The Church of England’s General Synod voted against a motion calling for the institution to rewild 30% of its land holdings by 2030. The proposal, introduced by Rev Canon Val Plumb, an area dean in Oxford, sought to align the church’s land management practices with an international conservation commitment that more than 100 countries have made.
Instead of adopting Plumb’s motion, the synod approved an alternative amendment proposed by Right Rev Graham Usher, the lead bishop for the environment. The passed amendment outlines six general steps the church will pursue, including continued support for nature restoration projects where deemed appropriate and engagement with tenants regarding sustainable farming practices. However, the alternative does not establish measurable targets for land restoration.
William Nye, secretary general of the archbishops’ council, had expressed concerns that Plumb’s motion conflicted with the church’s fiduciary responsibilities to maintain long-term capital growth. Church commissioners stated they welcomed the collaborative approach in the passed amendment, noting that approximately 90% of the church’s farmland portfolio consists of productive or highly productive agricultural land, and emphasized their focus on integrating nature recovery into working landscapes while supporting food production and rural business resilience.
Critics of the decision pointed out that the 30 by 30 restoration target represents the minimum threshold needed to halt and reverse global wildlife decline. The Crown Estate, another major English landowner, has committed to managing 36% of its land for nature by 2030. Environmental campaigners characterized the vote as a missed opportunity for the church to demonstrate moral leadership on conservation issues.
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