The importance of data in developing Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS)

Following the delivery of a successful webinar produced in collaboration between Biological Recording Company and Map Impact, this is the second in a 3-part blog series providing a straightforward understanding of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS). In blog 1 we heard that LNRS are a valuable decision-making tool which will help to guide and inform development, land management, and green finance. They comprise of 2 pieces of work; a map of the existing habitats and a written list identifying opportunities for improvements to and protections for the habitats.

Between 2020 and 2021 five of the 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) areas conducted a pilot Local Nature Recovery Strategy scheme. These pilots highlighted the challenges of the LNRS process and provided valuable lessons on the best way forward for the responsible authorities to prepare their LNRS documents by the March 2025 deadline. The two components of the LNRS are the habitat map and the written report listing the chosen priorities and plans for nature recovery. The pilot showed how important it is for these to work well together and be developed concurrently. This ensures that the nature recovery opportunities can be correctly identified on the ground and that the measures proposed can be actioned in the future.

One issue identified by the pilot authorities was the difficulty in assessing habitat quality due to a lack of recent and relevant data. Collecting this information is important but a significant additional factor is assessing the large quantities of data. Clear and concise formatting allows the responsible authorities to quickly interpret and understand data to make the best decisions in terms of prioritisation. BiodiversityView data can create a colour coded map of the condition score across the LNRS area to highlight which habitats are performing poorly compared to the surrounding areas and could be considered as priorities for nature recovery.

As the natural world does not recognise the boundary lines of the LNRS areas, collaboration between the neighbouring responsible authorities will ensure that any planned measures in bordering habitat areas are consistent and supportive of each other. Because BiodiversityView is a nationwide dataset it can be a resource for multiple responsible authorities to work together to look at habitat and condition across boundaries. Using the same data and mapping will make it much easier for this LNRS collaboration between neighbouring responsible authorities.

Map Impact’s BiodiversityView provides a unique national dataset of assessed habitat conditions across the whole of England at 50m intervals. It is ideally suited to provide regional coverage of landscape areas, such as required by LNRS work, or early baseline site assessments required under BNG development planning requirements, where ‘triage, triage, triage’ is the best practice message coming from Natural England and the Planning Advisory Service.

In the final part of this blog series, we will discuss the challenges associated with developing and delivering LNRS. Local Authority teams are welcome to request a demonstration of BiodiversityView across their own specific area by e-mailing info@mapimpact.io.