Local Nature Recovery Strategy
There are 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) covering the whole of England – the aim is for them to protect and improve nature and the environment. They are required by law, under the Environment Act 2021. The WMCA is the Responsible Authority for producing the Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) for the West Midlands.
The West Midlands LNRS consultation closed on Friday 12th September. Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation. We are currently working through your responses and will be developing the next draft to be taken through the WMCA Board on 14th November 2025.
Further Information
The requirement for Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) across the whole of England was set out in the Environment Act 2021. In March 2023, DEFRA published the 'Local nature recovery strategy statutory guidance' document which sits alongside the 'The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023' (LNRS Regs).
The LNRS Regs came into force on 13th April 2023 with the WMCA being appointed as Responsible Authority for delivering the LNRS for the West Midlands region in June 2023.
Further information is available in the WMCA State of Nature Report.
What is the LNRS?
Local nature recovery strategies are a system of spatial strategies for nature and environmental improvement required by law under the Act. Each strategy must:
- agree priorities for nature’s recovery;
- map the most valuable existing areas for nature; and
- map specific proposals for creating or improving habitat for nature and wider environmental goals (adopting nature-based solutions).
Together, the strategies will cover the whole of England with no gaps and no overlaps. The main purpose of the strategies is to identify locations to create or improve habitat most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment.
The strategies do not force the owners and managers of the land identified to make any changes. Instead, the government is encouraging action through, for example, opportunities for funding and investment. Having both actions for nature recovery and nature-based solutions will help join up work to improve how land is managed for different environmental reasons and find activities that have multiple benefits.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the LNRS or the consultation, please reach out to WestMidlandsLNRS@wmca.org.uk