The Church of England’s General Synod rejected a motion calling for the rewilding of 30% of its landholdings by 2030, opting instead for an amended proposal without quantified commitments to nature restoration.
The denomination owns approximately 42,500 hectares of land, making it one of England’s largest landowners. Currently, 3.5% of church-owned property is dedicated to nature restoration efforts. The rejected motion, introduced by Rev Canon Val Plumb, was designed to align the church with an international commitment made by the UK and more than 100 other nations to restore 30% of land for nature by the same deadline. Proponents of the original motion characterized this target as the minimum threshold necessary to stop and reverse the global decline in biodiversity.
The General Synod instead passed an alternative amendment proposed by Right Rev Graham Usher, the church’s lead bishop for the environment. This alternative includes steps such as continuing to support nature restoration projects where feasible and engaging with tenants regarding sustainable farming practices, but contains no specific rewilding targets. Church leadership stated that the original motion conflicted with legal obligations and the responsibility to maintain long-term capital growth. The Church Commissioners emphasized that approximately 90% of their agricultural portfolio comprises productive farmland, noting their preference for integrating nature recovery into working landscapes while supporting food production and rural business resilience.
Environmental advocates expressed disappointment with the decision. A spokesperson from Wild Card, a citizens’ movement focused on encouraging major landowners to rewild their properties, characterized the outcome as a missed opportunity for moral leadership during a period of wildlife decline. The critic noted that over 190 countries committed to the 30by30 target, suggesting widespread agreement on its necessity. Other substantial landowners have established measurable targets, with the Crown Estate committing to manage 36% of its land for nature by 2030.
The church’s decision came as the UK government published its own strategy to achieve the 30by30 target, a plan that faced criticism from environmental observers who deemed it inadequate in response to environmental challenges. Currently, only 7% of land in England meets the 30by30 criteria.
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