Nature recovery at heart of Natural England vision for year ahead - Natural England

Natural England has released its 2021/22 Action Plan to help the nation build back greener in the year ahead.

Natural England has outlined its programme to help the nation build back greener in the year ahead within its 2021/22 Action Plan, published today (17 June).

As the nation recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, the remit and funding for Natural England has been expanded. This will help us establish our vision of creating thriving nature for people and the planet.

Alongside our existing statutory functions, such as improving the condition of protected sites and making further reform to wildlife licensing, our increased responsibilities include:

• The Nature for Climate Fund – helping to restore Nature to tackle climate change by administering the new Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme
• Parts of the Environment Bill – delivering policies expected within the Environment Bill, including strategic solutions through the planning system, developing Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Biodiversity Net Gain
• The Nature Recovery Network - restoring protected sites, species and landscape quality and creating new nature rich places through our Nature Recovery Network Delivery Partnership
• Building Back Greener– enabling truly sustainable development and introducing more strategic solutions to avoiding and mitigating environmental harm, as well as to cutting down the time it takes to develop, design and deliver vital housing infrastructure projects.
• Farm advice work - supporting the Agricultural Transition, through an expansion in the Catchment Sensitive Farming Project and advising on development of the new Environmental Land Management scheme
• Landscapes – new landscapes designations as part of the commitment to protect 30% of our land by 2030
• Accessibility – connecting people with nature by investing in our National Nature Reserves and making them more accessible