Landowners responsible for huge swathes of English territory made an unprecedented pledge to use their lands to restore and responsibly manage local habitats.
To help support local biodiversity and the climate crisis at large, landowners will shift their focus to better practices that improve environments like woodlands, rivers, and peat bogs.
The farmers, charities and financial investors involved have also signed the net-zero pledge which was convened by the National Trust. This includes The Wildlife and Woodland Trusts, the RSPB, National Parks England, and the Soil Association, to name a few.
The Duchy of Cornwall has also pledged to enhance biodiversity across its estates by 30% within the next 10 years, in line with the government’s climate ambitions.
“Healing climate harm is something we are all united in and only by pulling together, sharing our expertise and experience, will we have any chance at tackling all its effects,” said Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust.
“Those who have signed up to these principles have the power to lead that transformation.
“Only by working together will we be able to lock up enough carbon in the English countryside to meet the government’s ambition for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and prepare our cherished landscapes and nature for the worsening impacts of climate change.”
Organisations representing the consortium of landowners claim they will ensure their land delivers environmental benefits, including flood management and carbon capture, while also pledging to support and work with local communities in adapting to climate change.
This will, they insist, create new job opportunities and improve public access to nature.
“Nature can play an important role, not only in limiting the impact of climate change on our lives, but also in capturing and storing carbon and helping to reduce our emissions.,” said Beccy Speight, Chief Executive for the RSPB.
“Restoring our environment and the wildlife that lives there delivers a double whammy of tackling the climate an nature crises together.”
The National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NAAONBs) are in support of the pact, pledging to create and restore at least 100,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat outside protected areas, and to plant or regenerate 36,000 hectares of woodland.
