An invitation to shape the nature of England - ENPAA response to Defra consultation
On 26 July 2010 Defra published a discussion paper “An invitation to shape the Nature of England”. Comments and submissions from anyone were invited as part of the process of developing a White Paper on the natural environment (planned for spring 2011).
ENPAA’s full response to the discussion document gives details of the English NPAs views on the Natural Environment White Paper and provides case studies on best practice from around the national parks.
The key themes contained within our response are:
- we agree that an ecosystems services approach to decision making and planning needs to be adopted across the board
- adopting a landscape scale approach is key to the ecosystems services approach
- spatial planning that works across administrative boundaries and is supported by a clear National Policy Planning Framework is key to facilitating successful local projects
- National Parks and National Park Authorities are frequently exemplars of sustainable development, application of the ecosystems services approach and much good practice
- to aid successful delivery of the ecosystem services approach in National Parks, the statutory duty on public bodies to have regard to National Park purposes should be strengthened
- there is a need to increase society’s understanding and appreciation of the value of the natural environment and the ecosystems services it provides
- the important role played by access to nature in helping to achieve this heightened understanding and value for the natural environment.
