Morning, Tuesday, 15th July 2025
Online
This conference will examine next steps for managing England’s natural capital - including strategies for addressing biodiversity loss, improving ecosystem resilience, and meeting sustainability goals across multiple sectors.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss key findings and policy implications from the State of Natural Capital Report for England 2024 and Natural England’s Strategic Direction 2025-2030 report, including key areas of risk and priority actions moving forward. Delegates will consider how to align the Government’s 30by30 commitment with existing frameworks such as Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), in light of discussion around regulatory consistency and the proposed nature levy under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Further sessions will explore the United Kingdom Food Security Report 2024, which highlighted significant climate-related impacts on domestic production, including a 22% fall in wheat yields, and will consider implications for land use, ecosystem services, and farmer support. Attendees will also examine evolving land management practices, including concerns about underutilised natural regeneration in woodland creation, and recent government engagement with large landowners to advance 2030 nature targets within the Environment Act 2021.
Discussion will also focus on improving water resource management, with an emphasis on nature-based and catchment-based approaches, alongside innovative practices to address quality and scarcity. Delegates will assess next steps to accelerate habitat restoration, strengthen ecological resilience, and ensure accountability in the delivery of nature recovery across sectors.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- natural capital report: assessing the State of Natural Capital Report for England 2024 and Natural England’s Strategic Direction 2025-2030 report - identifying actionable insights for policy - integrating environmental, economic, and community needs
- biodiversity goals: aligning the Government’s 30by30 commitment with ELM schemes and BNG frameworks - responding to proposals such as the nature levy - balancing competing land use priorities
- sustainable food systems: reviewing the UK Food Security Report 2024 - responding to climate impact on agricultural productivity - supporting sustainable production and farmer participation
- water resource management: advancing catchment-based approaches - implementing nature-based solutions - addressing water scarcity and quality challenges through innovative practice
- climate adaptation strategies: improving ecosystem resilience against climate impact - developing natural capital for long-term sustainability - funding and investment priorities
- habitat restoration: progress of ongoing restoration projects - integrating natural regeneration in woodland strategies - practical steps for species protection and alignment with land use planning
- community and stakeholder engagement: driving inclusive participation in natural capital decisions - restoration targets - addressing rural and urban disparities - enabling multi-stakeholder collaboration
- policy integration: aligning environmental, agricultural, and planning policies - addressing overlaps and regulatory tensions - opportunities for joined-up decision-making
- investment frameworks: funding opportunities to support natural capital initiatives - evaluating roles of private and public sectors - developing long-term economic and ecological sustainability
- monitoring and accountability: tracking biodiversity and habitat outcomes - ensuring transparency in reporting - building robust systems for evaluating progress
