The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is implementing Local Nature Recovery Strategies to support environmental objectives and protect terrestrial and freshwater sites in England. The issue involves coordination between Natural England, local authorities, and planning systems, with significant concerns raised about resource constraints and the shortage of planning and ecological professionals. The issue is currently active with government responses to Office for Environmental Protection recommendations and pilot programmes for ecological resource hubs being developed.
In response to: Local nature recovery strategies: areas and responsible authorities
Map showing the local nature recovery strategy (LNRS) areas in England and the responsible authority who will lead the preparation of each strategy.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of Natural England to identify and designate new Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
We are seeking views on the proposed geographical areas that will prepare spatial development strategies.
In response to: Government response to OEP recommendations in its review of implementation of laws for te…
The government's response to the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) report on its Review of implementation of laws for terrestrial and freshwater protected sites in England.
We are seeking views on the proposed geographical areas that will prepare spatial development strategies.
Any future national spatial planning or land use policies, such as a Land Use Framework or Spatial Development Strategies, must be aligned with, and complimentary to, all environmental targets, frameworks and policies. These include but are not limited to: Environment …
Local authorities must ensure they have up to date local plans and environmental and climate planning policies. When combined, all local plans and policies should satisfy national environmental targets, allowing for flexibility as to how they meet these targets between …
We recommend that the Government should invest in and prioritise the training and upskilling of talent in ecology as a priority. As a temporary measure, to address current staff shortages, the Government should pilot and establish local ecological resource hubs, …
The shortage of planning professionals in local authorities is undermining the planning system’s ability to function effectively. Planning officers are unable to thoroughly consider applications within statutory timeframes and are unable to adequately pre-consult. This capacity gap compromises the q
If the environmental objectives of the Government are to be achieved, it is vital that Natural England (NE) is adequately resourced. However, NE does not currently have the necessary resources to deliver the Government’s expectations of it. Its reliance on …
In response to: Government response to the OEP review: Local Nature Recovery Strategies and their role in…
The government's response to the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) review of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and their role in contributing to nature recovery commitments in England.
The Government is consulting on our vision for land use in England and how to deliver it. This consultation will inform the development of a Land Use Framework. To submit your consultation response please: complete the consultation questionnaire through the …
This document sets out how the 4 countries of the UK will work together to address biodiversity loss.
The Government is consulting on our vision for land use in England and how to deliver it. This consultation will inform the development of a Land Use Framework. To submit your consultation response please: complete the consultation questionnaire through the …
In response to: Criteria for 30by30 on land in England
Should our successor Committee wish to examine the Government’s approach to insect decline and UK food security, we recommend: 76 Legacy – Parliament 2019–24 • Examining the Government and its agencies’ strategies for sustaining long- term insect monitoring research and …
Local authorities generally do not have the resources or in-house knowledge to manage the effective determination of the significant number of planning applications required for the rapid growth of clean energy infrastructure. Type: conclusion | Number: 33 | Paragraph: 128 …
Effective communication of the reality of insect decline needs to be accompanied by communication of actions that can address it. A fatalistic approach risks reducing the chances of changes being made to policy, behaviour and practices that can make a …
We commend the success of the National Pollinator Strategy and eagerly await the 2025–2035 update that we expect to be published by September 2024. There is scope to build on the work of the strategy by creating a complementary ‘National …
Charismatic insect species, of which the honeybee is a prime example, serve as invaluable ambassadors for the field of entomology, rendering the subject more accessible to the public and bringing to public attention this often-overlooked animal group. The concentrations of …
Raising awareness of the importance of various insect species must be nurtured early to avoid the aversion that many people have to insects. The scarcity of experts, both professional and amateur, underscores the importance of cultivating a greater public passion …
We commend the often-overlooked contributions of amateur entomologists, ranging from unpaid species experts to members of the public involved in citizen science initiatives. While the collection of insect monitoring data remains invaluable for entomology, citizen science projects serve a broader …
Revised versions of Natural England’s ‘Red List’ and the ‘biodiversity indicators’ used to measure changes in abundance should include a minimum of one species per family, which would result in a significant increase in invertebrate representation. In response to this …
A national network of wildlife-rich places to increase and restore nature.
In response to: Review of the implementation of environmental assessment regimes in England: government r…
In order to gain an insight into recent trends, the Government should also, by 2026, commission and publish an analysis of existing soil health data held by third parties This should be used to inform future policy development, including incoming …
By 2026, the Government should publish a review into the skills and training available to support key initiatives for nature recovery across all relevant sectors. This review should analyse the training, guidance and advisory services available in the agricultural sector …
UIN: HLWS73 My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State (Steve Barclay) has made the following statement.Tackling climate change and restoring nature go hand in hand. As we prepare for the next international climate discussion at COP28, today we are …
Seeking views on the government response to the landscapes review.
UIN: HLWS1047 My Right Honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dr Thérèse Coffey) has made the following Statement.Last December, the world came together at the Convention of Biodiversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada, to agree …
UIN: HLWS1004 My Right Honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Thérèse Coffey) has made the following Statement.Our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), collectively known as Protected Landscapes, are...
We are concerned about the current rate of tree planting. In 2022–23, tree planting rates across the UK were at similar levels to the previous four years and remained below half the rate required to meet the overall target of …
Decisive action and a clear delivery plan are required for Forestry England to meet its target of planting 2,000 hectares of new woodland by 2026. We recommend that a plan be prepared by the end of October 2023 and published …
We recommend that Ministers commission work to identify opportunities for woodland creation on the Government estate, to advance nature recovery further and increase timber production. Type: recommendation | Number: 16 | Paragraph: 71 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: As …
There continues to be a pressing need for additional resources for local planning authorities to ensure the efficient working of the planning system and to implement the Government’s proposed reforms. The Government must ensure local planning authorities have the specialist …
The Government should publish a comprehensive resources and skills strategy for the planning sector, in line with its commitment to us. The strategy should clearly explain how the resourcing and skill needs of local planning authorities will be met; and …
It is unclear which plant and animal reintroductions the Government supports and there is no current long-term vision for how reintroductions fit into the Government’s species abundance targets. This has caused confusion and concern between stakeholders seeking to reintroduce certain …
Despite assurances by the Minister that we would be provided a list of priority species for reintroduction in June, in a letter to the Committee on 14 June the Minister said that the Department does not prioritise species but that …
The Government should produce a list of priority species for reintroduction as part of a long-term strategy on species reintroduction in tandem with the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce. This will allow stakeholders to plan applications ahead of time and have …
Using evidence from the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce and its Stakeholder Forum, the Government should agree on the plant and animal species it is willing and able to support the reintroduction of in England and bring this information together in …
Urgent stakeholder engagement is required to build relationships with key individuals; these stakeholders should have an open invitation to join the Stakeholder Forum and be able to feed into Taskforce decisions through it. The Government should be clear when the …
The current system for reintroducing species is overly bureaucratic, hindering nature recovery. There are many species—particularly amongst plants, fungi, and insects—that pose little or no risk. Identifying and supporting those low-risk species would give confidence to stakeholders seeking to reint
Creating a central species reintroduction hub designed to be a one-stop shop for interested parties would be a positive step forward to improve collaboration and coordination in this policy area. The value of any hub lies in its ability to …
The Government should create an online species reintroduction hub by June 2024, supported by the England Species Reintroductions Taskforce and Stakeholder Forum, for parties interested in the reintroduction of species. The hub should be a one-stop shop for good practice …
There is little support for the current conservation translocation licensing regime: on the one hand some stakeholders said that it is too bureaucratic, and, on the other we heard that the existing system is not stringent enough. As a priority, …
The Government’s 2021 code and guidance for species reintroductions form a valuable tool, but it must be revised and updated to maintain high project standards, for example in relation to assisted colonisation, disease risks, exit strategies, impact assessments, large predators …
The Government should revise the species reintroduction code and guidance by January 2024 and reissue it alongside the new Strategy. The revised code and guidance should be available via the species reintroduction hub when it is launched. (Paragraph 46) Management …
The Government should implement localised control and management systems by forming and funding a network of rapid response consultants by 2026. The rapid response consultants should be members of the local community and be empowered to make prompt decisions on …
In response to: Local nature recovery strategies
Strategies that propose how and where to recover nature and improve the wider environment across England.
Seeking views on how Local Nature Recovery Strategies should be prepared and what should be included.
Seeking views on the government response to the landscapes review.
The Government’s planting ambition will fail to achieve its net zero, nature recovery and biodiversity goals unless it is able to deliver the principle of planting the ‘right tree in the right place’. This requires adequate mapping data available being …
However additional mapping information will not, in itself, help local authorities manage the potential trade-offs between tree planting, creating and conserving other habitats and the needs of farmers and food production when developing Local Nature Recovery Strategies. We therefore recommend …
The lack of a sufficiently large skilled workforce is a key barrier to England’s tree planting ambitions. Addressing this requires a well-funded and planned workforce and skills strategy. Defra and the Forestry Commission are working to address the issue, but …
The application and approvals process for tree planting is seen as too bureaucratic by land-owning and forestry organisations. While we understand the importance of not weakening the environmental controls, there appears to be a consensus that it is possible to …
Seeking views on the government response to the landscapes review.
In response to: Landscapes review (National Parks and AONBs): government response
Government response to the landscapes review.
Improving the quality of the water in rivers in England should be considered a principal objective through which the Government and public bodies can deliver on the legally binding duty, established in the Environment Act 2021, to halt the decline …
Local authorities have a key role to play in restoring rivers to good ecological status across the country. Their engagement in Catchment Based Approach partnerships is crucial, while their work on Local Nature Recovery Strategies must engage with the development …
In response to: Local Nature Recovery: more information on how the scheme will work
More information on the Local Nature Recovery scheme.
Seeking views on how Local Nature Recovery Strategies should be prepared and what should be included.
Contributors told us that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) must be implemented with the full engagement and consent of local communities to effectively build their resilience.40 According to Christian Aid, NbS can either result in “considerable potential co-benefits” for biodiversity, people and …
We recommend that by the end of 2021 the department or body with overall responsibility for delivery of the Government’s green jobs policies should, in collaboration with the different departments engaged in green jobs policy, assign indicative costings to each …
Seeking views on how Local Nature Recovery Strategies should be prepared and what should be included.
To deliver the Government’s environmental vision to improve the environment within a generation, arm’s length bodies and departments need to have the funding to do so. Budget cuts to biodiversity expenditure over the last decade have hindered this. Type: conclusion …
We welcome the Government’s ambition to create a national Nature Recovery Network but believe far more detail is needed to translate this ambition into transformative action. The Nature Recovery Network (NRN) is contained in the 25 Year Environment Plan, but …
To address these concerns we recommend that: a) Defra updates its Nature Recovery Network Policy Paper by the end of the year, explaining how LNRS will be co-ordinated into a national Nature Recovery Network and how local authorities should link …
Protection and restoration of peatlands have an important role to play in NbS. The Government’s announced ban on rotational burning of peat in protected areas is welcome, as part of the transformational change necessary to meet biodiversity and net zero …
To realise the benefits of nature-based solutions to climate change, we recommend that: a) The UK adopt a clear definition of NbS and consider using the IUCN definition alongside the IUCN Global Standard for NbS. b) The Government prioritise protection …
UIN: HCWS119 In May 2018, Defra commissioned Julian Glover and an independent panel to consider how we might improve the management of our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). Their report, the Landscapes Review, was published in …
UIN: HLWS113 My Right Hon Friend the Secretary of State (George Eustice) has today made the following statement In May 2018, Defra commissioned Julian Glover and an independent panel to consider how we might improve the management of our National …
The lockdowns which have been imposed to counter the spread of covid-19 have given the public compelling reasons to appreciate the value of neighbourhood green spaces in towns and cities. Projects designed to enhance urban biodiversity and to increase access …
We asked about the diversity of the workforce to deliver these environmental goals, and the Environment Agency noted the steps it has taken to improve diversity, for example going into technical institutes where there may be a higher proportion of …
Seeking views on membership proposals for the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authorities after extending their boundaries.
Seeking views on membership proposals for the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authorities after extending their boundaries.
Seeking views on membership proposals for the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authorities after extending their boundaries.