Supporting statements -

a word from our conservation colleagues

 

"Identifying the diversity of the UK’s wild plants is a vitally important task. This will ensure that we have an objective basis for plant conservation programmes. Important Plant Areas are just what the name implies: places important internationally for wild plants. They are not another designation, and will rely on existing protection. Plantlife is proud to have developed and tested the IPA methodology in eastern European countries. We are pleased to be working with partners in applying the method in the UK. We have made good progress and we shall continue to identify other areas of importance."

Prof Roger Crofts CBE - Chairman of Plantlife International

 

"Important Plant Areas are the botanical jewels of Europe. The 150 sites identified in the UK, together with 1300 sites identified across the continent demand concentrated conservation attention. Safeguarding these sites will help to secure Europe's ecological and cultural heritage, and contribute to halting biodiversity loss across Europe - a target of all European governments."

Dr Jan Willem Sneep - Chairman, Planta Europa Network

 

"Brilliant work by Plantlife in promoting a network of Important Plant Areas. As the threats to our biodiversity increase, and particularly in the light of climate change, conservation must become more sophisticated. But identification of the best sites, followed by robust protection, has to remain at the core of conservation strategy. Safeguarding IPA's is a key step in the UK's response to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation."

Graham Wynne -Chief Executive of the RSPB

 

"Important Plant Areas are a significant contribution to identifying a global network of priority sites for biodiversity, and complement and extend other initiatives such as BirdLife's Important Bird Areas. These key biodiversity areas are proving to be a practical and successful way of focusing conservation action locally, nationally and internationally. It is thus excellent to see another inventory of Important Plant Areas completed, this time for the United Kingdom."

Dr Michael Rands, Director & Chief Executive, BirdLife International

 

"The New Forest, including its coast, is an Important Plant Area; rare and diverse plant life is one of its special qualities as a National Park, with much of what is exceptional depending on the historic traditions of the Forest’s commoning economy. The New Forest National Park is one of the best places to explore, understand and enjoy our rich botanical heritage."

Clive Chatters, Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority