Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Place and Economy and the Climate and Sustainability Specialist on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.  

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Director of Place and Economy and the Climate and Sustainability Specialist on the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following: 

• The Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) would inform nature recovery at a local level, by mapping habitats, features and key species to identify opportunities, priorities and actions to boost ecological connectivity, diversity and abundance.
• The Strategy would take the form of a formidable online resource, a website and a mapping viewer that aimed to help everyone to play a role, by being easy to explore and use.
• Devon County Council (DCC) was the Responsible Authority for the Devon LNRS.
• DCC had been developing the Strategy through the Devon Local Nature Partnership, which involved a broad array of stakeholders such as farmers and this Council had been consulted as part of that.
• This Council was a supporting Authority for the Devon LNRS, along with other local authorities and Natural England.
• All public authorities had a duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity and must have regard to the relevant LNRS. 
• The wider co-benefits to nature recovery included: climate change adaptation and mitigation, water quality, natural capital and ecosystem services and wellbeing.
• The Strategy Team aimed to complete the Strategy and put it out to public consultation in September 2025. 

The Climate and Sustainability Specialist outlined the contents of the presentation with particular reference to the following:

• The website was interactive, exciting, interesting and offered inspiration. It provided information such as: Important species and approximate areas where you could locate them such as dragonflies etc.
• The location of schools and the local community centres showing 500-metre zones, to help illustrate where the nearest area of nature or green space would be accessible to communities.
• Different layers of information that could be used depending on need and perspective.
• Powerful tools and resources for the viewer to use.
• Funding decisions and the direction and prioritization of funding would be influenced by the LNRS.

Discussion took place with regards to:

• Whether some of the creatures would look different in real life.
• Could the website be used in a negative way such as a tracking tool and put the protected species and or habitats at risk of being hunted?
• Concerns with regard to the decline in the level of nature in England.
• Would there be a grant of permissions through the “search me” engine on the website. For example the “search near me” would the information returned show that information?
• What were the next steps and when would the website go live?
• The website had specific areas to view and it would be a crucial tool.
• The work that landowners had contributed for years to help towards preserving nature.
• On the Government website stated that they had a goal to raise at least £500 million per year of private finance for nature recovery by 2027 and more than £1 billion by 2030. Concerns were raised around the term ‘Private Finance’.
• The term wildlife and hedgerow, did the website indicate when to cut hedgerows?

RESOLVED that:

1. Approval be given to Devon County Council (DCC) that the draft Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) be published and that it goes out for public consultation.

2. That delegated authority be given to the Director of Place and Economy, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration, and the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, to make or approve any minor amendments to the consultation materials.

(Proposed by Cllr S Keable and seconded by Cllr G DuChesne)

Reason for Decision:

The purpose of the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy was to inform and support nature recovery, and relevant co-benefits included: actions for climate change adaptation (e.g. natural flood management) and mitigation (e.g. restoration of habitats that are important for carbon storage and sequestration).

Note: * report previously circulated.