 at the end of this UN-led International Year of Biodiversity, I would like to thank the Natural History Museum for its efforts in bringing together the 450 or so organisations from across the worlds of environment, academia, faith groups, business and wider civil society, with the aim of engaging and exciting people about our wonderful natural environment. Since May, we have taken some real steps forward in highlighting how valuable the natural world is to our livelihoods and how close the link is between biodiversity, climate change, our economy and well-being. The success we achieved in reaching a new global conservation agreement in Nagoya (Report, 30 October) was one such step. It will halt the loss of habitats and species, helping to protect the planet's variety of life. and a package to help poorer nations fulfil their biodiversity obligations represents real progress.  Of course there is still much more work to do. Next year we will publish the natural environment white paper. We want everyone to have their say in shaping its development and have been encouraged by the fantastic response to our discussion document, an Invitation to Shape the Nature of England. This shows that people really care about the natural environment and want a say in how it is managed - and we will take these views forward as we develop our new vision for the natural environment.  Caroline Spelman MP  Environment secretary