The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. For all the wonderful complexity of nature, the prescription for nature recovery is simple, and it was given by the 2010 Lawton review: more, bigger, better and joined up habitat. This would reverse the hundreds of years of habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation that has driven biodiversity loss in the UK.
A nature recovery strategy that delivers against the Lawton principles will create a Strategic Nature Network, a national nature network that protects and connects more and bigger habitat across the UK. The network must consist of large core areas with connecting corridors or stepping stones that allow species to move, migrate and adapt to changing climatic conditions. Get these conditions right, enough protected and well connected habitat, then nature will thrive. This is critical national infrastructure because the foundation of the UK economy is a thriving natural environment.
A nature recovery programme, tasked with delivering the Strategic Nature Network can be combined with active travel provision. Not only can we leave the next generation a natural environment that is in better health than the one we inherited, but we can also connect all of us with the benefits of being in nature and boost the nation’s health and wellbeing.
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