Taking root: the promise and challenge of local authority-led nature recovery

Rapid biodiversity loss and ecosystem decline demand urgent action to restore nature. Local government is uniquely positioned to lead such efforts in direct response to local priorities. However, they are seldom provided with the necessary resources or institutional support. One exception to this is the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) framework – a nationwide system of spatial strategies aiming to reverse ecological degradation in England.

This discussion paper examines local nature restoration efforts occurring both within and external to the LNRS framework, assessing the opportunities and constraints of local authority-led nature restoration. First considering Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s LNRS, the paper explores the importance and challenge of public engagement within the framework, before assessing the wider barriers to strategy development in other local authorities. The paper then considers three local authority-led restoration initiatives operating outside the LNRS framework in Scotland, Cornwall, and Ireland.

Key enablers of truly place-based nature restoration include early, sustained and inclusive public engagement and strong local partnerships. However, local innovation is often constrained by short-term and uncertain funding, uneven institutional capacity and complexity, and statutory gaps that overlook marine priorities.

The paper concludes with recommendations for both local and national governments to support co-produced, well-resourced, and flexible approaches to place-based nature restoration.

Key themes

local government, nature recovery, public engagement, capacity, funding.

Dan Godley is a Researcher at the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation supporting local authorities worldwide. Through collaborative research, he engages local government practitioners, experts and academics to shape forward-thinking policy ideas. Dan’s research focuses on the interplay between local innovation, shared challenges, and the influence of national policies on the local government sector.