Natural capital strategy and investment cases N. Devon Pioneer

Tender description

In January the Government published a 25 Year Environment Plan. The concept of Natural Capital is central to this plan. In a Natural Capital approach we treat nature as a group of assets which provide benefits to people. This framing allows us to: • understand the condition of natural assets and any changes to them within a consistent framework • identify and, where possible, evaluate the value of the benefits the environment provides to people • prioritise actions based on an understanding of the condition of natural assets relative to the benefits they provide • seek extra investment to improve the state of natural capital assets • reach out to new audiences in ways that are understandable by them There are four Natural Capital Pioneers which are tasked with experimenting with using a Natural Capital Approach in order to inform its wider use across the Defra Group. In particular the forthcoming Local Natural Capital Plans will draw on this experience. Defra has a four-fold ask of the Pioneers: a. Tools, analysis and applying a natural capital approach in practice b. Demonstrating a joined-up, integrated approach to planning and delivery c. Developing new funding opportunities for the environment d. Grow our understanding of ‘what works’, sharing lessons and best practice The N. Devon Landscape Pioneer is led by Natural England. It is supported by the N. Devon Biosphere and uses this geography.