The Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy is now published.
Devon’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is the county’s statutory plan for nature recovery — setting out clear priorities and targeted actions to reverse the decline of wildlife and natural habitats across the region.
Devon’s natural environment is fundamental to our wellbeing. It sustains the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe, while also contributing to physical health, mental wellbeing and cultural and community identity. Yet across England, nature is in serious decline, and Devon is not unaffected by this national crisis. Decisive action is now required to address it.
Published in May 2026, Devon’s first LNRS covers the whole of the county, including Plymouth and Torbay. Developed by Devon County Council in collaboration with a wide range of partners, the strategy identifies the most critical opportunities for nature recovery and the locations where intervention will have the greatest impact. It also aligns with Local Nature Recovery Strategies across England, contributing to a joined-up national framework for ecological restoration.
Devon County Council would like to extend its sincere thanks to all partner organisations whose expertise and commitment were central to shaping this strategy. We would also like to acknowledge the valuable contributions made by members of the public during the consultation phase — your engagement has helped to ensure that this strategy is rigorous and representative of Devon’s communities.
What are Local Nature Recovery Strategies?
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are a new approach to setting priorities for nature at a local level in England. They are a statutory requirement, defined in Sections 104 to 106 of the Environment Act 2021. More information can be found at Defra regulations and guidance summary document.
Watch our 3 minute video below to find out more about the LNRS
What do they contain?
The Devon LNRS fulfils its statutory requirements through two core components: a statement of biodiversity priorities and a local habitat map. Together, these form a comprehensive framework that includes:
- A description of the area and its wildlife — an evidence-based overview of Devon’s natural environment, establishing the baseline from which recovery will be measured.
- Opportunities — identification of the most promising areas and approaches for nature recovery across the county.
- Priorities — clear direction on where efforts to restore and enhance wildlife must be focused.
- Actions — the specific interventions needed to achieve wildlife priorities, while also delivering wider benefits such as flood management, clean water, improved health and wellbeing, and carbon sequestration through nature-based solutions.
- A habitat map — a spatial representation of Devon’s existing areas of ecological importance and the locations identified for targeted action.
Who has prepared them?
The Secretary of State has appointed Devon County Council as the Responsible Authority to develop the LNRS in conjunction with Supporting Authorities and all other interested stakeholders, especially landowners and managers. Supporting Authorities include all Devon Local Authorities (East Devon District, Teignbridge, South Hams, West Devon, Torridge, North Devon, Exeter City, Mid Devon, Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council), Dartmoor National Park, Exmoor National Park and Natural England.
What are we doing in Devon?
With the LNRS now published, Devon County Council and its partners are entering a transition year — a focused period of collaborative planning to determine the most effective approach to delivery. This work will ensure that the priorities and actions set out in the strategy are translated into meaningful, coordinated action on the ground across Devon.
Devon overview project plan (as of January 2025).
How will the LNRS be used ?
It will provide local planning authorities and developers with information to enhance the planning system, including the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, and investment in our urban green spaces. It will guide public and private investment, including through the new Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS). It will support communities and businesses in their actions to protect and enhance Devon’s land and marine environments, and the benefits we gain from them, such as health, access and learning.
How can you get involved and who to contact?
For general queries, ideas or offers of help please email LNRS@devon.gov.uk
If you would like to be kept up to date with progress and receive invitations to conferences and other events please join our forum and sign up to our newsletter.
Previous events
- Farming and the Devon LNRS webinar 2025
Find out how farmers and land managers can use the Devon LNRS to understand the species and habitats in their area and the actions that could support their conservation and recovery by watching the recording of this webinar. It includes a run through of the LNRS website and interactive map run by Dominic Acland, followed by a Q&A session.
See the recording here.
- Freshwater and the Devon LNRS webinar 2025
This webinar was focused on freshwater within the Devon LNRS and featured the following talks:
- How SWW will use the LNRS – David Smith (South West Water)
- The LNRS in Planning – Shaun Pritchard (Environment Agency)
- The salty interface – Estuaries – Eleanor Ward (Devon County Council)
- Full Restoration Rivers – Julian Payne (Westcountry Rivers Trust)
See the recording here.
- Public consultation webinar 2025
Beth Bird, a Devon County Council ecologist, gave an overview of the draft Devon LNRS during one of the public consultation webinars that took place in October 2025.
See the recording here.
- Woody habitats update webinar 2024
Ross Kennerley, a local Devon expert is leading on Woody habitats for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. September 24, he provided an update on how the Woody habitats are being incorporated into the development process and an overview of the LNRS as a whole.
Watch the webinar on YouTube here.
- Conference June 2023
Our LNRS Conference took place on June 13th 2023. You can see the Questions & Answers from the day on our Q & A webpage
- Pilot Webinar 2022
On October 25th 2022 we hosted a national webinar to hear from the 5 LNRS pilot studies. Defra set up the 5 LNRS pilots in August 2020 and these ran until May 2021. Defra proposed the pilot areas from a long list of areas already active in spatial planning for nature so that the pilots were in a good position to progress quickly and lessons could be learnt in a timely way.
Please find the links to the webinar presentations below;
The meeting recording can be found here.
- Warm-up Webinar 2022
On November 14th 2022, we hosted a free Warm-up webinar for everyone to learn more about what we are doing here in Devon to recover nature, improve our access to it, and how you can get involved.
Sector presentations can be viewed below;
- Update from Defra– Julian Harlow
- Devon LNRS overview– Sarah Jennings
- Health and Wellbeing– John Amosford
- Water– Carolyn Cadman
- Wildlife– Harry Barton