Bringing together “a diverse range of individuals, businesses and organisations ... at a local level to create a vision and plan of action of how the natural environment can be taken into account in decision making”

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Why be involved?

Even those concerned about only business and not the fate of the planet recognise that the viability of business itself depends on the resources of healthy ecosystems
Harvard Business Review (2011) The Big Idea: The Sustainable Economy

If the UK’s ecosystems were properly protected and enhanced then they could add an extra £30 billion to the UK economy
UK National Ecosystem Assessment (2011) Technical Report

Upland and lowland management to restore floodplains and improve water quality has demonstrated benefit-cost ratios of up to 4:1. Natural England (2009) No charge? Valuing the natural environment

Neglect and loss of ecosystem services may cost as much as £20 billion to the economy per year
UK National Ecosystem Assessment (2011) Technical Report

Pollination supports food production in the UK to the value of £1bn per year
Defra (2010), Natural Environment narrative

Around 60% of rural tourism and recreation activity is dependent on landscapes and wildlife
GHK (2004) Revealing the value of the natural environment in England

400,000 new jobs are predicted in the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services sector by 2015
Defra (2010) Economic Growth and the Environment

Increasing physical activity by having green spaces to walk or exercise in could save the NHS around £2.1bn every year
Defra (2010) Natural Environment narrative

What is a Local Nature Partnership (LNP)?

What will the Sussex Local Nature Partnership do?

Who should be involved?

Next steps

Contact

For further information on the Sussex LNP and how your organisation can contribute and benefit from this proposal, please contact:

Laurie Jackson, Conservation Officer, Sussex Wildlife Trust
phone: 01273 497551
email here

What is a Local Nature Partnership (LNP)?

In 2011 the Government released its Natural Environment White Paper outlining its vision for the natural environment along with 92 commitments aimed at achieving its ambitions.

These ambitions include the setting up of LNPs; partnerships working to improve the range of benefits and services provided by good land management. It is envisaged that these partnerships will build on existing arrangements and engage with new partners. This is designed to provide a body that can deliver more effective use of resources, and secure better outcomes than individual organisations or groups working in isolation.

A Local Nature Partnership for Sussex

We are delighted to report that the Sussex Wildlife Trust has received funding from Defra to undertake the first stages of creating a LNP for Sussex. This is one of only a limited number of such successful applications nationally.

This poses a great challenge for the Sussex community and many other areas will be watching our progress and learning from our successes. To make this a success, we need your help to influence the shape and functions of this Sussex Nature Partnership.

Whilst establishing this new body, Sussex Wildlife Trust will be working to build upon the foundation of the existing Sussex Biodiversity Partnership to broaden its agenda; reflecting a wider range of interests and enabling a formal application for LNP status to be made during 2012.

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What will the Sussex Local Nature Partnership do?

We want this to be a genuine partnership, with each organisation having the chance to contribute to the definition of its role and operation. It is therefore for all those involved to shape exactly what Sussex Nature Partnership should do, which may include:

• Demonstrating local leadership, raising awareness about the vital services and benefits which a healthy natural environment brings for people, communities and the local economy.
• Creating a shared vision for Sussex to determine local environmental priorities, in which organisations and local communities can identify how to use their skills and resources to greatest effect
• Working at a landscape scale to improve the range of benefits and services we get from the natural environment.
• Influencing local strategies, plans and decisions that affect the local natural environment
• Bringing together organisations with shared interests to enable them to increase work capacity and strengthen their impact
• Promoting an ecosystems approach and an awareness of its relevance to the work of various sectors
• Improving the social and economic benefits received from good management of the land
  

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Who should be involved?

We want all parts of our community to be represented in the Sussex LNP, including:

• Local authorities
• National Parks and AONBs
• Environmental charities
• Landowners
• Local businesses and business/enterprise organisations
• Health and wellbeing organisations and trusts
• Educational organisations
• Community organisations and forums
• Existing biodiversity partnerships

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Next steps

Sussex Wildlife Trust will be holding a series of workshops early in 2012 to bring together those interested in Sussex Nature Partnership and seek their input on its structure, function and outputs.

Attendance at these workshops will allow organisations to meet with others within and outside of their own sector.

If your organisation would like be involved, let us know and we will contact you about the dates of workshops and answer any questions you have about the proposals and how engagement with such a Partnership might benefit your organisation.

Contact

For further information on the Sussex LNP and how your organisation can contribute and benefit from this proposal, please contact:

Laurie Jackson, Conservation Officer, Sussex Wildlife Trust
phone: 01273 497551
email here

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