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Creating a nature recovery network for East Devon

  • by JW

Helping to ‘stitch back together Britain’s tattered natural fabric of wild land’.

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The chair of the Environmental Audit Committee writes today in Parliament’s online journal:

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We must protect and preserve our community green spaces and ecosystems

Landowners, local authorities and corporates must actively participate in restoring and enhancing our biodiversity whilst considering societal challenges and enhancing human wellbeing…

So the Environmental Audit Committee commences oral hearings next month in our inquiry into how best to protect and enhance biodiversity, while considering nature-based solutions to climate change, including action to protect, manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems to address societal challenges and enhance human wellbeing…

In many ways, the government has made clear that it recognises this problem. The Environment Bill provides for the creation of a new biodiversity net gain requirement for developments, and also commits to creating or restoring 500,000 hectares of wildlife habitat as part of a Nature Recovery Network. But this will require serious and active participation from local authorities, corporates and landowners.

We must protect and preserve our community green spaces and ecosystems

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Here’s more on the committee’s enquiry:

Biodiversity and Ecosystems – Committees – UK Parliament

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Here’s more on the national campaign for a ‘nature recovery network’:

Nature Recovery Network | The Wildlife Trusts

Which is part of the Trusts’ campaign for ‘wild belts’:

Rewilding the planning system – Vision Group for Sidmouth

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Meanwhile, in East Devon, the District Council’s cabinet will be meeting up on Wednesday 30th September to look at what can be done locally:

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Options to develop nature recovery networks to be considered by district council

A range of options to ‘stitch back together Britain’s tattered natural fabric of wild land’ are due to be considered by East Devon District Council.

In a report due to be discussed at its next cabinet meeting, a number of recommendations have been made that could be adopted across the district as part of its Climate Change Strategy. It is all part of plans to develop a nature recovery network which is a concept that allows wildlife to thrive and plants, animals, seeds, nutrients and water to move from place to place and enables the natural world to adapt to change.

The report goes on to recognise the value of working in partnership and highlights some successes in the district, including … the wildflower areas established in The Byes, Sidmouth.

Nature recovery networks to be considered by East Devon District Council | Sidmouth Herald

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Here are the details from the District Council’s website:

Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 30th September, 2020, 6.00 pm – East Devon