Accredited official statistics

England biodiversity indicators

A snapshot of the current status of biodiversity in England and how it’s changing.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
29 May 2012
Last updated
2 December 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Introduction to the England Biodiversity Indicators

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Indicator assessment summary

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Indicator review and development

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Extent and condition of protected areas

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Extent and condition of priority habitats

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Status of threatened habitats of European importance

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Status of priority species: relative abundance

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Status of priority species: distribution

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Status of all-species: relative abundance

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Status of all-species: distribution

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Status of species of European importance

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Birds of the wider countryside and at sea

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Insects of the wider countryside (butterflies)

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Mammals of the wider countryside (bats)

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Plants of the wider countryside

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Biodiversity and ecosystem services: greenhouse gas removal by forests

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Public awareness, understanding and support for conservation

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Taking action for the environment: volunteer time spent in conservation

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Taking action for the environment: Households encouraging wildlife in their garden

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Funding for Biodiversity

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Integrating biodiversity considerations into local decision making

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Spring index

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Air pollution

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Surface water status

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Area of land in agri-environment schemes

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Area of forestry land under certified sustainable management schemes

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Details

The England Biodiversity Indicators give a snapshot of the current status of biodiversity in England and how it’s changing. There is also a closely related suite of indicators at the UK scale.

As an accredited official statistics compendium, their development and production is underpinned by the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

The indicator suite is updated on an annual basis.

This publication contains information on the background and development of the England Biodiversity Indicators, contact details, and further information on official statistics. There are also webpages for each individual indicator and an overview of the latest results available.

Defra statistics: Biodiversity and Wildlife

Updates to this page

Published 29 May 2012
Last updated 2 December 2025 show all updates

  1. Annual update.

  2. Update to Extent and condition of priority habitats.

  3. Survey links removed.

  4. Survey added.

  5. Minor update to Extent and condition of priority habitats indicator.

  6. Extent and condition of priority habitats indicator updated.

  7. Annual update.

  8. Percentage figure amended.

  9. Additional sentence added linking to the new publication 'Indicators of species abundance in England'.

  10. Attachment 2a added.

  11. Natural England and Defra have identified a data licensing issue with the data contained in the England Biodiversity Indicator 2a and have had to temporarily withdraw the indicator. We are working together to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and aim to republish the indicator later in the year.

  12. Title of one of the indicators amended.

  13. Change to total figure for number of Rivers and canals (Total number of water bodies = 3,900) and not 3,901.

  14. Two images amended plus some minor textual changes.

  15. Image 1.5 amended.

  16. Correction to condition of protected sites long term assessment.

  17. Annual update November 2023.

  18. Major amendments to the text of the landing page.

  19. Natural England and Defra have identified a methodological issue with the protected sites data contained in England Biodiversity Indicator 1. The affected part of the indicator has been temporarily removed.

  20. Amendments to links to blog article and summary of the review.

  21. We have been made aware of a potential issue with the data relating to England 1. Whilst this is being investigated we have removed this year’s indicator. Until this is resolved the indicator from last year remains relevant.

  22. We have been made aware of a potential issue with the data relating to England 1. Whilst this is being investigated we have removed this year’s indicator. Until this is resolved the indicator from last year remains relevant.

  23. Publication updated with 2022 version.

  24. Revision made to England Biodiversity Indicator 18 (Spring Index).

  25. Typos in the review summary amended.

  26. Attachment added detailing Defra and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) review of Biodiversity Indicators.

  27. Paragraph wording amended.

  28. Booklet updated, text amended and 2 documents ‘12a Animal genetic resources’ and ‘Technical background – Animal genetic resources’ replaced.

  29. Publication updated with 2021 version.

  30. 2020 assessment published

  31. Revisions to various indicators.

  32. One sentence of text and two links removed, as per instructions from the responsible statistician.

  33. Annual update.

  34. Annual update.

  35. Latest scheduled update as to progress of biodiversity indicators meeting goals and objectives published by the government for 2020.

  36. Update: Indicator C9a: Animal Genetic Resources was corrected and updated 30 November 2016

  37. New biodiversity indicators published

  38. Publication of the England biodiversity indicators delayed until 19 January 2016 due to statistical reasons.

  39. some minor corrections and amendments to the release and indicator 5

  40. Technical background papers updated.

  41. New biodiversity indicators published for 2014.

  42. Revised publication and annexes and addition of updated background technical papers

  43. 2013 edition

  44. First published.

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