Species recovery targets in England damaging and illogical, scientists warn

Exclusive: PM told there could be eight years' decline before any gains despite already being at rock bottom'

The government has set damaging and illogical targets for species recovery in England that could mean there is eight years of decline before any improvement, despite already being at rock bottom", scientists have warned the prime minister.

Twenty-three leading scientists from institutions including Oxford and Cambridge universities, the Natural History Museum, the Zoological Society of London and the RSPB have written to Boris Johnson expressing their alarm over the nature targets.