Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership sets up new Parliamentary group to lead action on nature recovery

The APPG will work to strengthen the role of locally led environmental action in national policy. The group will provide much needed coordination for Local Nature Partnerships and Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) at the parliamentary level, ensuring they contribute effectively to the government’s legally binding target to halt nature’s decline by 2030.

England remains one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with significant consequences for wildlife, people and the economy. The Environment Act 2021 introduced Local Nature Recovery Strategies to help reverse environmental degradation. For these strategies to reach their potential, we need stronger integration into planning, agriculture, and decision making about land use.

A local approach to nature recovery is crucial: the UK is made up of an intricate patchwork of different landscapes and habitats, and the communities, farmers, landowners, charities and businesses that know their local places are best placed to work with nature to help it recover. The OLNP has established the APPG as part of their ongoing work to advocate for and co-ordinate local nature recovery efforts on a national level.

A critical time for local nature action

“In the run-up to the General Election, all parties committed to restoring our natural environment. But now, we need to turn those commitments into action,” said Matt Whitney, Manager of the Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership. “Local Nature Partnerships and Recovery Strategies offer a powerful way to deliver real change on the ground, but they need better support and recognition at the national level. This APPG will ensure that community-driven environmental action is part of the conversation in Westminster.”

The initiative is backed by Local Nature Partnerships across the country and leading environmental organisations. Richard Benwell, Chief Executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link and Chair of the Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership, highlighted the importance of this new parliamentary group: “Local Nature Partnerships are about people coming together - communities, councils, businesses, farmers, and conservation groups – to restore wild places, bring wildlife back, and create healthier, greener communities. But without national coordination, they risk missing their full potential. This APPG will help ensure that local nature recovery is embedded in policies on planning, farming, climate adaptation, and public health.”

The role of Local Nature Partnerships and Local Nature Recovery Strategies

Local Nature Partnerships were established by DEFRA in 2012 to bring together stakeholders from different sectors to collaborate on nature recovery. There are around forty active partnerships in the UK, working hard to co-ordinate efforts to help nature recover. Their impact has been greatest where they have received consistent support and funding. Similarly, Local Nature Recovery Strategies, designed to create a joined-up approach to nature restoration, require greater integration into planning, agriculture, and land management policies to succeed.

With the government’s ambition for 30% of land and sea to be managed for nature by 2030, the APPG will advocate for stronger policy support and investment in these vital initiatives.

Building momentum for a national approach

The APPG aims to:

• Provide a unified voice for Local Nature Partnerships in Parliament.

• Advocate for the full integration of Local Nature Recovery Strategies into planning, farming, and environmental policy.

• Highlight the role of nature in addressing climate adaptation, afforestation, land use planning, public health, and community wellbeing.

The first meeting, chaired by Pippa Heylings MP, took place on 12 February 2025.