The Lancashire Local Nature Partnership is an important new partnership, one bringing together decision makers, researchers, businesses and environmental organisations to protect and improve Lancashire’s unique natural environment. Its Chair Designate is Jack Spees from the Ribble Rivers Trust.
Lancaster University has led on the re-creation of the new Lancashire Local Nature Partnership (LNP), which involves a wide range of organisations, including all of Lancashire’s 15 local authorities and relevant statutory agencies like Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Local Enterprise Partnership, as well as conservation groups, charities, businesses, universities and DEFRA.
The Partnership’s role is to enable and support the delivery of environmental and wildlife conservation and enhancement projects, as well as to advise and guide local decision-makers, ensuring that policies enhance the local natural environment and consider their impact on biodiversity, water quality, climate change and air quality in the region. With Lancaster University taking a leading role in recreating the LNP, knowledge exchange amongst its partners with their diverse interest and expertise will be encouraged, facilitated and enabled benefitting the natural environment across the region.
Local Nature Partnerships were introduced by Government in 2012 and local councils must, by law, consult their LNP about any policies and activities that could impact their area’s natural environment. A previous incarnation of the Lancashire Partnership was disbanded seven years ago and this new partnership aims to fill the gap.