Local Nature Recovery Strategy through a Blue Lens

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Why is the project relevant to you?

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS’s), introduced in the Environment Act 2021, are new strategies to help reverse biodiversity loss and meet England's nature targets. They map out action needed to restore nature and involve local stakeholders like farmers, to provide the best environmental outcomes. This project worked with a 'responsible authority' to include water environment considerations via a data led approach , with a focus on nature-based solutions, which you might find useful for your own planning.

Key messages for Water industry

This project's results give important water data to help make land use decisions, balancing environmental goals with food production, housing, and development. Many LNRS will use digital mapping layers, and you might be able to overlay your own maps with identified environmental needs and opportunities, if licensing allows.

Call to action

This project tested a data-driven method to map and prioritise opportunities. Since it's desk-based, the locations haven't been technically assessed, and expert on-the-ground investigation is needed to see if the measures are feasible.

Call to action

The pilot approach included a workshop to identify key water needs in the area, ensuring local priorities were taken into account. The workshop highlighted the water industry as a key delivery partner and emphasised the importance of linking the LNRS to water company plans and Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) programs.

Call to action

Engaging stakeholders, like catchment partnerships, was crucial to the approach. It helps guide and confirm the identified needs and environmental opportunities based on data-driven mapping.

Call to action