[UPDATE 23/10/23: the deadline for this consultation has been extended until Wednesday, 22 November 2023]
Cornwall Council is leading on creating a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the region in collaboration with the Local Nature Partnership and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
Residents across the region are now being asked to have their say to shape local priorities for nature recovery which launches today (Tuesday 18 July 2023).
Local Nature Recovery Strategies are plans for growing and recovering nature. They consist of:
- a map of the most valuable areas for wildlife
- opportunities to improve nature in the future
- local short-term priorities
When completed, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly strategy will become a blueprint for the recovery of nature, showing how and where we can support things like wildflowers, woodlands, wetlands and wider and wilder hedges and edges.
The strategies are a statutory requirement of the Environment Act. This means that local areas must develop them, and report on the progress of the strategy every three to ten years.
How to give your views on priorities for nature recovery
Our survey runs from Tuesday, 18 July 2023 until midnight on 22 October 2023.
You can complete the Local Nature Recovery Strategy survey on the ‘Let’s Talk Cornwall’ website.
Cllr Harry Legg, Lead Member for Environment, Environmental Services and Climate Change said:
“The Isles of Scilly is internationally important for wildlife. Our unique landscape is at the heart of our communities, influencing our way of life and sustaining the visitor economy. However, our low-lying island habitats are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly from invasive species and sea-level rise. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy will help us coordinate approaches to support the wildlife and habitats that make our islands so special.”
Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change Cllr Martyn Alvey, said:
“Developing Our Local Nature Recovery Strategy is key to our responding to the ecological emergency. This will shape how we can all help to deliver our target for 30% of land, rivers and seas to be well managed for nature by 2030. Our Cornish landscape, wildlife and seas are a vital part of our heritage and identity, and we are pleased that the government recognises this through the creation of this locally-led strategy for nature recovery.
Cornwall was one of five pilot areas chosen to go through the process of developing a draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy back in 2020. We were extremely impressed with the high level of engagement from Cornwall’s community, and we are pleased the strategy will now cover both Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We hope that even more people will get involved to help shape the nature recovery strategy and have their say.”
Lord Robin Teverson, Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership (LNP), said:
“The Local Nature Recovery Strategy is the best opportunity we have to reverse the big retreat of nature that we have seen in Cornwall and Scilly over recent decades. We’re looking forward to working closely with both Cornwall Council and Scilly to produce a plan that is both practical and delivers. There will be all sorts of challenges on the way, but by working closely and up front with farmers, businesses, communities and environmental groups we can make this happen. Our Pledge for Nature scheme on our website has already shown there is a real grass roots local commitment to nature’s revival.”
--
Further information
The Government has awarded £14m to councils across England to develop Local Nature Recovery Strategies to act as local blueprints for the recovery of nature. Local nature recovery strategies are a new policy contained in the Environment Act 2021. The preparation of each strategy will be supported by Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission. Local Nature Recovery Strategies will not mandate any changes to local landowners.
Cornwall Council is receiving £343,692 to draw up the plan to help nature across the region grow and recover and to maximise nature-based benefits for communities and businesses.
At the meeting of Full Council in December 2021, Members agreed in principle to the development of a joint Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Recovery Strategy, with Cornwall Council acting as the ‘Responsible Authority.’
