Milton Keynes is set to benefit from a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) as part of a new Conservative Government plan to boost habitats and wildlife.
Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes will be one of 48 nominated areas which will put a strategy in place over the next 12-18 months.
In the UK, around 41% of our wildlife species have declined in recent decades and a quarter of UK mammals face extinction, due to pressures like climate change, pests and diseases, habitat loss, development and over-use of resources or pollution.
While nature provides a myriad of benefits such as better human health and wellbeing, flood management, and carbon sequestration, only 13% of Buckinghamshire and 8% of Milton Keynes is covered with high quality natural habitats and far less lies in areas with some level of protection.
The 48 individual local authorities are set to benefit from a combined £14 million funding pot enabling them to work with their local communities to develop a tailored Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for their area.
LNRSs were first introduced in the Environment Act 2021. This new initiative will support efforts to:
- recover nature across England
- help deliver national environment targets
- support the delivery of biodiversity net gain
- help planning authorities incorporate nature recovery objectives
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: "I'm delighted the Conservative Government is absolutely committed to reversing this decline in wildlife species and habitats we have sadly seen in recent decades, and this follows the Government's commitment to increase the number of hedgerows by 30,000 miles by 2037.
"In Milton Keynes we're extremely proud of our green spaces so I'm looking forward to seeing this strategy put in place and boost our high quality natural habitats from just 8%."
Buckinghamshire was also part of a pilot LNRS process in 2020-2021 to help determine the final guidance for the LNRS. Earlier this year, the Government published regulations and guidance setting out the process that each responsible authority must follow and what each strategy should include.
With the best ways to support nature recovery depending on local geography, the Local Nature Recovery Strategy process will work closely with communities and other stakeholders to map out how and where to recover nature and identify priorities that also achieve wider benefits. When put together they will be a key way of meeting our England-wide nature targets. The LNRS process for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes will take place over the next 12-18 months and will use lessons learned from the pilot.
Buckinghamshire Council has been designated the Responsible Authority (RA) – or the local authority responsible for producing the strategy for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes - with Milton Keynes City Council and Natural England serving as key supporting authorities. The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Natural Environment Partnership (NEP), the area’s successful Local Nature Partnership, which was also involved with the pilot work, will be leading the strategy creation process. LNRSs will not mandate any changes to local landowners.
To learn more about the LNRS, attend an introductory webinar or learn more at: https://bucksmknep.co.uk/nature-strategy/overview
