Nature Strategy

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are a new system of spatial strategies for nature, established in the Environment Bill 2020, covering the whole of England. They are designed as tools to drive more coordinated, practical and focussed action to help nature.

LNRSs will support the delivery of mandatory biodiversity net gain, and provide a focus for a strengthened duty on all public authorities to conserve and enhance biodiversity which are also being introduced by the Bill. Nationally, they will underpin the Nature Recovery Network, alongside work to integrate nature into incentives and land management actions.

The LNRS will: agree priorities for nature’s recovery, map the most valuable existing habitat for nature, and map specific proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals. Production of the LNRS will be evidence-based, locally-led and collaborative, with the intention of creating a shared plan that public, private and voluntary sectors can all help to deliver.

On 5 November 2020 the GLNP Forum agreed that:

• The GLNP supports the case that the LNRS area should be Greater Lincolnshire;
• The GLNP should be the partnership that agrees on the outcomes, priorities and measures within the LNRS;
• The following habitat targets be adopted by the GLNP, i.e.
  • No net loss of Priority or other semi-natural habitat by 2025;
  • 10% land area of Greater Lincolnshire is Priority habitat by 2045;
  • 25% land area of Greater Lincolnshire is semi-natural habitat within a functioning ecological network.

The habitat targets may be revised as the LNRS is developed, but only to increase the percentage targets and/or shorten the timescales. The targets may also be split into separate targets for habitat restoration and habitat creation.