The consultation on the draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) runs over the summer until September 11, with a little leeway for parish councils to submit late to fit in with meeting timeframes.
Before you stop at the word consultation, give this one a chance. It is an absolute delight to read. If you are interested in nature or the natural geography of Cambridgeshire please consider spending an afternoon on this.
It begins with an assessment of the state of nature in Cambridgeshire, it looks at what is here in terms of both the nature and the landscape and why we need to act. It considers the characters of different parts of the county including John Clare country in the north, the Fens and the chalk streams of the south. From Cambourne’s skylarks which are apparently the most productive in the country to the marsh carrot. Government officials commented on how particularly good this strategy is and it really has been written from a place of love.
This is one of the pages.
Why are they important?
Local Nature Recovery Strategies are a key part of a suite of Environment Act 2021 measures – including biodiversity net gain and legally binding targets – created to help reverse nature’s ongoing decline. We need to target our efforts where they will have the most impact and help connect & expand existing areas of importance.
They will help support nature and “nature-based solutions” by drawing together and coordinating actions from existing plans and strategies, and proposing what more should be done.
They will help to provide a common focus for action across the public, private and voluntary sectors including:
- Biodiversity net gain
- Duty on public authorities
- Integrate opportunities for nature recovery into the planning system.
- Public funding and private green finance
- Voluntary action
They will propose action, deliver, review & update – to track what’s done and keep renewing ambitions every 3-10 years. In Cambridgeshire the Combined Authority (Mayors office) is leading on this work with the support of the councils in the area.
Consultation location and duration
The Consultation sits under the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. If you are interested in this please consider commenting or at the very least read the beautiful document. It will be available in the library,
hiopcouncillors 