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Bristol launches England’s first Nature Recovery Strategy
“This is a proud moment for the West of England. Our area has long led the way on nature,” metro mayor Dan Norris told Bristol24/7.
“We’re doing that again now, with this strategy and toolkit. It’s the result of years of hard work. With the right investment from public and private sources, it’s a roadmap for restoring, reconnecting, and recovering nature. It will, I hope, be a model for others to follow.”
Norris is referring to the West of England Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), which will be launched on Thursday. The first of its kind to be published in England, it is designed to ‘enable collective effort to be focused where it will have most benefit’ for nature.
is needed now More than ever
The plans build on the work of the West of England Nature Partnership (WENP) which collaborates on nature projects such as supporting the beavers, thriving on the River Avon for the first time in 400 years. Norris told Bristol24/7 the action plan could also result in the return of pine martens and white-tailed eagles to the region.
Dan Norris has donned his wellies and headed out with Avon Needs Trees to plant trees locally – photo: Alex Turner
Norris will launch the LNRS at the WENP conference, where its contribution to climate resilience, Net Zero targets and public health outcomes will be discussed. The conference, themed ‘From Strategy to Action for Nature‘ will showcase an ‘action for nature’ toolkit.
The LNRS represents a significant moment for the region and for nature, said Norris.
“Nature is important to me personally, just as it is to people across the West’s villages, towns, and cities,” he said. “Communities are already embracing this approach, with almost 900 local wildlife sites making up 15% of the West of England’s land area.
“But it’s right that this LNRS takes an unsentimental approach to what’s deliverable. Expert partners across the region have identified not just what we want and what we need, but how we get there. The strategy is a collective, holistic, and practical look at nature in our region.”
https://twitter.com/WestofEnglandCA/status/1854205971813601719
The LNRS was co-developed with Natural England and has been welcomed by the body’s Chair, Tony Juniper CBE.
“England is currently one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. The first LNRS marks a significant step forward for nature recovery efforts, pioneering a locally led approach to restoring landscapes and habitats at scale,” he said.
“Embracing this devolved approach to restoring nature on our doorsteps will help us to harness the power of joined up and collaborative action to meet our national targets while bringing a wide range of benefits for people.”
Thursday’s WENP conference is sold out, but panel sessions will be available to watch online afterwards at www.wenp.org.uk/wenp-conference
Main image: Bevis Watts
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