is not covered by the UK biodiversity action plan.

To conserve plants effectively, it is vital to ensure also that the habitats that support them are properly looked after. In the United Kingdom, a large proportion—some three quarters—of our protected network of almost 4,000 sites of special scientific interest support significant communities of plants and have been given SSSI status wholly or partly because of their botanical interest. Moreover, there is in the UK a wide range of other initiatives that make an invaluable contribution to plant conservation. The initiatives include English Nature's species recovery programmes and the wide-ranging conservation activities undertaken by the voluntary sector, including bodies such as Plantlife and the Botanical Society of the British Isles.

Mr. Dalyell

I thank my hon. Friend for replying to this debate—the subject is not his direct responsibility in the Department—and I quite understand why the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), has to be abroad today. However, he is responsible for urban areas. There is an argument for at least considering whether more SSSIs—every small ones—could be established in certain urban areas and in certain circumstances, even in inner cities. Is that being thought about in the Department?

Mr. Raynsford

My hon. Friend raises a very interesting point, about which, in its broader terms, we are much exercised in the Department. Rightly, as part of the Government's planning policies, there is increased emphasis on ensuring that, wherever possible, new housing development in particular is concentrated in urban areas, to relieve pressure on the countryside and to contribute towards regeneration of our cities. However, we are equally concerned that such development should not be at the expense of the quality of the urban environment, and certainly should not involve development of sites that are essential to the maintenance of green spaces, wildlife and playing fields in urban areas.

I cannot answer my hon. Friend's specific question on whether further consideration is being given to designation of more SSSIs in urban areas, for the reason that he has explained to the House—in this debate, I am standing in for my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, who is abroad today on presidency business. However, I shall raise the matter with her, and ask her to write to my hon. Friend with an answer to his question.

As I said, significant numbers of communities of plants have been given SSSI status wholly or partly because of their botanical interest, and English Nature's species recovery programme and the conservation activities undertaken by the voluntary bodies that I mentioned are very important in conserving flora.

We are concerned also about what the red list reveals about the conservation status of some plant species found in the United Kingdom's dependent territories. About four in 10 of the plant species found on St. Helena, for example, are at risk. We are considering the advice of our statutory advisers—the Joint Nature Conservation Committee—on the findings of the red list, and will ensure that it is drawn to the attention of the Government of any UK dependent territory concerned, so that we can assist them in considering the action that should be taken to deal with the threat to their plants.

Mr. Dalyell

It so happens that I have a constituent who has been involved in St. Helena. Representations have been made to the authorities there to be a bit more careful than they have been in recent history about their unique flora.

Mr. Raynsford

I undertake to bring that point to the attention of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, and to ask her to bear in mind the importance of ensuring that the attention of the authorities in St. Helena—in exactly the same way as the attention of other dependent territories—is drawn to the important issue of preserving rare plant species that may be unique to a particular dependent territory.

The second matter dealt with by my hon. Friend was about what we are doing at the European level. The habitats and species directive lists a large number of plants of Community interest, the conservation status of which requires establishment of special areas of conservation. We and other member states are currently drawing up lists of candidate sites, which, in the UK's case, will be notified shortly to the Commission. The Commission will then assess the overall picture with a view to ensuring that the EU network of sites provides an adequate network of protected areas for the species and habitats listed in the directive.

Thirdly, my hon. Friend mentioned the wider international context, and asked what the UK is doing not only to preserve rare plants but to assist in measures designed to sustain communities that live, often on very limited means, in areas containing some of those rare plants.

The UK has played a leading part in the efforts being made by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to conserve plant species. The CITES scientific committee is currently reviewing the most significant trade plant species to ensure that harvesting from the wild is sustainable. The convention's standing committee recently endorsed a 900 per cent. increase, to £100,137—admittedly from a relatively low base of £10,246—in resources devoted to that process, which is known as the significant trade programme. A United Kingdom representative, from the Royal Botanic Gardens, has been appointed as co-ordinator of the CITES significant trade programme for plants.

The programme's work involves a review of the data on international trade in the species concerned; an analysis of the level of trade in wild and artificially propagated plants; an assessment of the conservation status of the species concerned; and a series of recommendations setting out the action necessary to ensure that trade is sustainable. The United Kingdom has also provided the vice-chairperson of the CITES nomenclature committee, which comprises a group of international experts and has been working on production of standard CITES references for plants.

Through the Royal Botanic Gardens, the United Kingdom has also been particularly involved in preparation of checklists for orchids, bulbs and cacti. The UK has also been closely involved in the work of the carnivorous plant specialist group of the species survival commission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The group has been reviewing the conservation status of carnivorous plants, and developing a carnivorous plant action plan.

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's kind remarks about our role in the biodiversity convention. Biodiversity has been one of the key issues under our EU presidency. The EU biodiversity strategy has been adopted by the Council, and is a good example of how a region can work to integrate biodiversity into all areas. At the Bratislava conference, we led as presidency a successful EU participation that helped to shape many final outcomes. Useful progress was made on assessment and monitoring of biodiversity. There was for the first time a constructive debate on the third objective of the convention—the sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources.

We also support developing countries' efforts to implement the convention. My hon. Friend mentioned the Darwin initiative, which he will know is funded by my Department. The initiative supports collaboration between UK biodiversity institutions and developing country partners, to help the latter implement the convention. In six years, the initiative has funded 172 projects, involving more than 70 British institutions and with links to more than 70 countries.

The initiative's projects so far have involved not only the major British biodiversity institutions—such as the natural history museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew—but many universities, research institutes and other educational bodies. The projects include one to develop management plans for three protected areas of the Andaman Islands, whose rainforests and mangroves are of global significance because of their high diversity and uniqueness.

Mr. Dalyell

It is impossible to exaggerate the problems of protecting the mangroves. If the mangroves go, so will the sea walls, and that could have terrible effects on the countries concerned, let alone the flora and fauna.

Mr. Raynsford

My hon. Friend makes a valid point about the interrelationship between programmes for the protection of flora and the sustainability of the local environment, and that is very much at the heart of the Government's philosophy. The rainforests and mangroves are of global significance because of their high diversity and uniqueness, and, as my hon. Friend rightly said, they contribute to the sustainability and the safety of the Andaman Islands.

Another project being undertaken under the Darwin initiative by the Royal Botanic Gardens will aim to conserve ethnobotanical information and seeds from medicinal plants growing in arid and semi-arid areas of Tunisia and assess their economic potential. It will involve training students from different research institutes and universities in Tunisia in horticultural, conservation and phytochemical techniques. I should add, tongue in cheek, that we might even offer a little assistance on football techniques. This week, it is impossible to avoid such a reference.

Mr. Dalyell

My hon. Friend referred to football, so may I turn to Brazil, where I first became deeply interested in problems of ethnodiversity because of Dr. Darrell Posey, now at Oxford? What are we doing in respect of the links that Kew has with the Amazon, as I understand that they need further modest funding?

Mr. Raynsford

My hon. Friend will appreciate that, as I do not normally cover such matters, I shall have to seek advice. However, I undertake to write to him about the steps being taken to assist in Brazil.

I fully understand my hon. Friend's concern about the link between poverty and the conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity is particularly important for the alleviation of poverty, because it contributes to stable ecosystems and provides more options for poor people whose livelihoods are often directly based on natural resources. Biodiversity produces species and varieties which can adapt to different circumstances, such as some varieties of crop that are drought or pest-resistant.

It is important to see people as part of the solution, not the problem. In many areas, the diverse range of species has been protected and developed by local people. One thinks, for example, of indigenous crop varieties. However, in certain circumstances, meeting immediate needs may drive people to resource depletion. The Government are working to prevent that, through projects that tackle poverty and biodiversity together.

Our key aims are to improve poor people's livelihoods through sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity; to protect those livelihoods by preventing biodiversity loss which can increase vulnerability and have disproportionate effects on the poor, and to provide alternatives for people who would otherwise be forced to over-exploit biological resources. In practice, it means supporting projects that stimulate the sustainable use and management of resources. The Government have supported a number of projects, including the Mount Cameroon project, which, by involving local expertise as well as the Government and industry, has produced practical systems for the sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products. We have also funded the World Wide Fund for Nature "People and Plants" project, which seeks to resolve conflicts between the conservation and over-exploitation of plant resources, and to enhance their value to local people.

Projects can also help to conserve genetic resources that are important for the future. For example, a project in east Africa helped to increase bean production by improving disease management while maintaining local bean varieties. Finally, they can promote benefit sharing by funding botanic gardens and similar institutions in developed and developing countries, and defining a common policy for the fair exchange of genetic resources.

Mr. Dalyell

May I put in a plea for a little more money to be made available to welcome incoming students to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, Kew and other institutions? The most cost-effective way that we can help some countries is by enabling their students to come here to be trained.

Mr. Raynsford

I undertake to make sure that my hon. Friend's comments are passed on to the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle), and to the Department for International Development, as they both have a direct interest in the matter. We have been seeking through a variety of ways to help that interrelationship, and encourage the development of local capacity. In Kenya, for example, we have strengthened the capacity to support sustainable management of plant biodiversity through assistance to the national museum of Kenya. We have also supported a plant conservation and propagation unit to ensure preservation of indigenous crop species.

To come back to where we started today's debate, the IUCN's work in producing its red lists is of crucial importance to international efforts to conserve wildlife species. In recognition of this, my Department, jointly with Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Botanic Gardens, has recently provided a funding package of £125,000 to assist in the setting up of an IUCN species conservation centre in Cambridge. The centre will include a scientist who will be responsible for organising the red list programme, including liaising with scientific experts worldwide, organising workshops, and assisting with database management.

Mr. Dalyell

Does that mean that it will be updated?

Mr. Raynsford

The whole purpose is that the red list should not be static, but constantly evolving in response to known information which has to be gleaned from all over the world. It was a Herculean task to establish the red list in the first place, and it is vital that it is kept up to date and linkages maintained to ensure that.

Finally, I am delighted to be able to announce today that my Department will be providing a contribution of £10,000 to a succulent plants project being undertaken by the world conservation monitoring centre in Cambridge. It involves a review of the conservation status and international conservation measures for succulent plants, which will build on the work done by the WCMC and others for the red data book. The survey will look at succulent plants which are threatened with extinction in the wild, and will provide the basis for an assessment of additional CITES measures necessary to protect these species.

Mr. Dalyell

I am extremely pleased—as many who work in the field will be—with the serious and constructive nature of my hon. Friend's response. Successive British Governments—this is not a party matter—and civil servants should be applauded for their serious work that has set an example in the European Community. Perhaps such work will increase British influence in the Community, and I wish the civil servants, scientists and politicians involved well.

Mr. Raynsford

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for those remarks, which I entirely endorse. I shall ensure that they are conveyed to all responsible. As he rightly emphasises, it is not a party matter, but an example of government at its best, taking a lead and setting an example in the various agencies through which we can exercise influence in Europe and in the wider international context.

I hope that I have been able to reassure my hon. Friend that the Government fully share his concern about the threat facing many of our plant species. We have been and will continue to be fully and actively involved in national, European and international efforts to conserve this vital component of our planet's natural resources.