The Church of England’s General Synod rejected a proposal to commit to restoring 30% of its approximately 42,500 hectares of land for nature conservation by 2030. The motion, introduced by Rev Canon Val Plumb of Oxford, sought to align the church’s land management practices with an international conservation target known as “30by30.” This target, endorsed by over 100 countries including the United Kingdom, aims to restore 30% of land for nature to address global biodiversity decline.
Instead of approving Plumb’s motion, the synod passed an alternative amendment presented by the Right Rev Graham Usher, the church’s lead bishop for the environment. The approved amendment outlines six general steps without establishing measurable rewilding goals, including continued support for nature restoration projects where deemed appropriate and engagement with tenants regarding sustainable farming practices. Church officials indicated that the decision reflected concerns about legal obligations and the necessity to maintain long-term financial growth.
William Nye, secretary general of the archbishops’ council, stated before the vote that the original motion conflicted with the church’s fiduciary responsibilities. The Church Commissioners, in response to the amended motion’s passage, emphasized that their approach would integrate nature recovery into working agricultural landscapes while supporting food production and rural business sustainability, noting that approximately 90% of their farmland portfolio consists of productive agricultural land.
Environmental campaigners expressed disappointment with the outcome. Claire Rogers of Wild Card, a movement advocating for major landowners to commit to rewilding, characterized the decision as a missed opportunity for moral leadership at a time when wildlife populations are declining significantly. She noted that numerous other large landowners have established specific nature protection targets; the Crown Estate, for example, has committed to managing 36% of its land for nature by 2030.
Currently, only 3.5% of Church of England land is designated for nature restoration, and just 7% of land in England overall meets 30by30 criteria. The UK government recently published its strategy for achieving the national 30by30 target, though environmental organizations have criticized the plan as insufficient.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI