Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleRebecca Speare-ColeFriday 03 April 2026 02:01 BSTHundreds of local projects will receive a share of £60 million through Natural England’s species recovery programme over the next three years (James Shooter/Rewilding Europe/PA)Ministers have pledged £90 million to safeguard hundreds of England's most threatened native wildlife species from extinction.The funding, described by the Environment Department (Defra) as the largest-ever investment in species protection, aims to reintroduce or bolster populations of various animals across England.£60 million will be distributed through Natural England's species recovery programme over the next three years for local projects, with an additional £30 million dedicated to the national forest estate.This initiative addresses the UK's status as one of the most nature-depleted countries, where wildlife populations have declined by a third since 1970, and one in six species face extinction.The investment supports the government's mission to reverse nature declines and meet legal targets, including halting species decline by 2030 and reducing extinction risk by 2042.In fullMinisters pledge £90m to help save birds, beavers and beetles from extinctionThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in