Projects
Wider engagement across Greater Manchester on how to use a natural capital approach
Background
Whilst an increase in urbanisation may be required to meet Greater Manchester’s growth aspirations, we need to ensure that our `natural capital’ i.e. the quality of the environment (and the ecosystem services it provides) is sufficient to support greater concentrations of people and business, and enhance quality of life for residents.
Delivering a natural capital approach is a central part of Natural Course and to deliver interventions a number of key audiences (including local planning authorities, policy-makers, funders and stakeholders in the community) need to be engaged to increase their understanding of the need for and use of the natural capital approach in the development of plans, programmes and projects.
What we are doing
- Building on and improving cross-sector partnerships, bringing together additional key stakeholders to result in positive outcomes for the natural environment in Greater Manchester including supporting the work of the Natural Capital Group.
- Influencing and embedding a natural capital approach in policy and decision making across Greater Manchester including emerging plans such as Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, and the Mayor’s 5-Year Environment Plan.
- Delivering a natural capital stakeholder engagement programme across Greater Manchester which increases the awareness and uptake of tools and evidence developed including the Irwell Natural Capital Account and Ecosystem Services Opportunity Mapping, Greater Manchester Ecosystem Services Opportunity Mapping and Net Gain Guidance.
- Supporting the delivery of a natural capital approach including stakeholder engagement as part master planning for an identified waterbody(s) in Greater Manchester using published guidance as well as baseline data and tools to help identify and engage with key stakeholders, prioritise projects and attract funding, sharing progress made including lessons learnt.
Who else is involved?
The Natural Capital Group, plus partnerships that cover Greater Manchester (including local planning authorities, policy-makers, funders and stakeholders in the community) are being engaged to increase their understanding of the need for and use of the natural capital approach in the development of plans, programmes and projects.
Project location
Greater Manchester
Latest update
The team have created a natural capital user guide that pulls together and helps make Natural Course (and Urban Pioneer) accounts and ecosystem service opportunity mapping more accessible.
Natural Capital User Guide launch – Natural Course
Blog: Natural Capital User Guide – Natural Course
https://naturalcourse.co.uk/uploads/2021/06/GM-Natural-Capital-User-Guide.pdf
Natural Capital Group Annual Conference took place 17- 18 June 2021, including the Greater Manchester Water Forum
Blog: Introducing the first Greater Manchester Water Forum – Natural Course
Biodiversity net gain guidance published and updated to reflect Environment Bill requirements and Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.
Production of the Greater Manchester Natural Environment Engagement Toolkit for stakeholders.