The Church of England’s General Synod rejected a motion calling for the organization to rewild 30% of its landholdings by 2030. The proposal, introduced by Rev Canon Val Plumb, an area dean in Oxford, sought to align the church with an international commitment made by the UK and over 100 other countries to restore 30% of land for nature restoration by 2030.
The church, as one of England’s largest landowners with approximately 42,500 hectares of property, currently dedicates only 3.5% of its land to nature restoration efforts. Rather than adopting the specific rewilding target, the Synod passed an alternative amendment introduced by Right Rev Graham Usher, the lead bishop for the environment. This amendment outlines six alternative steps the church intends to pursue, including continued support for nature restoration projects where deemed appropriate and collaborative engagement with tenants regarding sustainable farming practices.
Church leadership cited concerns about the motion’s compatibility with the organization’s legal obligations and responsibility to maintain long-term capital growth. William Nye, secretary general of the archbishops’ council, raised these considerations ahead of the vote. The Church Commissioners expressed satisfaction with the amended approach, stating it balances nature support with fiduciary duties and noting that approximately 90% of the church’s farmland portfolio consists of productive or highly productive agricultural land requiring focus on integrating nature recovery with food production and rural business resilience.
Environmental advocates criticized the decision as a missed opportunity for moral leadership. Claire Rogers of Wild Card, a citizens’ movement focused on rewilding among major landowners, stated the church failed to match the commitment level necessary given the wildlife decline affecting the countryside. She pointed out that nearly 190 countries made the same 30by30 commitment. Other major landowners, including the crown estate, have adopted measurable nature protection targets. England currently has 7% of land meeting 30by30 criteria, according to recently published government strategy documents.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI