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Plantlife comments on the National Ecosystem Assessment report
Nature is ‘worth billions’ to UK economy – all underpinned by plants and fungi
June 02 2011
Common spotted orchid. © Beth Newman
Plantlife welcomes today’s National Ecosystem Assessment report which confirms that plants and fungi are the fundamental building blocks underpinning the huge hidden value of the natural world, in terms of the economic, social and health benefits that they provide to the nation.
The new report shows for the first time the level of importance of different biodiversity groups – from lichens, seaweeds and flowering plants to birds and mammals – in providing different ‘ecosystem services’ for the UK.
Plants and fungi deliver more value to the UK than any other wildlife groups mentioned in the report, with land plants and fungi playing a role in underpinning all provisioning and regulating services such as water supply and climate regulation.
“Wild plants have long been the wallflowers at the biodiversity ball, viewed as nothing more than the scenic backdrop to our other wildlife" said Victoria Chester, Chief Executive of Plantlife.
"This report clearly shows plants and fungi to be the beating heart of the world, delivering more ecosystem services than any other wildlife... Yet their importance is not borne out by investment in keeping them safe."
Victoria Chester, Chief Executive of Plantlife
"Yet this report clearly shows plants and fungi to be the beating heart of the world, delivering more ecosystem services than any other wildlife. Wild stretches of peat bog store unmatchable levels of carbon, wild flowers provide the pollen and nectar on which our bees survive, fungi are our major recyclers of nutrients and creators of soils, and our orchids, bluebells, primroses and hosts of other flowers are immortalised in our literature, cultivated in our gardens and celebrated in fabrics for ourselves and our homes."
"Yet their importance is not borne out by investment in keeping them safe - 1 in 5 wild flowers is threatened with extinction, flowers and ferns languish at the bottom of the Government's league table for features in favourable condition on our protected sites, and Britain's fungi remain uncatalogued. Plantlife has identified the UK's 150 Important Plant Areas - places and landscapes of international significance for wild plants."
"If we are to safeguard these places and all the plants and fungi supporting our wildlife and providing us with valuable services, we must refocus attention onto plants and fungi, bringing the full weight of protection mechanisms to bear, from legislation and policy to on-the-ground conservation. This report has confirmed that they are worth it.”
For more information or to arrange an interview with a Plantlife spokesperson, please call Sue Nottingham on 0786 1655438.