Local Nature Recovery Strategies: Update for Farmers and Landowners

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are spatial plans, stemming from the Environment Act 2021, to drive habitat restoration, nature-based solutions and environmental improvements across England. With nature in decline (e.g. species studied across the UK have declined on average by 19% since 1970) and in the context of national targets for reversing this decline, LNRSs should provide locally led roadmaps showing where best outcomes for nature and the environment could be achieved through targeted action - aiming for better collaboration and use of resources.

What are Local Nature Recovery Strategies?

Each LNRS consists of:

• A statement of biodiversity priorities - detailing current nature assets, restoration goals and recommended land management practices

• A local habitat map - a visual tool that highlights current and potential high-value areas for nature recovery

Every county in England is covered by one of 48 LNRSs, led by a "Responsible Authority" (the local authority), with input from Natural England, farmers, landowners, local community groups and eNGOs. These strategies are designed to be practical, locally relevant and updated every 3 to 10 years.

Why should farmers and landowners engage?

LNRSs don’t impose legal obligations, but they may influence access to future funding and how environmental priorities are mapped. If you’re managing land that might offer habitat or ecosystem service value, it’s important that your voice is heard.

If you don’t ground-truth the maps, you risk missing opportunities, or worse, having your land incorrectly flagged, although LNRSs are non-regulatory and will not determine regulatory decisions such as environmental impact assessments.

LNRS and funding: the known unknowns

LNRSs won’t restrict land use or designate areas, and it is not yet known whether or how they may shape where money will flow.

Some current mechanisms include:

• Local partnerships (e.g. catchment-based schemes, clusters)

• FIPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes)

• Private finance opportunities (e.g. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) - LNRS-aligned sites gain a 15% uplift in metric value, water company investment)

How to get involved in LNRS

1. Find your land on your LNRS’s habitat map (search for “[your area] LNRS”, list of all LNRS areas can be found here)

2. Check for accuracy - are the mapped habitats and proposed measures correct for your land? Are you already doing nature restoration work which is not on the map, but should be?

3. Submit your input - most LNRSs are currently in draft form and seeking feedback via online consultations, workshops or webinars. Four have been completed: West of England, North Northamptonshire, Isle of Wight and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

   
   

Get involved now, as you won’t get another chance until the next review cycle.