Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Somerset

Overview

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS's) are a new England-wide system of spatial strategies established by the Environment Act 2021.  The main purpose of these strategies is to help reverse the ongoing decline of nature in England by establishing priorities for nature recovery and identify locations to create or improve habitat most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment.

Across England there are to be 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS), and Somerset Council has been appointed and funded by DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to be the Responsible Authority to lead on the development of the LNRS for Somerset.

In collaboration with Somerset Local Nature Partnership, we plan to create this new long-term evidence-based strategy and establish what is needed to protect and restore our nature to benefit the biodiversity of habitats and species, and the residents and visitors of Somerset.

The production of each Local Nature Strategy will be evidence-based, locally led and collaborative, and each will:

• map areas of importance for biodiversity
• describe the strategy area, its biodiversity and its opportunities for nature recovery
• agree biodiversity priorities and identify potential measures for achieving them
• map areas that could become of particular importance in the future.

You can help shape the LNRS by telling us how and where nature matters to you.

Why your views matter

The Council is keen to hear from members of the public who are interested in helping shape the Local Nature Recovery Strategy so that we get it right for Somerset.

For example:

• What outcomes do you want to see from the new Somerset Local Nature Recovery Strategy?
• What benefits of nature matter to you most?  

Please click through to take part in our survey. Depending on how much detail you wish to provide, it should take between 5 and 20 minutes to complete.

For further information and reading please see below.