The Church of England’s General Synod voted against a motion calling for the denomination to restore 30% of its landholdings for nature by 2030. The motion, introduced by Rev Canon Val Plumb, an area dean in Oxford, sought to align the church’s conservation efforts with an international commitment made by the UK and more than 100 other nations to restore 30% of land for nature by that deadline, which environmental advocates describe as the minimum threshold needed to reverse global biodiversity decline.
Instead of supporting Plumb’s proposal, the synod passed an alternative amendment introduced by Right Rev Graham Usher, the church’s lead bishop for the environment. This amended motion does not include specific rewilding targets but outlines six steps the denomination intends to pursue, including continued support for nature restoration projects where deemed appropriate and engagement with agricultural tenants regarding sustainable farming practices. Prior to the vote, William Nye, secretary general of the archbishops’ council, argued that Plumb’s motion conflicted with the church’s legal obligations to maintain long-term financial growth.
The Church of England manages approximately 42,500 hectares of land, establishing it as one of England’s largest private landowners. Currently, only 3.5% of its holdings are designated for nature restoration. Church commissioners stated they welcomed the amended motion, emphasizing that approximately 90% of the denomination’s farmland portfolio consists of productive or highly productive agricultural land, and that their approach aims to integrate nature recovery into working landscapes while supporting food production and rural business resilience.
Environmental campaigners criticized the vote’s outcome. Claire Rogers, representing Wild Card, a citizens’ movement advocating for major landowners to undertake rewilding efforts, characterized the decision as a missed opportunity for moral leadership. She noted that the overwhelming international consensus behind the 30by30 target reflects its importance. Other significant landowners have adopted measurable commitments; the Crown Estate, for example, has pledged to manage 36% of its land for nature by 2030. Meanwhile, the UK government’s recently published strategy for achieving its own 30by30 target drew criticism from environmental observers as inadequate, with England currently having only 7% of its land meeting the criteria.
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