Local nature recovery strategies are a new statutory mechanism
Local nature recovery strategies (LNRS) are a central mechanism presented within the Environment Act 2021 and in England, are a new statutory mechanism intended to put local nature recovery into strategic and spatial planning.
‘Responsible authorities’ are in charge of the engagement and evidence processes that will create them, ensuring habitat maps, important areas for biodiversity and opportunities for restoration and recovery are all clearly identified. These responsible authorities are often local authorities at different levels of local government (e.g., combined authorities or county councils).
We are currently helping the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to complete engagement work with public surveys and workshops for particular sectors such as agriculture, and are soon to be working with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and its local authorities on both their engagement and evidence work for the creation of their LNRS.
While evidence is critical for identifying priorities in each local strategy area, equally important is the engagement that brings these kinds of processes to life. There are often locally distinctive priorities and particular sectors for delivery, as well as a need to ensure people understand about LNRS in their local areas. This means there is a critical participatory element to draw in views and encourage active participation into the future for sectors such as farmers and business.
Engagement can often be delivered by uncoordinated or separate teams and organisations, compared to other necessary areas of delivery. It can even be forgotten or deprioritised. More recently, however, it has found a resurgence within nature recovery work, in which such transformational change is needed to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies in a just and large-scale way. It is a central part of approaches such as systematic conservation planning, on which much of the LNRS process seems to be based (or at least, it’s an amazing coincidence if not) and can enable real participation and dialogue across sectors when it is done correctly. It can also be part of real, long-term participation and delivery within major initiatives.
Along with wider consultative approaches, this is all part of the background expertise that RSK Wilding (along with RSK Biocensus and Nature Positive) can bring to the table, so we can provide viable and long-term solutions for all aspects of nature recovery to our clients.