Suffolk’s Nature Strategy

Value of the Natural Environment ConferenceValue of the Natural Environment Conference

1717thth March 2015 March 2015

Nick Collinson - Suffolk County Council

Why we did itWhy we did it

Key messagesKey messages

Projects since & as a resultProjects since & as a result

This is not a panacea and its not perfectThis is not a panacea and its not perfect

Why we did itWhy we did it • Suffolk sector wanted to speak with one voice at a Suffolk sector wanted to speak with one voice at a

strategic level strategic level • Period of unprecedented ecological challenge: Habitat Period of unprecedented ecological challenge: Habitat

loss, over-exploitation, pollution & non-native invasive loss, over-exploitation, pollution & non-native invasive spp. State of Nature of spp 60% decliningspp. State of Nature of spp 60% declining

• Not everyone shares a moral imperative to save natureNot everyone shares a moral imperative to save nature• Many still see natural environment as a block on growthMany still see natural environment as a block on growth• Health crisis also, and lots of evidence about the value of Health crisis also, and lots of evidence about the value of

nature to both physical and mental wellbeingnature to both physical and mental wellbeing• Legal duties!Legal duties!

• NEWP NEWP SCC keen to be a strategic championSCC keen to be a strategic champion

NEWPNEWP

““Govn’t ambition is to ensure that the benefits of highGovn’t ambition is to ensure that the benefits of high quality natural environments are available to everyone.quality natural environments are available to everyone. We [Govn’t] want this to be the first generation to We [Govn’t] want this to be the first generation to

leave the natural environment of England in a betterleave the natural environment of England in a better state than it inherited”.state than it inherited”.

““The White Paper does not pose any additional burdens on localThe White Paper does not pose any additional burdens on localauthorities but it recognises that success in protecting andauthorities but it recognises that success in protecting andImproving the natural environment will depend on action taken atImproving the natural environment will depend on action taken atlocal level”.local level”.

““Local authorities possess the strategic overview, local Local authorities possess the strategic overview, local knowledge and statutory powers required to make the vision setknowledge and statutory powers required to make the vision setout in this White Paper a reality”. out in this White Paper a reality”.

Beware……………Beware……………Shifting Baseline SyndromeShifting Baseline Syndrome

describes how those who saw an describes how those who saw an

ecosystem 50 years ago, see normality ecosystem 50 years ago, see normality

very differently to those who see that very differently to those who see that

same ecosystem now, given the loss of same ecosystem now, given the loss of

biodiversity in the intervening period. Our children’sbiodiversity in the intervening period. Our children’s

concept of what is normal in the natural world isconcept of what is normal in the natural world is

different from their parents and grand-parents, anddifferent from their parents and grand-parents, and

hence biodiversity decline becomes generationallyhence biodiversity decline becomes generationally

accepted as a perceived normality.accepted as a perceived normality.

The challenge in SuffolkThe challenge in Suffolk• State of Nature – nationally, 60% of species in declineState of Nature – nationally, 60% of species in decline

• Generally habitats not big enough, nor well connected, nor well Generally habitats not big enough, nor well connected, nor well managed (47% of SSSI in favourable condition, 42% of Suffolk managed (47% of SSSI in favourable condition, 42% of Suffolk woodland under-managedwoodland under-managed

• Climate change, hotter drier summers in a county that is already Climate change, hotter drier summers in a county that is already short of watershort of water

• Sea level rise ref coastal changeSea level rise ref coastal change

• Farming - key arable area - UK farmland bird index all time lowFarming - key arable area - UK farmland bird index all time low

• Energy coast (offshore wind and new nuclear at Sizewell C)Energy coast (offshore wind and new nuclear at Sizewell C)

• Forestry on heathland areas (also an opportunity)Forestry on heathland areas (also an opportunity)

• Development - AAPG report Nov 2014 – ecological competenceDevelopment - AAPG report Nov 2014 – ecological competence

CWS 5% of Suffolk 19,748 haCWS 5% of Suffolk 19,748 ha

SSSI 8% 31,325 haSSSI 8% 31,325 ha

N2K 7% 27,830 haN2K 7% 27,830 ha

SLAs 22% of Suffolk 83,054 haSLAs 22% of Suffolk 83,054 ha

AONBs 12% 46,158 haAONBs 12% 46,158 ha

Broads NP 0.7% 2,298 haBroads NP 0.7% 2,298 ha

In total 20% of the county is In total 20% of the county is nationally designated for nationally designated for landscape or wildlife landscape or wildlife

36% of the county is locally / 36% of the county is locally / nationally designated for nationally designated for landscape or wildlifelandscape or wildlife

What we know• We know what needs to be done – more, bigger,

better and more joined up – Lawton review / NEWP

• Legislation and government policies are in

place.

• International target 2020 to halt loss

• Data is getting better, evidence of values is

better and lots of new technologies

• Our generation presents the best opportunity,

as champions for nature

• We’re all doing great work creating and managing reserves, campaigning for better protection, managing land-use change, preventing loss, joining things up, fighting persecution, providing advice, engaging people, educating young people etc etc

• BUT……. we are still sliding down that slippery slope – this all isn’t enough

What the strategy is trying to do……

• Engage new audiences, with new messages Engage new audiences, with new messages through new partnershipsthrough new partnerships• Everyone values nature, it touches all our lives, but we have not Everyone values nature, it touches all our lives, but we have not

yet sufficiently articulated thisyet sufficiently articulated this

• See things from others’ perspectives, and See things from others’ perspectives, and answer the questions – what has it got to do answer the questions – what has it got to do with me?with me?

• Better evidence the value of nature to Suffolk Better evidence the value of nature to Suffolk (growth, health, wellbeing etc)(growth, health, wellbeing etc)

launched May 2014

So what’s in it?So what’s in it? Key messagesKey messages

““Suffolk’s Suffolk’s natural natural environment is environment is undoubtedly one undoubtedly one of Suffolk’s key of Suffolk’s key strengths. strengths. It is one of the It is one of the golden threads golden threads holding together holding together what makes this what makes this county great”county great”

Suffolk’s Nature Strategy Vision

A 2020 vision for Suffolk’s Natural environment

Working together as individuals, communities, businesses and

decision-makers, we will ensure Suffolk’s natural environment iswe will ensure Suffolk’s natural environment is

conserved and enhanced for future generations conserved and enhanced for future generations and continues tocontinues to

be seen as one of the county’s key strengthsbe seen as one of the county’s key strengths. Its intrinsic value, asintrinsic value, as

well as its importance to our economic growth, is increasinglywell as its importance to our economic growth, is increasingly

understood, whilst the people of Suffolk and our visitors are ableunderstood, whilst the people of Suffolk and our visitors are able

to gain better access to enhanced enjoyment and a deeperto gain better access to enhanced enjoyment and a deeper

understanding of its unique qualitiesunderstanding of its unique qualities. We will continue to add to

our knowledge of Suffolk’s wildlife and landscapes and to collect

high-quality information.

Economic growth in Suffolk

“ “The natural environment plays The natural environment plays a huge part in quality of life and a huge part in quality of life and in our existing and future in our existing and future competitiveness”competitiveness” NALEP NALEP

““Factors cited by companies in favour Factors cited by companies in favour of investing in our area include quality of investing in our area include quality of life and the environment; the natural of life and the environment; the natural environment supports the recruitment environment supports the recruitment of skilled staff by businesses” of skilled staff by businesses” NALEPNALEP

““The natural environment The natural environment is crucial to the quality of is crucial to the quality of life in Suffolk, and part of life in Suffolk, and part of the foundation for our the foundation for our prosperity and economy” prosperity and economy” Mark PendlingtonMark Pendlington

Health & wellbeing in Suffolk

Almost half Suffolk Almost half Suffolk adults are inactive, adults are inactive, with an estimated with an estimated cost of physical cost of physical inactivity of inactivity of £14m/yr£14m/yr

Adequate access to greenspace, Adequate access to greenspace, leading to reductions in sedentary leading to reductions in sedentary behaviour, could generate health behaviour, could generate health savings of £2 billion/yrsavings of £2 billion/yr

5,600km of 5,600km of public public footpaths and footpaths and 4,800 ha of 4,800 ha of Open Access Open Access land in Suffolkland in Suffolk

People who live People who live within 500m of within 500m of greenspace are greenspace are 24% more likely 24% more likely to meet to meet recommended recommended levels of levels of exerciseexercise

Tourism in Suffolk

Tourism in Suffolk is worthTourism in Suffolk is worth

£1.75 billion/yr. In the AONBs£1.75 billion/yr. In the AONBs

alone it is work £260m/yralone it is work £260m/yr

. .

““Tourism is a major sector, thanks to a Tourism is a major sector, thanks to a beautiful, abundant and diverse bank of beautiful, abundant and diverse bank of natural assets” natural assets” NALEPNALEP

Tourism in Suffolk is foundedTourism in Suffolk is foundedon the county’s specialon the county’s specialqualities. The wildlife andqualities. The wildlife andlandscape here are an important part of landscape here are an important part of our offer. our offer. Alex Paul – Gough HotelsAlex Paul – Gough Hotels

Land use in Suffolk

In Suffolk only In Suffolk only 47% of SSSIs 47% of SSSIs in favourable in favourable conditioncondition

In Suffolk only 9% of In Suffolk only 9% of rivers are in good or high rivers are in good or high ecological status, with ecological status, with 30% poor or bad30% poor or bad

60% of species, 60% of species, for which we for which we have data, are in have data, are in declinedecline

Crop Crop pollinating pollinating insects worth insects worth £430m to UK £430m to UK agricultureagriculture

Agriculture Agriculture employs over employs over 10,000 people in 10,000 people in SuffolkSuffolk

Coastal wetlands value in Coastal wetlands value in preventing surges and preventing surges and flooding is £1.5 billion/yrflooding is £1.5 billion/yr

Natural Capital Committee

1. https://www.naturalcapitalcommittee.org/

2. Came from NEWP (2011)

3. The Committee brings together expertise and experience in ecology and environmental science, economics and business

4. Work to better integrate the value of natural capital into decision making at all levels

5. Working with Defra and the ONS to get natural capital into the national accounts

6. Reports to Parliament’s Economic Affairs Committee

7. All about ensuring we better understand and take

account of the value of nature to society

Projects since, and as a resultBeing Well in the Wild (& Brecks), Get Suffolk Moving

Access standard in draft Walking Strategy

NERC toolkit – signposting priority spp to their habitats

EU project developing on natural capital

Ecological and landscape guidance to supplement Suffolk’s DesignGuide, being drafted

Informing a range of Leader projects with partners (e.g. WT ASNW CWSs)

Developers ecological survey data to go to SBRC, by condition

Biennial “State of Suffolk’s Nature” report

• Unlocking lots of doors, but we need to keep pushing and promoting

• Still much to do to deliver our aspirations

Implementation Steering GroupSuffolk County Council

District & Borough Councils

RSPB

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

National Trust

Natural England

Environment Agency

Woodland Trust

AONBs

National Farmers Union

Visit Suffolk

Local Nature Partnership

Public Health Suffolk

Delivery plan – Smartsheet – a working document that we’ll use to report delivery and develop our biennial “State of Suffolk’s Nature” report.

“ “ No one will look after what they do not care No one will look after what they do not care about, and no one will care about what they have about, and no one will care about what they have not experienced, or do not value or understand ”not experienced, or do not value or understand ”

nick.collinson@suffolk.gov.uknick.collinson@suffolk.gov.uk