Local authorities face unprecedented challenges, including spending cuts, economic uncertainty, climate change, welfare reform, youth unemployment, housing need and an aging population, which require a whole new way of thinking and delivering. Recovering or enhancing biodiversity does not just allow nature to thrive, it provides multiple benefits: sustaining and regenerating economies, creating jobs, increasing climate resilience and enhancing the health and wellbeing of residents and businesses.
The UK is bottom 10 per cent globally and worst G7 nation for biodiversity loss. Nature is key to mitigating and adapting to climate change and supporting health and well-being.
Tackling nature recovery needs to happen now at scale and the government has set out a range of policies and funding mechanisms These include a new system of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS), agri-environment schemes, Biodiversity Net Gain together with wider environmental net gains and Green Infrastructure Standards. The Governments Environmental Improvement Plan, published in December 2025, recognises:
It is essential to growing the economy. In 2022, England’s nature services provided benefits exceeding £37.1 billion, more than any single manufacturing sector (Nature at work for people and the economy, Defra, 2024).
England’s local authorities at all levels (county, unitary, districts, boroughs and combined authorities) are vital to driving nature recovery outcomes and the wide suite of benefits that flow to local communities from its recovery.
Local authorities need to effectively embed nature across all their functions and assets. There are now levers and approaches and other underlying targets and policy hooks such as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which refer to and promote their use.
Statutory duties for local authorities include Local Nature Recovery Strategies, to help plan nature recovery and Biodiversity Net Gain, Species Conservation and Protected Site strategies and a strengthened biodiversity duty in the NERC Act.
Voluntary tools include Green Infrastructure Standards, ecosystem service provision from BNG (Environmental Benefits from Nature tool), Strategic Solutions, Landscape Character Assessments LCAs, Shared Nitrogen Action Plans and District Level Licensing and conservation covenants to help deliver nature recovery.
Implementing nature recovery offers local authorities a cost‑effective way to deliver wider priorities, including improved health, sustainable travel and flood resilience. It can strengthen financial stability through access to new funding streams and income from green finance such as BNG, carbon credits and Environmental Land Management Scheme. Nature recovery can also create employment and volunteering opportunities while enhancing the authority’s reputation as a forward‑thinking organisation delivering greener, healthier and more resilient communities.
Over half (57 per cent) of the annual value of ecosystem services in England in 2020 was derived from cultural services, predominantly recreation and tourism (£12.4 billion) and health benefits (£5.5 billion) associated with this (ONS 2023)
Failure to act means not meeting statutory duties or legislative standards, leading to increased environmental risks to health, transport and flooding. Limited public funding and weak business models constrain nature enhancement, while reliance on traditional grey infrastructure drives up costs and exposure to risk. There is also significant reputational risk for a local authority seen as failing to address climate change and environmental degradation, making the area less attractive to residents and businesses. It is equally important to recognise the risks of action, including uncertainty around future budgets, funding, political priorities, and changes to policy or legislation, which could affect long‑term delivery.
There are costs of not acting. It is estimated that the health and social care costs of air pollution in England could reach £5.3 billion by 2035 unless action is taken.
In the short term, priorities should be meeting legal requirements—particularly delivering LNRS, BNG and NERC duties—and understanding how these align with core business. Quick wins include embedding nature into procurement, adopting low‑intensity maintenance (such as no‑mow), and appointing a nature recovery lead with a clear commitment. Longer term, the focus should be on a clear, ambitious approach to nature recovery, integrating nature into corporate commitments to help deliver wider benefits.
There are lots of examples where local authorities are already embedding nature as part of their priorities and realising the benefits.
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority is developing innovative funding models, blending private and public‑sector funding opportunities through the Greater Manchester Environment Fund.
- Bath & North East Somerset Council declared climate and biodiversity emergencies in 2020 and established the role of a ‘Biodiversity Champion’ for an elected member emphasising the environment within the Corporate Strategy.
- Buckinghamshire Council’s cross-departmental working with ecology teams, legal departments and planning teams has helped prepare for mandatory biodiversity net gain.
- Hampshire County Council demonstrate the benefits of external‑partnerships for county-wide nature recovery. Sequestering carbon
- Plymouth City Council have set up an arm’s length, council-owned ‘Habitat Bank’.
