The Church of England’s General Synod rejected a proposal to restore 30% of its landholdings for nature by 2030, voting instead for an alternative amendment that lacks specific rewilding commitments. The church, which owns approximately 42,500 hectares of land, currently dedicates just 3.5% of its properties to nature restoration efforts. Rev Canon Val Plumb, an area dean in Oxford, introduced the initial motion seeking to align the church’s land management with an international conservation target.
Instead of backing the proposed target, the synod adopted an amendment presented by the Right Rev Graham Usher, the lead bishop for the environment. This alternative approach outlines six general steps, including continued support for nature restoration projects where deemed appropriate and collaboration with tenants on sustainable farming practices. Prior to the vote, William Nye, secretary general of the archbishops’ council, stated that Plumb’s motion conflicted with the church’s legal obligations and its responsibility to maintain long-term financial growth. The Church Commissioners emphasized that their farmland portfolio is approximately 90% productive agricultural land, stating their strategy focuses on integrating nature recovery into working agricultural 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 large landowners to rewild their properties, characterized the decision as a missed opportunity for moral leadership. She noted that more than 190 countries have committed to the 30by30 target, referencing the international goal to restore 30% of land for nature as the minimum necessary to reverse global biodiversity decline. Other major landowners, including the crown estate, have established measurable targets for nature management, with the crown estate committing to manage 36% of its land for nature by 2030.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI