How investment in nature can help the North's economy recover after lockdown

Natural assets are one of the North's greatest strengths, says IPPR North

The government should work with local leaders to put nature at the heart of its plans for economic recovery in the North, a leading think-tank for the North of England said today.

In a new report published by IPPR North, experts called for a “Plan for Nature in the North”, setting out how investment from government in restoring nature can be a stimulus for future prosperity.

They said the plan should be developed by leaders in the region and backed by £50 billion investment from government over the next 25 years. It would aid the region’s post-Covid-19 recovery and build a cleaner, greener future North with the potential to create jobs and “level up” the economy and public health.

According to the report, projects to restore nature, including restoring peatland, planting trees, and creating new green spaces in urban areas, can bring significant economic, social and environmental, benefits. These include increased flood resilience, improved air quality, and lower carbon emissions, as well as the mental and physical health benefits of increased access to nature.

The report shows that the size and the distinctive qualities of nature in the North of England means that a regional approach to investment is urgently needed. The North covers a quarter of land in England, and yet it is home to:

• 70 per cent of all wetland areas in England, including 88 per cent of all peatland- crucial for carbon capture
• 71 per cent of all moor and heathland in England, 70 per cent of all natural grasslands and 28 per cent of all forest (including 51 per cent of all coniferous forest)- important habitats for wildlife
• 31 per cent of all water bodies (lakes, reservoirs etc.) in England, and 49 per cent of all water courses (rivers, streams etc.)- vital for our health and economy

But researchers warn that for too long, leaders have failed to value Northern nature, leaving the region’s natural assets in a poor condition, and undermining its economic and human potential.

They also point to access to nature, an issue that had been catapulted to the fore during the ongoing lockdown, as a key consideration for policymakers. The report warns that those in deprived areas people from ethnic minority communities are significantly less likely to have regular access to nature.

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Jack Hunter, the report's author and Research Fellow at IPPR North, said: “Here in the North, we have some of the most incredible landscapes in the world. Nature has defined our history, and shaped our people and our places. Now, it could be the foundation of a greener, fairer and more prosperous North

“But much of nature in the North - from our peatlands to our parks - is in a very poor state. As recent flooding and moorland fires have shown, the wellbeing of our natural environment underpins people’s health and wellbeing, and the strength of our economy. Now, in the face of a climate emergency, we risk far grave consequences for us all without urgent and ambitious action.

“We need a determined, pan-regional effort, led by the North’s leaders and backed by government, to invest in nature – as a cornerstone of a successful economy and a healthy population. And that effort must begin today”.