Catalysing nature recovery for people and nature
Nature recovery that puts the environment and people at the heart of change
There has been significant progress in nature recovery policy globally, nationally and regionally, most recently with Local Nature Recovery Strategies. However, the UK is falling short on delivering targets, with limited progress on community engagement and connecting people with their local environment.
To deliver effective nature recovery, we need to build nature into people’s daily lives through cross-sector, system-wide approaches that can support change at scale. It’s vital that we embed social engagement with nature into our futures.
Our Approach
Earth Trust is taking action at local, regional and national levels to ensure more people can enjoy and connect with green spaces close to them. We want greater equality of access and investment in the creation and protection of high-quality green spaces for everyone.
Building on our Building Nature In framework, developed in May 2022 – which established principles for integrating nature and ecosystems within our built environment – this project responds to industry calls for practical examples of how to bring people closer to nature while addressing implementation challenges.
Project overview
The Catalysing Nature Recovery project envisions a future where nature is integral to our lives, focusing on practical approaches to nature recovery that engage and benefit communities.
From urban parks to transport corridors, green spaces play a vital role in both nature recovery and community wellbeing.
Project development
Recognizing that change at scale requires cross-sector collaboration, we launched this initiative to develop a multi-sector knowledge network (a ‘network of networks’) to support Natural England as it develops nature recovery networks.
Through funding from the Oxford-Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership, we’ve progressed this vision through research with 3Keel and Sunnyhill Consultants, exploring how different sectors define and manage green spaces, in order to develop a pathway for a nature recovery network that puts people at the heart of change.
Research Findings
Our work with over 30 organizations reveals significant opportunities to enhance cross-sector collaboration for delivering multiple benefits from green spaces.
- Need for connected networks across sectors
- Opportunities for more cohesive frameworks
- Potential for sustainable funding models
- Ways to balance approaches for both people and nature
Project outcome and outputs
This phase of Catalysing Nature Recovery for People and Nature has
- Identified a regional network of individuals and organisations to catalyse thinking, build understanding across multiple sectors
- Established steering and implementation groups for participatory peer learning using a blend of in person and online engagement
- Developed a platform for sharing concrete examples and evidence from projects where nature recovery is also actively building nature in to people’s lives
- Created recommendations for policy and practice.
Our findings will be shared at the Oxford-Cambridge Regional Partnership conference on 29th November 2024 bringing together over 200 leaders from government, academia, and industry.
Impact
The Catalysing Nature Recovery project promises major benefits for biodiversity and communities – strategically supporting the expansion, connectivity, and quality of nature while reducing barriers to engagement with green spaces. If our recommendations are adopted, this work could help:
- Enhance biodiversity through broader recognition of different types of green spaces
- Improve community wellbeing through more inclusive and accessible green spaces
- Support nature-based solutions for environmental challenges
- Enable better cross-sector collaboration in green space management
- Strengthen regional approaches to nature recovery
The key to a positive future lies in people – their actions, decision-making and creativity. We’re working to ensure communities have the power and resources to implement meaningful change.
