Poul Christensen, who has served as acting chair of Natural England (NE) following the death of Sir Martin Doughty in March 2009, has been appointed to the position on a permanent basis.

Christensen was named deputy chair of the government's wildlife and conservation advisory organisation in 2006, and has previously held the chair of both Milk Marque the Rural Development Service. He said: "I am fully aware that there are enormous challenges ahead in enabling England's natural environment to withstand the impacts it is increasingly being subjected to.

"We have lost a significant amount of our wildlife in recent years and the pressures of development and climate change threaten to take a very heavy toll unless we change our views about what the countryside is for." NE chief executive Helen Phillips added: "Poul brings an immense wealth of experience of farming and a deep understanding of the natural environment. His sound judgement and down to earth common sense will make an invaluable impact in the way we tackle the environmental challenges that face us."

Image: Natural England