A new White Paper - The Natural Choice - has been compiled by the government to highlight plans for the protection, restoration and improvements of the natural environment.

It is the first White Paper covering the natural environment for around two decades and sets out a programme of action to repair damage to the UK's nature in the past. The The Natural Choice comes after the UK National Ecosystem Assessment found that the UK's natural environment was worth billions of pounds to the national economy.

Recommendations from Professor John Lawton in his September 2010 report Making Space for Nature are also acted upon in the new White Paper. Plans include a £7.5m fund to create an initial 12 Nature Improvement Areas, while support for parks, gardens and tree planting in urban areas is also proposed.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman said: "Nature belongs to us all, and we've all got a vested interest in protecting it. "That's why the true value of nature should be built in to the decisions we make - as individuals, organisations, businesses and governments - so that we become the first generation to leave the environment in a better condition than we found it."