Exploring Local Implementation of DEFRA's 25 Year Plan: Learning lessons from embedding the Natural Capital Approach in a Northern Coastal City Region

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Embedding natural capital approach into policy interventions key to economic development at a local level such as spatial planning frameworks, introducing a net gain environment policy as well as creating local natural capital investment plans has been suggested as key to maintaining the environment while driving growth. Such approaches will aim to achieve economic growth which considers local needs and values, but is also resilient due to being underpinned by the benefits of well managed/maintained natural capital. However such an approach is still being testedThe unique natural assets of the Liverpool City Region (LCR) and its opportunities for growth (i.e. a natural coastline and estuary of international conservation importance alongside large scale wind generation, high potential for tidal energy and major commercial and maritime development provides a unique and interesting testbed for the natural capital approach. Its rich natural assets and nationally renowned environmental leadership and knowledge means the city region can provide a significant contribution to the national debate on the natural capital approach.This placement hosted by Nature Connected (the govt. approved Local Nature Partnership for the LCR) to support them in their ambition to embed a natural capital approach in the Liverpool City Region. It will make recommendations for the implementation of the 25 Year Plan for the Environment at a local level by contributing to and learning from the development of a natural capital approach in LCR. Nature Connected will support the placement through its board and various member organisation. Organisation will play a lead role in support of different aspects of the project, based on their expertise. Nature Connected Membership of key environmental and business organisations and the six local councils provides a key network to support the placement.The overall method will combine existing research around the Natural Capital approach, information on relevant policies for its implementation and local knowledge and perceptions through 3 actions: Action 1: A review of existing research knowledge, policies and how they are relevant to Natural Capital Approach in the Liverpool City Region. This will draw on outputs from research programmes and initiatives around Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services, (i.e. NEA, VNN and BESS) as well as more recent projects which are now testing the implementation of the Natural Capital approach such as the NERC funded SWEEP. This information will be considered in the context of the Liverpool City Region and be used to inform the workshops and interviews as well as the case study approach. Action 2: Workshops and Interviews with key stakeholders and decision makers (i.e. planners, Combined Authority staff etc.) from the Liverpool City Region. around the natural capital approach. These are aimed at both increasing the awareness of the natural capital approach through knowledge transfer as well as gathering information on local knowledge and perceptions. Action 3: Applying a natural capital approach to development case studies, including full social cost accounting the for different decision scenarios/outcomes and Consideration policy inventions, which may impact on decisions and may provide/facilitate funding mechanisms for investment in natural capitalThis will result in a transfer of knowledge to key Liverpool City Region Stakeholders on the natural capital approach and allow an exploration of the barriers and opportunities to aligning and integrating a natural capital policy approach. It should also provide recommendation to feed into the national debate on devolution and local implementation of the 25 year for the environment. All of which should support Nature Connected in it ambition to embed natural capital with key policies within the city region such as the spatial plan, develop a net gain environment policy alongside a natural capital investment plan