Smarter use of government land to support nature and climate
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A new, smarter way of using Government-owned land will support
nature recovery, climate adaptation and the resilience of public
services under new plans set out today (Friday 26 June).
Bringing together action across
more than 577,000 hectares roughly 4%
of England's land the Government Estate Nature Plan
moves from fragmented, sitebysite efforts to a more coordinated,
whole estate approach, strengthening...Request free trial
A new, smarter way of using Government-owned land will support nature recovery, climate adaptation and the resilience of public services under new plans set out today (Friday 26 June). Bringing together action across more than 577,000 hectares roughly 4% of England's land the Government Estate Nature Plan moves from fragmented, sitebysite efforts to a more coordinated, whole estate approach, strengthening resilience and helping protect critical public services from climate impacts. By minimising disruption caused by water shortages and wildfires, healthy ecosystems can play a vital role in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The focus will be to both support nature and build infrastructure resilience. As the largest landowner in England, the Government is uniquely placed to help drive nature recovery across the country through actions like woodland creation and peatland restoration, setting an example for other large landowners. For the first time, government is applying the Land Use Framework to its own estate; managing land more strategically to deliver for nature alongside core public services. The plan, being published during London Climate Action Week, will see a series of lighthouse' projects funded pilot projects on operational land including defence training areas, transport corridors and prison grounds, demonstrating how nature recovery can support essential public services. The evidence from these projects will be used to inform future, larger-scale projects. Recent independent research indicates the government estate has capacity to generate ecosystem services valued at £67 billion from natural capital maintained in good condition. Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: As the largest landowner in the country, government has a unique opportunity to work with others to show how nature can be restored at scale while delivering essential public services. This new plan is the first of its kind globally and will ensure progress towards our goal to protect 30% of our land and seas by 2030. Carl von Reibnitz, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ministry of Justice said: The Government Estate Nature Plan reflects what the Ministry of Justice has already learned: managing natural assets well is an operational necessity, not an environmental add-on. From our prison tree nurseries supplying government planting schemes to Community Payback teams delivering habitat restoration, justice already contributes to nature recovery at scale. We welcome this plan and look forward to building on that contribution through the GENP. Rosie Hails, Nature, Land & Evidence Director at the National Trust said: The government's plan to drive change for nature through its own estate is a welcome and necessary step. We can only meaningfully tackle the nature crisis if everyone involved in how land is used plays a part - owners, managers, farmers, businesses and communities. Publicly owned land offers a real opportunity to show what's possible. As a member of the National Estate for Nature group, we're pleased to be working in partnership with government and other landowners to share expertise and restore nature at scale together. Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said: Natural England has worked alongside Defra to establish this influential group of landowners, who have collectively demonstrated great ambition towards national targets for Nature's recovery. Individually they make big contributions, and their combined impact can be huge. Today's publication of the Government Estate for Nature plan shows the government shares in their ambition. Our National Nature Reserves are exemplars of nature recovery and Natural England will continue with its high pace programme of declaring new ones. This will not only benefit Nature but also to support communities and improve our collective resilience to climate change. Forestry England Chief Executive Mike Seddon said: Forestry England is the country's biggest land manager and the 254,000 hectares that make up the nation's forests hold a variety of habitats and an abundance of wildlife. Our long-term stewardship of this critical natural asset delivers many public benefits from high-quality timber and nature recovery to improving citizens' health and wellbeing, and our work contributes to the wider economy. We have a strong track record on successful nature recovery projects, working in partnership, such as reintroducing pine martens to the Forest of Dean and white-tailed eagles to the south coast. Our wild areas, such as Wild Ennerdale, are places for innovation and we have ambitions to expand them to 38,000 hectares by 2031. We care for almost 70,000 hectares of SSSIs and we want pine marten ranges covering 100,000 hectares of the nation's forests. The Government Estate Nature Plan is part of a collective of plans published by members of the National Estate for Nature, a coalition of major landowners who together manage a tenth of England's land, including the National Trust, The Crown Estate, the Church Commissioners, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the RSPB. In publishing these plans, members are demonstrating how they meet the NEN's collective ambition and minimum standard, through setting out where and what type of land they hold and how they will work to increase or improve important habitats, such as Clinton Devon Estates who are restoring wetlands and creating new woodland. Examples of targets to boost nature recovery by 2030 include the Church Commissioners aiming to see 80% of farms adopt nature-friendly farming practices and United Utilities planting 1 million trees. The Crown Estate's new long-term environmental Farm Business Tenancies will support farmers in their aim to transition 15% of farmland to nature recovery, including planting 1,000km of new hedgerows by 2035. Members will continue to work closely together, applying the government's Land Use Framework principles and participating in Local Nature Recovery Strategies. By managing land more strategically, the government and NEN partners will help deliver Environment Act targets on biodiversity, water quality and woodland cover, while supporting the UK's international commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030. Additional information:
Case studies of nature recovery on government landCockcrow Green Bridge (National Highways)
Outstrays Managed Realignment Scheme (Environment Agency)
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