Background:

We need to ensure that our natural capital can support increased urbanisation and enhances quality of life.  This means the value of nature and the benefits it provides (ecosystem services) should be fully accounted for in decision making and policy priorities.

Delivering a natural capital approach has been a central theme throughout Natural Course, and successful engagement with key stakeholders about the need for and use of natural capital has so far resulted in:

• Input to the Greater Manchester 5-Year Environment Plan, annual Green Summits and regular briefings.
• Delivery of the Greater Manchester Natural Capital Group’s quarterly board meetings, task and finish groups and annual conferences.
• Securing national funding to deliver the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership Green Social Prescribing pilot.
• Delivery of webinars and training sessions for Local Authority Planners and members around delivering Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Supporting catchment partners using a natural capital approach and tools to identify wider environmental benefits as part of project planning and delivery.

The governance structure of Greater Manchester allows us to test how to embed a natural capital approach as part of future growth and infrastructure delivery.  The Greater Manchester Strategic Infrastructure Board have a priority in the Greater Manchester Infrastructure Framework relating to natural capital, and a Blue and Green Infrastructure Delivery Group has been set up to support with this.

What we are doing:

We will continue the progress we’ve made so far and:

• Build and improve cross-sector partnerships and bring together additional key stakeholders to result in positive environmental outcomes.
• Support the Natural Capital Group including delivery of its quarterly board meetings, task and finish groups and annual conferences.
• Influence and embed a natural capital approach in policy and decision making, including the Greater Manchester Strategy, 5-Year Environment Plan, Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Places for Everyone. We will also engage with wider Northwest initiatives such as Nature North.
• Deliver programmes to increase awareness and uptake of natural capital tools and evidence (including the Natural Capital User Guide and Biodiversity Net Gain guidance).
• Increase the capacity of Catchment Partnerships to use natural capital data and tools at a more advanced level (through support from the Rivers Trust and sharing learning with the CaBA partnership).
• Work with the Environment Agency to embed the Natural Capital Growth Planning Tool by supporting those responsible for future growth and infrastructure delivery (including GMCA, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, developers).
• Share and disseminate our learning at regionally and nationwide.

Who else is involved?

Greater Manchester Combine Authority, 10 Greater Manchester Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnership, developers, Natural Capital Group and Greater Manchester Environment Fund.

Project location:

Greater Manchester

Latest update:

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