Natural Capital Investment Opportunities for North Devon (NECR292)

The 25 Year Environment Plan (HM Government, 2018) aims to improve the state of the environment within one generation. The North Devon Landscape Pioneer was one of four pioneers tasked with testing and trialling new approaches set out within the 25 YEP. One specific ask of the pioneer was to explore new ways of funding environmental action. This work was commissioned to help explore this ask.
The pioneer was led by Natural England, but delivered in collaboration with a wide range of partners. The pioneer trialled a participative natural capital process to understand and agree priorities for North Devon and develop ideas to support and enhance them. The partnership identified a range of ideas which could be funded and would provide benefits to people and nature.
A short list of four of the ideas suggested by partners have been investigated further. They are presented here as investment opportunities. New models for funding these are also discussed.
This report forms part of the trial of a natural capital approach by the North Devon Landscape Pioneer. The Natural England Research Report Number 083 – A Natural Capital Strategy for North Devon – discusses the wider process, evidence, natural capital priorities and strategic responses in more detail.