The Church of England’s General Synod rejected a proposal to restore 30% of its approximately 42,500 hectares of land for nature conservation by 2030. The motion, introduced by Rev Canon Val Plumb of Oxford, would have aligned the church with an international commitment made by the UK and over 100 other nations to restore land for nature as a minimum step toward reversing global ecological decline. Currently, only 3.5% of the church’s landholdings are devoted to nature restoration efforts.
Instead of adopting the proposed target, the Synod passed an alternative amendment introduced by the Right Rev Graham Usher, who serves as the lead bishop for environmental matters. This amendment outlines six alternative steps, including continued support for nature restoration projects where deemed suitable and engagement with tenants regarding sustainable farming practices. The church’s leadership indicated that the original motion conflicted with legal obligations to maintain long-term financial growth of its assets.
Environmental advocates expressed disappointment with the decision. Claire Rogers, representing Wild Card, a citizens’ movement focused on encouraging major landowners to undertake rewilding initiatives, stated that the church had foregone an opportunity to demonstrate moral leadership at a time when wildlife populations are declining significantly across rural areas. Rogers noted that nearly 190 countries have committed to the 30 by 30 target for substantive reasons.
The decision comes as other major landowners have established measurable conservation targets. The crown estate, for instance, has committed to managing 36% of its land for nature by 2030. The Church commissioners stated they were satisfied with the amended motion, emphasizing that the approach balances environmental support with fiduciary responsibilities, noting that approximately 90% of their farmland holdings are productive agricultural land where the focus involves integrating nature recovery with food production and rural economic resilience.
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