Natural Cambridgeshire has appointed Steve Gibson to lead the team preparing the LNRS Delivery Plan, which will bring the ambitious Local Nature Recovery Strategy to life.
Steve will build on the work undertaken by the previous Natural Cambridgeshire Director Pamela Abbott, working with the Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Manager, Martin Baker. He brings a range of experience from previous senior roles both locally and nationally, including being an Executive Director and Co-Chief Scientist for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Head of Science for the Defra environment directorate, and leading extensive stakeholder work across the natural capital evidence agenda.
Martin Doel, Chair of Natural Cambridgeshire, said:
“It is great to have Steve on board for this vitally important work to develop the high aspirations of the LNRS into meaningful and deliverable projects and programmes on the ground: working with farmers and landowners, e-NGOs and local action groups, and across our geography and communities. His unique combination of technical conservation and ecological knowledge, building of delivery partnerships, and finding innovative funding opportunities to bring into this sector will all support the knowledge, commitment and reach of the wider Natural Cambridgeshire partnership to drive the doubling of nature in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”
A draft plan will be presented to the CPCA Growth Committee in June, with a more detailed plan setting out a full programme of activities produced later in the year. The Plans will include:
- a deliverable portfolio of projects and programmes aligned to LNRS priorities in species, habitats and key locations.
- An engagement plan to drive and coordinate local delivery with landowners, local authorities, environment NGOs, communities, and businesses.
- Funding plan to secure and align public and private funding, to support the delivery of the Strategy.
- A monitoring framework to measure the biodiversity and ecosystem benefits, and provide evaluation and learning.
- Processes to embed LNRS priorities in relevant regional programmes including planning, transport, flood risk, skills, net zero, health & wellbeing.
Steve Gibson, added :
“It is a great privilege to be working with the passionate and knowledgeable partners in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to turn this strong LNRS into a robust and sustainable Delivery Plan. There is both much to do in a short space of time to reach the first milestones, and a richness of opportunity within the strategy to create a genuinely transformational plan for the area. Together, we are committed to turning one of the most nature-depleted counties in the country into one that is nature-rich and has nature at the heart of its growth.”
You can keep up with the progress of the LNRS and Natural Cambridgeshire by signing up to our newsletter at www.naturalcambridgeshire.org.uk