Delivery Mechanisms for the LNRS
There are various delivery mechanisms that will be part of implementing the completed LNRS.
The LNRS will be used to help farmers and landowners:
- Decide which Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship options are appropriate for their land
- Identify opportunities for Landscape Recovery project proposals
- Generate income through selling biodiversity credits to developers through Biodiversity Net Gain
It will also be used by government to more closely align their funding initiatives with the local strategy, and when considering applications for nature recovery funding.
ELMS (Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship)
Environmental Land Management (ELM) provides financial incentives for farmers to deliver ‘public goods’ on their land, such as improving air and water quality, carbon sequestration and increasing biodiversity. ELM includes the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes.
Funding from ELM schemes will be able to be directed towards projects identified within the LNRS, such as linking habitats across farms or implementing actions that benefit threatened species.
Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain was introduced through the Environment Act 2021 along with the LNRS. It is a requirement for any eligible new development to provide a minimum of 10% net gain for biodiversity.
The LNRS also determines where habitat creation or enhancement for Biodiversity Net Gain is of ‘high strategic significance’. Any habitat that is created or enhanced in accordance with the LNRS, and is also mapped within the LNRS as a habitat opportunity, will receive a 15% uplift in biodiversity credits.
