Nature can help us recover – think tank

EXPERTS CALL FOR PLAN FOR NATURE IN THE NORTH

THE Government should work with local leaders to put nature at the heart of its plans for economic recovery in the North, a leading think tank for the North of England said today.

In a new report published by IPPR North, experts called for a ‘Plan for Nature in the North,’ setting out how investment from Government in restoring nature can be a stimulus for future prosperity.

They said the plan should be developed by leaders in the region and backed by £50bn investment from Government over the next 25 years.

It would aid the region’s postCovid-19 recovery and build a cleaner, greener future North with the potential to create jobs and “level up” the economy and public health.

According to the report, projects to restore nature, including restoring peatland, planting trees and creating new green spaces in urban areas, can bring significant economic, social and environmental, benefits.

These include increased flood resilience, improved air quality and lower carbon emissions, as well as the mental and physical health benefits of increased access to nature.

The report shows the size and the distinctive qualities of nature in the North of England means a regional approach to investment is urgently needed.

The North covers a quarter of the land in England and yet it is home to:

■ 70% of all wetland areas in England, including 88% of all peatland – crucial for carbon capture.

■ 71% of all moor and heathland in England, 70% of all natural grasslands and 28% of all forest (including 51% of all coniferous forest) – important habitats for wildlife.

■ 31% of all water bodies (lakes, reservoirs etc.) in England, and 49% of all water courses (rivers, streams etc.) – vital for our health and economy.

However, researchers warn that for too long, leaders have failed to value Northern nature – leaving the region’s natural assets in a poor condition and undermining its economic and human potential.

They also point to access to nature, an issue which had been catapulted to the fore during the ongoing lockdown as a key consideration for policymakers.

The report warns those in deprived areas and people from ethnic minority communities are significantly less likely to have regular access to nature.

Jack Hunter, the report’s author and Research Fellow at IPPR North, said: “Here in the North, we have some of the most incredible landscapes in the world. Nature has defined our history and shaped our people and our places.

“Now, it could be the foundation of a greener, fairer and more prosperous North. Much of nature in the North is in a very poor state. As recent flooding and moorland fires have shown, the wellbeing of our natural environment underpins people’s health and wellbeing, and the strength of our economy.

“Now, in the face of a climate emergency, we risk far grave consequences for us all without urgent and ambitious action.

“We need a determined, panregional effort, led by the North’s leaders and backed by Government, to invest in nature.”