The UK government has set out its plans for repairing past damage done to the nation’s environment. Central to the white paper on the natural environment – the first in 20 years – is ensuring that nature is properly valued in policy decision-making.

“In the past we have undervalued what our natural environment gives us,” said Caroline Spelman, the environment secretary, launching the white paper today.

To turn this around, an independent body will be set up to ensure the natural environment is considered in the government’s economic thinking. The body, to be called the Natural Capital Committee, will report to government’s economic affairs committee chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The white paper is based on the findings of the UK’s first National Ecosystem Assessment published last week which found a 30% decline in ecosystems services over the past 60 years. The assessment argued that the strength of the UK’s future economy depends on protecting ecosystems now. See Nature’s coverage of the assessment here.

The government will also invest £7.5 million to transform 12 rural and urban areas, so they provide bigger and better habitats for wildlife. It also plans to protect peat lands – important carbon sinks – by phasing out the extraction and use of peat in the horticulture industry.

Spelman said the aim of the white paper is to help “leave the environment in a better condition than we found it”.

Image by Kevin Hutchinson via Flickr under Creative Commons.