In this article, we’ll guide you through the importance of these strategies, showcase success stories from around the world, and explore evidence-based approaches to ensure their success. Even with the challenges, we'll also investigate the opportunities that lie ahead in the area of local nature recovery.
What are Local Nature Recovery Strategies?
Local Nature Recovery Strategies, commonly referred to as LNRS, are blueprints crafted to boost ecosystem health, and foster biodiversity at a local level.
They lay out the necessary steps for halting biodiversity decline and fostering the recovery of local nature. By identifying vital habitats, important species, and critical ecosystem services, they equip local authorities and communities with the knowledge to make informed decisions.
Developed with local characteristics in mind, LNRS provide essential guidance for farmers and land managers to carry out environmentally beneficial activities. These strategies help create beneficial habitats for local fauna while simultaneously improving soil and water quality.
Proactive involvement of the community is a cornerstone of these strategies. By ensuring a diverse range of community views are considered, LNRS can shape an environmentally healthier future that also aligns with local needs and preferences.
For instance, the opportunity to provide feedback on the current state of nature in Lancashire allowed local citizens to have a direct impact on the shaping of the region's LNRS. Similarly, the Isle of Scilly sought to involve communities in their LNRS development, showing the importance of public input.
With local nature recovery strategies, the creation of a national Nature Recovery Network becomes feasible. The network serves as a cohesively managed array of locales, each undergoing bespoke recoveries but contributing to a broader national environmental revival. By interlinking local strategies, a robust, nationwide web is formed, allowing for nature recovery on a grand scale.
How Local Nature Recovery Strategies are Structured
The primary responsibility for creating an LNRS falls upon the appointed authority known as the 'responsible authority'.
Interestingly, this could encompass mayors of combined authority areas, National Park authorities in England, the Broads Authority or Natural England.
These public bodies often boast a robust understanding of the local terrain and well-founded democratic mandates, optimising the legitimacy of the strategy prototype
But, the 'responsible authority' doesn't operate in isolation; collaboration is the backbone of an LNRS development process.
Supporting authorities – those whose area of interest partially or wholly aligns with the strategy blueprint – join the ranks. Through a collective work ethic with Natural England and other local planning authorities, the LNRS begins to take shape.
Among the key collaborators are Natural England, the Environment Agency, and the Forestry Commission.
In earmarked pilot projects covering Cornwall, Cumbria, Buckinghamshire, Greater Manchester, and Northumberland, these organisations acted as dedicated consultants and advisors.
Responsible authorities are also encouraged to identify other essential stakeholders in the strategy's composition, ensuring a maximally inclusive approach.
Preparing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy
The journey of creating an LNRS is meticulous and methodical. Once the responsibility has been designated, the preparation phase swings into action.
The responsible authority collaborates closely with Natural England and other planning departments to agree upon the strategy. The process is diligent; from considering key stakeholders to engaging with the public, every stage is judiciously outlined.
The responsible authority regularly communicates with the public, publishing updates on how the LNRS preparation is progressing. It's a transparent process engineered to invite public trust and help cooperation.
This dialogic approach is manifested further when countrywide consultations on the LNRS are orchestrated, encouraging public involvement before the strategy is formally published. A wonderful blend of expert guidance and democratic opinion so functions as a driving force for LNRS development.
Existing data sets and resources are also utilised, providing responsible authorities with the building blocks required to map out their strategy.
But the beat doesn’t stop at publication – the LNRS will continually be reviewed and republished by the responsible authority, guaranteeing its continual evolution and maintaining its relevance to the local area it influences.
Local Nature Recovery Strategies and the Planning System
Local Nature Recovery Strategies rely on an array of approaches and techniques.
Ecological restoration techniques prove integral in LNRS execution, enhancing biodiversity and restoring damaged ecosystems, as well as green infrastructure.
Here are a few examples:
Habitat restoration
This involves repairing or improving degraded habitats to make them suitable for native plants and animals again.
This can involve removing invasive species, restoring natural hydrology (water flow patterns), or planting native vegetation.
Habitat restoration helps create a healthy and functioning ecosystem that can support a variety of species.
Species reintroduction
This is the process of bringing back a species that has disappeared from an area, either due to habitat loss, hunting, or other factors.
Reintroduction can help restore balance within an ecosystem and can have positive cascading effects on other species.
For example, the reintroduction of predators can help control prey populations and prevent them from overgrazing vegetation.
Reintroducing native plants
Planting native plant species in areas where they have been lost is a crucial aspect of habitat restoration.
Native plants are adapted to the local environment and provide essential food and shelter for native animals.
They also tend to require less maintenance and can better withstand local pests and diseases compared to non-native species.
Building habitat banks
Habitat banks are essentially areas of land that are specifically managed to provide habitat for a variety of species.
These banks can be used to offset the loss of habitat due to development projects.
By creating or restoring habitat, developers can mitigate the environmental impact of their projects and contribute to overall biodiversity gains.
Creation of wetlands
Wetlands are vital ecosystems that provide habitat for a diverse range of species, from amphibians and birds to insects and aquatic plants.
Restoring or creating wetlands helps filter pollutants, control floods, and mitigate the effects of droughts. They also serve as important stopovers for migratory birds.
Restoration of peatlands
Peatlands are boggy landscapes that store vast amounts of carbon. Damaged peatlands release this carbon back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
Restoring peatlands involves techniques like blocking drainage ditches and rewetting the area. This allows peat to grow back, sequestering carbon and creating a habitat for specialised plants and animals.
Planting trees and hedgerows
Trees and hedgerows provide vital corridors for wildlife movement, connecting fragmented habitats and allowing animals to safely traverse their territory.
They also offer nesting and breeding sites for birds, and support a variety of insects and other invertebrates.
Additionally, trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, filtering the air and mitigating climate change.
Urban forests
Urban forests are areas of trees and other vegetation within cities and towns.
They provide a variety of benefits, including improving air and water quality, reducing noise pollution, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Urban forests can also help to regulate local temperatures and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Green roofs and walls
Green roofs and walls are essentially vegetated rooftops and walls on buildings.
They offer similar benefits to urban forests, including improved air and water quality, reduced building energy use, and habitat provision for wildlife, particularly insects and birds.
Green roofs and walls can also help to beautify urban areas and reduce the monotony of concrete jungles.
Funding and Resources for Nature Recovery Activities
Finding and procuring funds for local nature recovery activities is a crucial step in the implementation of local nature recovery strategies. It’s important to remember, the funds can come from various sources. Some of the potential sources include government funding initiatives, environmental levies, and contributions from local businesses.
For instance, Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes offer a source of funding to farmers and land managers for implementing activities aimed at environmental conservation. Taking advantage of such programmes can provide the necessary financial resources to help nature recovery within localities.
In addition, Defra's reactive funding programmes aimed at world recovery projects offer monetary support to spatially-targeted actions. The funds are typically directed towards expert-led collaboration, specialised equipment, research, and data collection, all pivotal to successful recovery strategies.
Biodiversity Net Gain
The new legislation by the UK government sources investment from developers. Most new development projects must leave the impacted habitat 10% better than it was found. Often, this means engaging in the strategies above, bringing ecology and economy together to better everyone.
If the development cannot yield the 10%, the developers can also “offset” by buying BNG units. These units are managed by land owners who receive income to maintain habitat banks elsewhere.
How to Get Involved with LNRS
Engaging in local nature recovery strategies isn't just for experts and policymakers; it's a community enterprise where everyone can play a part.
Whether you're a landowner, a local farmer, or a resident who admires nature's bloom, your perspective matters. Your day-to-day observation may provide crucial bits of information that could build a compelling strategy.
The makeup of every local nature recovery strategy depends heavily on local knowledge. As such, local authorities may hold workshops, webinars, and discussion forums to encourage the input of those who live off and work on the land.
In some areas, you may find an Interactive Map where you can directly illustrate the areas you believe need nature's recovery.
Apart from these, you could always keep abreast of opportunities and updates via local newsletters or websites. They usually carry details of upcoming events for strategy planning and public consultation dates too.
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