17 Nottinghamshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy PDF 173 KB
Report of the Director – Neighbourhoods
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The Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer presented the Nottinghamshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) report and provided a presentation and overview of key aspects of the report to the Group.
The Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer explained that the Environment Act 2021 required the production of Local Nature Recovery Strategies. He said that the County Council had been designated as the Responsible Body for Nottinghamshire by DEFRA, with Rushcliffe Borough Council designated as a Supporting Authority and as such, was a consultee for the draft strategy and would need to consider the Strategy in relation to its own policies and strategies.
The Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer shared a video with the Group which highlighted the various habitats and wildlife in the local area and which encouraged participation in the survey to help shape nature recovery in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire: https://nottsnaturerecovery.co.uk and Local nature recovery strategy for Nottinghamshire | Nottinghamshire County Council.
The Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer explained that an LNRS was a new statutory system for spatial strategies for nature’s recovery, was locally led, transparent and collaborative and set out the agreed priorities. He said that it was map based, mapping the most valuable existing areas for nature and setting specific proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and the wider environmental benefits. He said that whilst the map was not yet publicly available online, it would be in the future, with both the map and documentation comprising the LNRS.
In relation to governance, the Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer said that in addition to the District Councils, the East Midlands Combined County Authority and Natural England were Supporting Bodies and that Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Economic Prosperity Committee provided political oversight. He added that a working group, mapping group, planning group, farmers and landowners’ group, species specialist group and a public consultation had also fed into the LNRS.
In relation to consultation, the Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer said that engagement had been undertaken with statutory Bodies, conservation organisations, parish councils and that public events and an online survey had been conducted.
In relation to mapping and priority measures, the Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer said that measures would look to enhance existing habitats and protect new habitats in ways that were practical, realistic and deliverable. He said that measures would also bring wider environmental benefits such as natural flood management, carbon sequestration and improving public access to green spaces. He took the Group through the various types of habitat that had been mapped, including woodland, wetland and watercourses, heathland, grassland, farmland, urban and post-industrial and species.
The Senior Ecology and Sustainability Officer said that a public consultation would take place from 6 May 2025 to 16 June 2025, followed by notification to the Secretary of State in summer 2025 and potential adoption and publication of the LNRS in summer / autumn 2025. A review of the Strategy would be completed by DEFRA at some point between 3 –10 years after publication.
Councillor Ellis thought that the ... view the full minutes text for item 17