Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to implement the national Nature Recovery Network as set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan.

The Nature Recovery Network will be a bigger, better and increasingly connected network of places that are richer in wildlife, support the recovery of our species, and are more resilient to climate change and other pressures. The Network will provide wider environmental, economic and social benefits, including carbon capture and recreational enjoyment.

At the core of the Network will be our existing best areas for nature, including protected sites and National Nature Reserves. We will also create or restore 500,000 hectares of additional wildlife-rich habitat beyond these existing areas.

The Environment Act lays the foundation for the Nature Recovery Network. It establishes spatial mapping and planning tools to help inform nature recovery, including Local Nature Recovery Strategies. It also introduces duties and financial incentives to drive change on the ground, which sit alongside our plans for introducing new schemes that reward farmers and land managers for delivering environmental benefits. We have launched a National Delivery Partnership, led by Natural England, to support the delivery of the Network which now has cross-sector representation from over 400 organisations.