In 1990, despite decades of conservation work, many plants and animals had continued to decline in numbers, and it was feared that several species would disappear completely, even some that were once numerous. A new strategy had to be developed to tackle this concern.

A year later, English Nature launched its Species Recovery Programme (SRP) in response to the growing concern for the plight of much of England's wildlife. It aims to achieve the long-term self-sustained survival in the wild of species of plants and animals currently under threat from extinction.

Species conservation was traditionally based on fine-tuning habitat management and preserving what existed. English Nature's Species Recovery Programme has questioned this approach. It offers a new challenge to conservations by directly addressing the needs of particular plants and animals, and developing opportunities to extend and expand their range.

Using a structure approach, SRP drives new research into the ecology of our native plants and animals to enable more effective conservation.

SRP work has resulted in projects to re-introduce plants and animals back into areas from where they have been lost, as well as establishing populations in newly restored habitats.