Overview
- Hundreds of conservation projects will share £60 million through Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, with another £30 million set aside for work on the national forest estate.
- Natural England says it will confirm which local projects get funding in May 2026, covering work scheduled from 2026 to 2029.
- The package funds habitat restoration, captive breeding, and targeted reintroductions to rebuild fragile populations and restore key places such as ancient woodlands and chalk streams.
- Defra describes the pledge as the largest-ever government investment in threatened species and more than double the £32.2 million provided between 2023 and 2026.
- Officials cite steep declines as the driver for action, with wildlife down by about a third since 1970 and one in six species at risk of extinction.