Stafford Borough Council

The Council recognises that:Nature is in long term decline. With 41 per cent of wild species in declinenationally, and 15 per cent facing extinction. The requirement to takeaction to reverse this is urgent. We recognise that:(a) Nature provides us with vital support systems [‘ecosystem services’],and severe declines in biodiversity are undermining nature’sproductivity and adaptability, posing excessive uncertainty for oureconomies and wellbeing.(b) A thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, happy,prosperous society.3(c) The impacts of climate change are contributing to nature’s decline,while restoring and protection of natural habitat provides a widevariety of cost-effective benefits to mitigate and adapt to the impactsof climate change.(d) Many of our areas of work across the Borough have an impact onnature, and we have responsibilities to make decisions to protect andenhance it.This Council further acknowledges that:To address the nature crisis and aim to achieve the multiple environmentalbenefits that nature can bring to people, the ‘Bigger, Better, More andJoined-up’ principles of the 2010 Lawton Report - ‘Making Space forNature’ - should be followed to help rebuild nature:(a) There must be more space given to wildlife.(b) Existing wildlife spaces must be expanded.(c) The quality of existing wildlife spaces should be improved by betterhabitat management.(d) The connectivity between wildlife spaces must be enhanced.In order to support the recovery of nature across Stafford Borough, and inrecognition of new obligations under the Environment Act 2021, thiscouncil commits to:(1) Improve and protect the Borough’s habitats resilience to climatechange, providing natural solutions to reduce carbon and manageflood risk, and sustaining vital ecosystems(2) Prioritise the restoration of natural habitats in accordance withStafford Borough’s Nature Recovery Network Map.(3) Formulate a tree planting policy which is underpinned by NatureRecovery Network mapping across the local authority area, pursuinga “right tree, right place” approach. Recognise that tree planting canbe deleterious to habitat restoration and should only be planned onland with low ecological value/restoration potential.(4) Seek to manage council-owned land for the benefit of wildlife(5) Embed nature’s recovery into all strategic plans and policy areas, notjust those directly related to the environment. Ensure the LocalNature Recovery Strategy is well understood across the authority andcomplements other relevant plans and strategies.(6) Working with partners, demonstrate leadership by supporting andengaging with businesses, communities and the wider public to takeaction to put nature into recovery.4(7) The Council designates the Councils Economic Development andPlanning Cabinet Member as portfolio lead for Nature Recovery andalso a lead officer to coordinate the council operations in relation tothe ecological emergency.(8) Integrate the targets, objectives and outcomes of this motion withthose outlined in the existing Climate Change and Green RecoveryStrategy to ensure measures to tackle climate issues do notcontravene the principles of enhancing biodiversity. The value of wellmanaged heathland, wetland and other habitats of principalimportance in sequestering carbon is of equal importance and mustbe acknowledged.(9) Where appropriate, and in accordance with the council’s ClimateChange and Green Recovery Strategy, the council will invest innature-based solutions to climate change in order to tackle the naturecrisis and climate emergency together.(10) Support the development of a Staffordshire wide Local NatureRecovery Strategy, and through the recently commissioned NatureRecovery Network Mapping, develop a local evidence-based actionplan including short and long-term targets for putting nature intorecovery by 2040, in accordance with the council’s climate changeobligations. Areas of focus will include:• Land management• Biodiversity• Roads and highways• Planning and development• Air quality• Transforming urban spaces• Health and wellbeing• People and communities• Education and awareness(11) That the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee monitor theLocal Nature Recovery work and the council’s action to supportbiodiversity and nature recovery on an annual basis.(12) Work closely with Stafford Borough’s partners via the recently formedStaffordshire Sustainability Board and other organisations to promoteLocal Nature Recovery.”

— Full Council (Source)