Wilder Horsham District: why take action?
The Horsham District has a rich natural environment which forms part of its identity and sense of place. National studies confirm that wildlife has declined significantly over the past 20-30 years. According to a group of national conservation organisations 15% of wildlife species are under threat of extinction. Since the 1970s the populations of 41% of UK species have reduced.
This national picture is reflected in the Horsham District. For example, wildflower meadows which formed part of the landscape character of the area were once a common sight but these are now rare. Individual species, such as the Turtle Dove, could become extinct, as numbers in Sussex are now critical.
View a map of the protected and important habitats found in Horsham District
Nature's benefits
Natural assets, such as water, soil and landscape are often called Natural Capital. The value of these is sometimes expressed in financial terms, so the contribution that these assets provide and, therefore, the loss of these assets can be understood alongside economic gains.
The decline of wildlife (a natural asset) provides a critical challenge because nature provides many benefits that are essential to us alll, including:
- pollinating plants which give us food
- filtering pollutants from the air and water
- creating soil
- providing products, such as timber and medicines;
- capturing carbon by trees and soil (carbon is one of the main gases contributing to enhanced
climate change) - reducing flood risk
- contributing to health and wellbeing from being in natural surroundings and opportunities to exercise, such as walking and cycling
- giving a sense of place, adding to the cultural heritage of the District
These benefits are all known as Ecosystems Services. Reversing the decline in wildlife ensures that natural assets are retained and that they can continue to provide these benefits.
How the Wilder Horsham District partnership will help
The Horsham District is under increasing pressure for development, to provide houses for current and future generations. Whilst development is necessary, it needs to ensure that the District retains and enhances its natural environment and the services that this provides. This partnership will, therefore, ensure that the opportunities to enhance wildlife in new developments form part of the overall vision for the District.
For example, it will link into our work on biodiversity net gain , which seeks to ensure that wildlife is enhanced in new development.
The partnership will be at the forefront of this new approach to reversing the decline in wildlife. Government legislation and guidance is emerging on issues such as Nature Recovery Networks. This means that Wilder Horsham District programme will be well placed to maximise any new funding opportunities.
The Sussex Local Nature Partnership
We will also link to the work of the Sussex Local Nature Partnership which has adopted the Sussex Natural Capital Investment Strategy. This document, the result of cross sector collaboration (Local Authorities are currently represented at a county and unitary level) provides guidance and a shared framework for nature’s recovery in Sussex. This seeks to ensure that biodiversity is enhanced within new development sites, where this is not possible.
Wilder Horsham District will be able to draw on current thinking from the Sussex Local Nature Partnership to ensure it is linking biodiversity net gain, Nature Recovery Networks and Local Nature Recovery Strategies appropriately.