Conservation program in England saves 150 threatened animal and plant species

A conservation program in England has saved 150 species of animals and plants in danger of extinction, Natural England, the public body responsible for protecting the environment, announced on Wednesday (13).

The agency, which celebrated this achievement in a statement, recalled, however, that “time is running out” to halt the decline in biodiversity.

Natural England has invested more than 13 million pounds (about 17 million dollars or 90 million reais) in a conservation project aimed at protecting endangered animal and plant species, including the European oystercatcher, the water vole and dormice, the Atlantic salmon and the slipper orchid.

“From Cornwall (southwest) to Cumbria (west) and Northumberland (northeast), 63 projects involving 78 partners have transformed landscapes and supported the recovery of 150 species, many of which were on the brink of national extinction,” the organization details in its statement.

In total, more than 15,000 animals and plants were replanted outside their original territory as part of this project, which ran between August 2023 and March 2025.

The agency also managed to reintroduce the black grouse to the North Yorkshire Moors National Park (north) and the return of the 'large marsh grasshopper' in the east of England, of which there had been no trace there for 85 years.

"Reversing biodiversity decline must be a collective effort and not just a matter for dedicated experts," Tony Juniper, president of Natural England, emphasized in the text, adding that "nature restoration work needs more projects, more volunteers and more funding."

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