BIODIVERSITY

That this House welcomes the EU commitment to halt biodiversity loss by 2010; notes with concern the release of Government figures that suggest that 38 per cent. of habitats and 27 per cent. of priority species in the UK are declining; recognises that climate change may place further pressures on already threatened plants and animals and that many species will not be able to survive its effects; further notes that climate change may alter distribution, abundance, behaviour, phenology and morphology to an extent which threatens species with previously healthy population levels; and urges the Government to recognise the importance of action to mitigate the threats to plant and animal life.