New partnership for nature launched in Lincolnshire

The launch of the GLNP on 8 November 2012 at Doddington Hall, Lincoln highlights the importance of the natural environment to the economy of Greater Lincolnshire and to all its residents. It builds on the success of its predecessor organisation the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership and is set within the global framework of biodiversity conservation.

The GLNP will continue to co-ordinate the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Action Plan, manage the Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre, and coordinate the Local Sites system recognising sites of wildlife or geological importance, and geodiversity. But critically the GLNP will explore new work areas and bring in new partners. Reaching out beyond traditional wildlife enthusiasts; it will bring together organisations and businesses from the agri-business, spatial planning, tourism, health and well-being, as well as environmental sectors to develop a shared vision for the natural environment, identify common aims and help everyone to work and live more closely with nature.

The launch event brought together representatives from a range of organisations including statutory agencies, local authorities, charities and other not-for-profit and non-governmental organisations, all of whom have belief in the vision of the GLNP that more can be achieved for nature by working together so that Greater Lincolnshire is a place where local wildlife and the natural environment are valued by all.

GLNP Chairman, Richard Chadd, said: "Increasing pressure on our natural environment, especially in highly managed counties like Lincolnshire, leads to innovative ways to conserve it for future generations. The natural world needs protection, not just for its own sake, but to maintain 'life support' systems for our health and well-being and for the economic stability of sectors which depend upon the resources ecosystems provide. The GLNP must play a leading role in this."

Nature Partnership Manager, Fran Hitchinson, said: "This launch highlights that working together really does achieve more. We should celebrate the success of partnership working to deliver more for nature, society and the economy. The GLNP will add to its strengths to enable its Partners and others to achieve even more in the future."