Local areas are keen to form Local Nature Partnerships
Twenty two areas across England have been given funding by Defra to help them become a Local Nature Partnership (LNP).
LNPs are a key commitment in the Natural Environment White Paper, aimed at bringing together local people and organisations to get the most from the natural environment.
This is the first round of a £1 million fund and is aimed at helping people kickstart their plans. Capacity-building activities being planned by successful applicants to the fund include:
- Engaging businesses, health and education professionals and local communities in how a LNP in their area could work;
- Developing priorities and a vision for a potential LNP with a wide range of partners; and
- Looking at data about the natural environment in the local area to inform the development of a LNP.
Commenting on the response to the first round of the LNP capacity building fund Natural Environment Minister Richard Benyon said:
“It’s encouraging that so many local areas are interested in forming a Local Nature Partnership. It shows the commitment and energy local areas are putting into exploring how a partnership in their area could work and make a difference to the natural environment.”
The final round of the capacity building fund closes today. Applications to become a Local Nature Partnership will open in the winter to all potential partnerships. Participation in the capacity-building fund is not a necessary requirement for applying for a LNP status. The first LNPs will be announced by Ministers next summer.
Further information, including a list of areas that have been awarded funding, can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/local-nature-partnerships/lnp-fund/.