Big boost for conservation work
PUBLISHED: 14:54 24 November 2008 | UPDATED: 08:29 28 March 2014
NOVEMBER 24, 2008: A multi-million pound initiative has been launched to boost the number of volunteers who protect England's nature and wildlife.
However, Defra will also provide more than £1million to fund the improved recording of local wildlife across England, so that higher quality information can be collected. Defra has already increased the number of local wildlife records publicly available from eight million in 2004 to more than 30 million this year.
‘More people are getting involved in environmental volunteering, there was a 31 per cent increase between 2000 and 2007, but overall the number is still relatively low,' explained Mr Benn, as he announced the funding.
‘Conserving biodiversity is not something government can do alone, and I want more people to have the opportunity to protect and take pride in their local wildlife and landscape.'