The Lawton report (opens new window) highlighted that nature conservation at site level is not enough to recover nature and create an ecologically functioning and resilient nature network. No one organisation can deliver nature recovery in the Peak District. We must all work together at the landscape scale, national scale and timescales needed to address the biodiversity crisis.

Working in partnership means we can use our collective experience and knowledge to take inspiration from the past to create a future that can deliver for nature and people. Most importantly, working at scale allows room for us to experiment and learn from nature. Working at scale also gives greater flexibility to deliver habitat mosaics, transitional habitats and dynamic processes.

For nature

• Following the Lawton principles in thinking at scale can help create a Nature Recovery Network.
• Partnerships can integrate lots of different people into the process of nature conservation and recovery, helping encourage them to care for it in the future.
• Species with complex multi-habitat needs and those with requirements for large areas will benefit from measures at a landscape scale.
• Landscape-scale measures encourage more joined-up habitats and meta-populations of species, making populations more resilient.
• Environmental risks such as flooding, wildfire or high visitor pressure can be more effectively and economically mitigated at a strategic landscape scale.
• Incorporating cross-boundary ecological buffers (opens new window) around designated sites can help to reduce the impact of human activity and improve resilience and efficacy.

What else can partnerships deliver?

• Expertise from a wide range of disciplines can help take an holistic approach, delivering other public goods alongside nature.
• Value for money by making efficiency savings, and making best use of limited funding sources by not competing.
• Partnerships of different types of organisation can access different funding streams, and can help bridge the gap of short-term funding.
• Partnerships can allow grazing and other management across ownership boundaries.
• Science, practice of working and monitoring at scale is often lacking - working together can fill this gap.
• Support and guidance, meaning even more people can get involved.
• Partnerships can help inform and guide policy change.

In practice

• Everyone can be aware and mindful of current situations and avoid potential unintended negative consequences.
• Share resources, knowledge, results and learnings.
• Engage more stakeholders in efforts to recover nature in the Peak District.
• Allowing nature greater autonomy can be integrated into existing land uses, including forestry and producing livestock.
• Communicate with landowners outside of the National Park to link the Peak District to wider Nature Recovery Networks.

CASE STUDY Wild Peak