The Church of England’s General Synod rejected a motion calling for the institution to commit to restoring 30% of its land for nature by 2030. The motion, introduced by Rev Canon Val Plumb, an area dean in Oxford, sought to align the church’s practices with an international environmental target that over 100 countries, including the United Kingdom, have endorsed.
As one of England’s largest landowners with approximately 42,500 hectares of property, the Church of England currently dedicates only 3.5% of its land to nature restoration. The 30 by 30 target is regarded by environmental organizations as the minimum threshold necessary to arrest and reverse the global decline in biodiversity.
Instead of adopting Plumb’s proposal, the Synod passed an alternative amendment introduced by the Right Rev Graham Usher, the church’s lead bishop for the environment. This amendment outlines six alternative steps, including continued support for nature restoration projects where deemed appropriate and collaboration with tenants regarding sustainable agricultural practices, but does not establish specific measurable rewilding objectives.
William Nye, secretary general of the archbishops’ council, stated that Plumb’s motion conflicted with the church’s legal obligations and its duty to maintain long-term financial growth. The Church Commissioners emphasized that approximately 90% of the church’s farmland is either productive or highly productive agricultural land, and that their strategy prioritizes integrating nature recovery into working landscapes while supporting food production and rural business resilience.
Environmental advocates expressed disappointment with the outcome. Claire Rogers, a campaigner with Wild Card, a citizens’ movement focused on encouraging major landowners to rewild their property, characterized the decision as a failure to demonstrate moral leadership during a period of wildlife decline. She noted that other substantial landowners, including the Crown Estate, have committed to managing higher percentages of their land for nature by 2030.
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