Wildlife trusts are calling for nature recovery to be prioritised in the English devolution agenda.
On Thursday, January 8, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust brought together parliamentarians, local leaders and environmental organisations in Westminster to call for nature recovery to be placed at the heart of England’s evolving devolution agenda.
The event was attended by local wildlife trusts from across the country, which have been selected for the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme, including Norfolk, Suffolk, along with Hampshire and the Solent, where new Mayoral Strategic Authorities will receive new powers and duties from Government through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, including over strategic planning and local growth plans.
Debbie Tann MBE, chief executive of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: "Britain’s prosperity is built on functioning natural systems.
"Pollinators, floodplains, clean water, fertile soils, a stable climate aren’t just environmental ‘nice-to-haves’ – they’re the basics we all rely on.
"Nature’s essential services keep us healthy, put food on shelves, protect homes from flooding, keep supply chains moving and support the whole economy.
"Devolution must lock in a nature-positive approach to foster healthier communities, a thriving economy and nature’s recovery.
"If this Bill fails to embed nature at its heart, wild places across the country will continue to pay the price, and so will we."
The wildlife trusts are calling for the Bill to include updated environmental duties for local authorities that reflect the scale and urgency of the climate and biodiversity crises, alignment of local growth plans with Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) to ensure that nature and the economy can thrive in tandem, and new powers for communities to ensure that a community ‘right-to-buy' can protect land that provides access to wildlife-rich spaces.
The event was hosted by Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter.
Ms Riddell-Carpenter said: "Protecting nature works best when decisions are made closest to the places we are trying to protect.
"Devolution gives communities the power to improve nature, increase biodiversity and do more to clean up our rivers and seas.
"That is why I am proud to sponsor this event and champion a more locally led approach to improving our natural environment."
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust will continue to work with parliamentarians and local stakeholders as the Bill progresses, urging the Government to ensure that nature recovery is at the heart of English devolution.
