Norfolk Residents and Communities: In both rural and urban spaces, a healthy natural environment provides us with food, clean water, clean air, and opportunities to improve our physical and mental wellbeing. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is therefore a crucial part of creating healthy and resilient communities, with direct and indirect advantages affecting virtually every aspect of societal well-being. By involving local communities in the development and implementation of the LNRS, it will foster a sense of local ownership, responsibility, and appreciation for biodiversity. Engaged communities are more likely to support and contribute to actions that lead to a net gain in biodiversity.
Farmers, Land Owners and Land Managers: By helping farmers and land managers identify opportunities for nature recovery actions, the LNRS will be used to inform applications for funding from Environmental Land Management schemes, supporting Norfolk’s agricultural sector. It will also help steer opportunities for nature-based solutions such as flood risk management and sequestering carbon through new trees, woodlands and healthier soils.
Developers and Planning Authorities: The LNRS will be used as a decision making tool to help guide mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain and other planning tools such as Green Infrastructure. By providing a strategic, coordinated, and long-term approach to nature recovery, the LNRS can ensure planning authorities deliver the best outcomes for wildlife, make sure that development is sustainable and that society's overall impact on nature is positive, contributing to a richer, more resilient natural world.
Businesses, Local Economy and Green Tourism: The LNRS plays an important role in bringing green investment into the county from national and international funding sources, showcasing how nature underpins a thriving local economy and creating local opportunities for Norfolk businesses and Green Tourism to achieve their environment and social governance (ESG) objectives.
