The Church of England rejected a motion calling for rewilding 30% of its land holdings by 2030, drawing criticism from environmental campaigners. The motion, introduced by Rev Canon Val Plumb at the church’s General Synod, would have aligned the denomination with an international commitment made by the UK and over 100 other countries to restore land for nature recovery by that deadline.
Instead of adopting the measurable target, the church’s national assembly passed an alternative amendment that lists six general steps toward environmental stewardship without specific rewilding commitments. The alternative motion, proposed by Right Rev Graham Usher, who serves as the church’s lead bishop for the environment, includes language about supporting nature restoration projects “where appropriate” and engaging with agricultural tenants about sustainable farming practices.
Opposition to the 30by30 motion came from church leadership citing fiduciary concerns. William Nye, secretary general of the archbishops’ council, argued the original motion was inconsistent with the church’s legal duties to ensure long-term financial growth for its holdings.
Environmental advocates characterized the decision as a missed opportunity for moral leadership. Claire Rogers, representing Wild Card, a campaign group focused on rewilding efforts by major landowners, stated that greater action was needed given the documented decline in wildlife across the countryside. She noted that the 30by30 target had been adopted internationally for substantial reasons.
The Church Commissioners defended the amended approach, stating it balanced environmental support with institutional obligations. They noted that approximately 90% of the church’s farmland operates as productive agricultural land, and said the institution intended to integrate nature recovery into working landscapes while supporting food production and rural economic resilience. Other major English landowners, including the crown estate, have committed to managing specified percentages of their land for nature by 2030.
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