This questionnaire seeks to cast the net as widely as possible in gathering views about the UK's national and international biodiversity policy. We want to know what you think. At the same time, we realise that potential respondents will differ in their levels of experience and specialist knowledge on this topic. We would be interested in your answers to any or all of the questions below, or, alternatively, write directly to us using the online forum or the feedback page.

Thank you very much for your time and thoughts.

Which one of the following best describes your involvement with biodiversity conservation?

•  I work for a public conservation agency
•  I work for a non-governmental conservation organisation
•  I study or teach a conservation-related subject at an academic institution
•  I belong to a membership conservation group or subscribe to a related magazine
•  General interest or other

The next three questions relate to global biodiversity conservation. They ask you to rank issues from a list to give us an idea about your priorities.

Following is a list of known threats to global biodiversity. Could you please 'drag and drop' them in order of what personally concerns you the most (with the top being the threat of greatest concern):

• Pollution
• Global warming
• Habitat destruction
• Human population growth
• Over-harvesting
• Invasive species
• Others (please state: )

Following are some constraints to global biodiversity conservation. Could you please 'drag and drop' them into order of importance, with the top being the constraint you feel is most important.

• Lack of funding
• Poor governance (corruption, institutional weakness, failure to enforce existing laws)
• Lack of political will (whether due to vested interests or lack of public support)
• We don't know enough: insufficient scientific knowledge and understanding
• Inadequacies in international conventions
• Perverse subsidies, unresolved land tenure and other forms of adverse legislation
• War and political instability
• Others (please state: )

Could you please 'drag and drop' the following measures to conserve global biodiversity in order of priority (with the top being the measure you would prioritise most highly):

• Education, training and outreach
• Biodiversity conservation in the wider countryside (outside of protected areas) including farmland
• Using market-based incentives to encourage investment in conservation
• Helping biodiversity adapt to climate change
• Support for local and national progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target, such as through the UK Biodiversity Action Plan
• Conservation planning and improvement of the protected area network
• Others (please state: )

The next six leading statements relate to biodiversity conservation in the UK. They are designed to elicit your reaction ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree or don't know using a drop down list.

The Biodiversity Action Plans process is proving efficient and effective at conserving threatened species and habitats in the UK.

Your response: [Please Select] Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know Other - e.g. Sometimes
Additional response:

The current plans for new housing in the UK on brownfield and greenfield sites do not take sufficient account of environmental sustainability or biodiversity.

Your response: [Please Select] Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know Other - e.g. Sometimes
Additional response:

The new European push for biofuels looks set to be devastating for biodiversity as, in the tropics, primary rainforest is converted to palm oil plantations and as, in Europe, key wildlife habitats are converted to monocultures such as oilseed rape.

Your response: [Please Select] Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know Other - e.g. Sometimes
Additional response:

The proposed Marine Bill is making timely progress and the UK is moving towards successfully protecting fisheries and other biodiversity in its territorial waters.

Your response: [Please Select] Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know Other - e.g. Sometimes
Additional response:

Central planning and government-led biodiversity conservation has proved itself largely ineffective at stemming the tide of biodiversity loss. Governments must set the framework for private sector and community level engagement, not try to run biodiversity.

Your response: [Please Select] Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know Other - e.g. Sometimes
Additional response:

The UK is doing enough internationally to protect biodiversity, such as funding the Darwin Initiative, and contributing to the Global Environment Facility.

Your response: [Please Select] Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know Other - e.g. Sometimes
Additional response:

The final five questions are open-ended. Here, we hope to gather your particular bugbears, ideas and observations. If you don't have enough space here (about 500 words), please use the Feedback page.

What, in your view, are the biggest weaknesses in current biodiversity policy in the UK?

What are the real successes in UK biodiversity policy?

Do you feel that recent European biodiversity policy (such as the Habitats Directive including the Natura 2000 network, and the reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy) is having a positive influence in the UK?

Do you think that the existing multilateral environmental agreements and their associated institutions are sufficiently strong and effective?

What ideas do you have about changes that should be made in biodiversity policy, whether in UK's national arena, or in the international arena?

Please leave your contact details if you wish, so we can thank you for your submission.

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