What are the aims and limitations of the LNRS?

The LNRS identifies the key priorities and measures for nature recovery in Cumbria and shows the areas where these could have the greatest impact.

Aims to:

halt or reverse the decline in the range of habitats and species
identify, celebrate, and build upon existing conservation work in Cumbria
drive collaborative action and direct investment to the most ecologically suitable sites
be ambitious yet realistic in addressing local environmental pressures

Limitations:

Not mandatory: The LNRS is a guide, not a binding delivery plan. It does not create designations or force any changes in land management
Ground-truthing required: While developed using the best available data, site-specific surveys are still needed to make sure proposed projects are suitable for a specific location
Regulatory compliance: Existing legislation and statutory guidance still applies to any action being considered

The LNRS is a strategy.

Rather than tell you what must be done, it will tell you what could be done, and where these actions would be most beneficial.

It is designed to align with existing guidance, policies, and action plans, and to inform future ones. It considers wider environmental, economic, and social benefits. The LNRS can be used to assist decision-making, guiding and informing development, land management, and green finance.

What the LNRS is not

The LNRS is not a delivery plan. It is a guide to assist the delivery of potential measures that could be most beneficial for nature recovery.

Creating the LNRS is a requirement of the Environment Act, which also requires LNRSs to be reviewed and republished every 3-10 years when directed by government. There is no legal obligation to deliver the associated actions where they have been identified. The LNRS will be designed to be monitorable and measurable, so that progress on delivery and its level of success can be captured.

The LNRS does not confirm any level of protection on land, or prevent land uses such as farming or development. Local Habitat Maps are opportunity maps that will guide and inform planning and deliver maximum benefit from nature recovery activities, they do not prevent areas identified on the opportunity maps from being used for other purposes.

The LNRS does not give permission to create habitat without consulting specialists in Historic Environment, Ecology, Landscape, Access and more. The LNRS does not replace the need to carry out detailed field survey and design work as part of a delivery plan.