Environmental Outcomes

Landscape, Water, Habitats, Species, and Earth Science Enhancement

We aspire to elevate the quality and extent of priority habitats, fostering Nature Recovery Networks. This involves enhancing habitat connectivity, amplifying species abundance and diversity, and supporting species of conservation concern.

Strategies include:

• Expanding and buffering habitat sizes.
• Improving the condition of degraded habitats.
• Mitigating habitat fragmentation and degradation.
• Creating wildlife corridors to connect fragmented habitats.

Protected Areas

Our commitment extends to developing and implementing management plans, contributing significantly to maintaining and expanding protected areas in a favorable condition. This includes enhancing the condition of Marine Protected Areas and designated sites in the marine and coastal environment.

Objectives encompass:

• Improving the condition of Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs), peatland habitats, and designated sites in the terrestrial environment.

Nature Recovery Networks

We strive to play a significant role in the landscape-scale management and restoration of priority habitats, including coastal and marine environments.

Our strategic goals involve:

• Creating “nature networks” of green and coastal spaces to address habitat fragmentation.
• Enhancing habitat connectivity and reserves.
• Supporting higher species populations through wildlife corridors.

Climate Adaption and Resilience

We are dedicated to developing and delivering actions contributing to climate adaptation and heightened resilience in our natural environment. Our efforts align with Blue Carbon initiatives detailed in the three Marine Protected Area Management Plans.

Understanding and Behavioral Change

Strategic Environmental Engagement

We aim to foster long-term behavioral changes that reduce pressures on the environment, enhance local environmental quality, and integrate good environmental practices into daily life. This involves delivering and coordinating strategic environmental engagement for diverse stakeholders.

This includes:

• Regional coordination, resource provision, and capacity building for leaders and peer leaders.
• Development and implementation of educational opportunities and access to nature.
• Promoting action for the environment and behavioral changes to increase sustainability.
• Encouraging environmental responsibility and good practices, particularly in outdoor recreation.

Essential Evidence and Coordination

Our objective is to develop better reporting mechanisms for outdoor recreation, utilizing existing infrastructure within the AONB and Geopark. This includes mapping visitor numbers and condition assessments of certain assets, displayed on respective websites for user access and council management.

Connecting People with Nature

Enhancing Accessibility to Nature

Our program from 2023-2028 focuses on designing, creating, and improving nature-rich core path networks, strategic routes, waymarked ways, and trails in urban and rural locations. This aims to increase the percentage of households with publicly accessible quality natural spaces.

Key Features Include:

• Providing a quality experience of the natural environment.
• Offering nature-rich paths and sustainable access to designated sites without charging for their use.

Strategic Coordination for Behavioral Change

Our efforts extend to improving specific groups’ connection, work for, or understanding of the natural environment through strategic regional coordination. This includes developing and implementing educational opportunities, actions for the environment, and promoting environmental responsibility and good practices, especially in outdoor recreation.