Agenda Item 12 Report NPA19/20-29 Appendix 5
Delivering ‘Net Zero with Nature’ – Responding to the challenge of Climate Change with nature based solutions
Objective Potential Actions Lead Partner/Partnership Resources Target Date
Support the rapid transition to a
low-carbon economy for the
land-based sectors.
Work closely with sector partners who have also declared net zero
ambitions, particularly the NFU (2040), National Trust (2030) and
Environment Agency (2030).
Promote uptake of high precision or low-input farming techniques
so that the application of nitrate fertilisers does not result in excess
nutrients passing into the aquifers at key times of recharge
(Autumn/Winter)
Support for farmers in terms of diversification to new crops and
livestock breeds that may be more resilient to changing climatic
conditions.
Encourage sustainable land management that protect the
environmental assets and ecosystem services of the South Downs
while maintaining the profitability of farming.
Encourage adaptation responses and land use practices that support
or benefit the special qualities of the National Park.
Encourage conservation measures such as contour ploughing, buffer
strips, improving soil structure or changes in land management such
as transition from arable to long-term grass lays or cover crops.
In high risk areas promote shift from arable to long-term grass lays.
Encourage measures that retain soils in situ such as contour
ploughing, minimum or ‘no tillage’. Promote the use of green
manures and cover crops.
SDNPA, NFU, CLA, Farm Clusters
and FC Facilitators, Research
Bodies (NERC, CEH), Statutory
Agencies.
Some of this will be achievable through our current
involvement with the Farm Clusters and through the delivery
of WEPS. However the work with sector partners to help drive
rapid transition is not currently being covered.
This would require additional staff time from CPM directorate
and Area Teams to achieve an increased level of support.
Follow up work required with CPM to define additional
resource requirements.
2020-2025
Carry Forward into next
Management Plan cycle
2024-2030
Research and monitoring of climate change impacts and trends.
Develop research agenda and links with national level research
bodies.
Research the impact of land use change such as shift away from
Arable to other crop types. Viability of different farming systems.
National Research Bodies:
LWEC, NERC and CEH.
SDNPA Research Hub and
Universities.
(Development of case studies
based in the South Downs)
Work required to define the research priorities – especially
where there are known gaps such as the impacts upon the
Historic Environment.
Additional time/resource required from the Research &
Evidence Team (CPM) to take this forward.
Current Management
Plan and Local Plan
cycle.
Carry Forward into next
Management Plan cycle
2024-2030
Environmental Land
Management Scheme (ELMS)
Encourage land management practices that maintain the structural
and microbial condition of soils and maximise its ability to store
water and nutrients.
Promote soil conservation measures especially in areas that are
prone to erosion or may be more susceptible to drought conditions.
SDNPA, NFU, CLA, Farm Clusters
and FC Facilitators, Research
Bodies (NERC, CEH), Natural
England and the Statutory
Agencies.
SDNPAs current involvement in the NELMS test and trials will
help us deliver on this element of the Action Plan.
Phase 2 of the CHAMP Project will also target these kinds of
interventions with Farmers and Land Managers in the
Western Area.
Current Management
Plan and Local Plan
cycle.
Carry Forward into next
Management Plan cycle
2024-2030
Climate Change Action Plan – 5 year programme (Comms Draft)
Agenda Item 12 Report NPA19/20-29 Appendix 5
Work at a Landscape and Catchment scale to deliver effective
environmental outcomes, allow for climate change adaptation and
improve ecosystem service function.
Work to establish more natural rates of flow and channel
morphologies to make them more resilient to climate change
impacts.
Encourage land management practices that support pollinators. Use
of natural pest controls or pest resistant crop species to reduce the
need for pesticide use.
Soils project being developed in the Western Area with the
Winchester Farm Cluster group, opportunity to apply any
learning from this project more widely.
Work with Catchment Projects is delivered through L&B
strategy leads (Water). May need additional time to achieve
this.
Work on influencing and delivering NELMS currently sits with
CPM directorate and Area Teams.
Nature Recovery Network (NRN)
Increase habitat connectivity and the permeability of the landscape
to wildlife.
Target project funding and environmental grant funding towards
measures that increase resilience to a changing climate, support
biodiversity and provide wider Ecosystem Service benefits.
Undertake adaptive management and ensure that areas of valuable
habitat are bigger, better managed and joined up. SDNPA to
promote delivery at landscape scale.
Increase the quality and habitat diversity of wildlife sites. Deliver
large scale habitat creation where opportunities exist, create buffer
zones for vulnerable or fragmented habitats
To increase understanding of climate change, and its impacts on the
priority habitat and species within the South Downs National Park.
Demonstrate how nature-based solutions can help develop
resilience to climate change at a landscape scale.
Develop pilot projects that show how Nature Recovery might be
financed through the development of carbon off-setting schemes
Promote the benefits of hedgerows and encourage best practice in
terms of their management. Improve habitat connectivity, help
retain soils, manage surface run-off and increase the permeability of
the landscape to wildlife.
Seek to influence flood management schemes so that they facilitate
Natural Flood management techniques have potential to deliver
enhanced flood storage and create new wetland habitat.
Encourage naturally functioning floodplains and sustainable urban
drainage schemes that plan for the potential changes in flooding as a
result of climate change.
SDNPA, Natural England,
Environment Agency, Wildlife &
Woodland Trusts, Local Nature
Partnerships, Farmers and
Landowners, Local Planning
Authorities.
In November 2019 the SDNPA recently ran a joint conference
with Natural England and the Local Nature Partnerships to
start to develop ideas on co-designing and delivering a Nature
Recovery Network.
The session worked on:-
What are the essential elements/components of a
coherent and effective Nature Recovery Network?
How do we achieve the necessary joined-up
approach?
Are there some shared principles for how the NRN
might be planned, targeted and delivered?
Are there other organisations that may be potential
delivery partners?
We have subsequently been following up on this work with
the LNP and ensuring the key delivery partners are sufficiently
joined-up.
The plan is to run a follow-up session in May to start to
produce a spatial plan of the NRN – this will define the priority
habitats for each area and where we think investment is
needed to deliver a coherent network.
At present this work sits within the CPM directorate and is a
major work strand for the Landscape & Biodiversity
Programme Board. This is currently involving staff time from
the L&B Strategy Leads.
This is achievable within the limits of our existing staff
structure/resource though it may need more allocated time.
Current Management
Plan and Local Plan
cycle.
Carry Forward into next
Management Plan cycle
2024-2030
Climate Change Action Plan – 5 year programme (Comms Draft)
Agenda Item 12 Report NPA19/20-29 Appendix 5
Encourage the creation of new habitat and wet woodland along
streams and rivers to enhance connectivity, flood storage, help
reduce run-off and diffuse pollution
Undertake adaptive management and increase the genetic diversity
and heterogeneity of key species on wildlife sites. Promote the
collection and use of appropriate seed stock in habitat restoration or
the creation of new habitat.
Develop a strategy for tackling invasive and non-native species.
Work to reduce their impact and spread within the National Park.
Additional time/resource required from the Research &
Evidence Team (CPM) to take this forward.
New woodland planting
Research on which tree species may be most impacted by changes in
climatic conditions. Plan ahead in terms of planting species that may
be more resilient to prevailing climatic conditions in the
medium/long term.
Better communicate how changes in land-use as a result of Climate
action might affect the landscape character/ visual appearance of
National Parks
Identify the best carbon storage options for the National Park that
provide the widest range of ecosystem service benefits. Enhance the
capacity for carbon storage and sequestration at landscape scale.
Encourage woodland management that provides the best range of
ecosystem service benefits including enhancing biodiversity, natural
flood management, air quality, carbon sequestration and renewable
energy potential.
Promote the benefits of wood pasture, in-field and boundary trees.
Support tree planting in appropriate locations to help to store
carbon and provide wider ecosystem service benefits for people and
nature.
Create new wet woodland habitat along streams and rivers to
enhance connectivity, flood storage, help reduce run-off and diffuse
pollution
Produce guidance on the ‘right tree in the right place’ to help inform
the design of good planting schemes that meet carbon targets and
enhance the landscape quality of the National Park.
Encourage an increase in urban trees to provide ecosystem service
benefits within towns and villages. Promote the value of trees, parks
and other Green Infrastructure.
SDNPA, Natural England,
Environment Agency, Wildlife &
Woodland Trusts, Local Nature
Partnerships, Farmers and
Landowners, South Downs
Woodland Partnership, Local
Planning Authorities.
External partners have organised a ‘Woodland Summit’
scheduled for March. This is focussed on the Eastern Area of
the National Park, but it is an issue that applies Park-wide.
Our staff are experiencing a significant increase in enquiries
around tree-planting and the suitability of sites and species
for addressing the climate challenge.
Local Area Team staff, Strategy Leads and our Woodlands
Officer are under increasing pressure to respond, and there
are concerns that we may see poorly designed or planned
schemes coming forward without adequate guidance or input
from the SDNPA.
A piece of work is need to ensure the SDNPA is on the front-
foot. We are currently updating the Landscape Character
Assessment for the National Park. This is helpful, but further
guidelines are needed to support the principle of ‘right tree,
right place’.
We would propose to work with sector partners to produce
guidance that we can share that would apply to tree and
woodland planting across the National Park. This will support
tree planting and ensure it happens in the most appropriate
locations and delivers the maximum benefit for society.
Additional time and resource will be required within CPM and
from the Strategy Lead (Woodland) to achieve this.
2020-2021
Climate Change Action Plan – 5 year programme (Comms Draft)
Agenda Item 12 Report NPA19/20-29 Appendix 5
Meeting a 2030 ‘Net-Zero’ target for the National Park Authority
Objective Potential Actions Lead Partner/Partnership Resources Target Date
Sustainable Solutions Group
Identify ‘quick wins and opportunities’ through a staff survey
Undertake a carbon audit in line with other UK NPA by June 2020
Undertake a full sustainability audit by September 2020.
SDNPA SMT, Sustainable Solutions Group, All Staff 2019-2020
Improve our sustainable performance and become carbon neutral as
an organisation by 2025
Set targets for carbon reduction and monitor progress
Develop a strategy for sustainability for the SDNPA
Produce an annual action plan to address issues of highest
priority
Oversee all activity to deliver the action plan.
SDNPA SMT, Sustainable Solutions Group, All Staff 2025
Working with other National Parks – Climate Change & Energy Group
Objective Potential Actions Lead Partner/Partnership Resources Target Date
Joint Delivery Plan
NPAs to establish themselves as:-
Leaders in meeting the challenge presented by Climate Change.
Lead a rapid change in effort to tackle the climate emergency.
Demonstrate how rapid response and transition to low-carbon living
can be achieved.
Work collectively towards becoming ‘Net Zero’ National Parks by
2040.
Achieve ‘Net Zero’ as National Parks Authorities by 2030.
Promote the principle of achieving ‘Net Zero with Nature’.
National Parks England, SDNPA,
UK National Parks and
protected landscapes network.
National Parks England have issued a revised statement
(2019) which set NPA wide targets for achieving Net Zero.
Along with the SDNPA and Climate Change & Energy Group
they have update their Climate Change Delivery Plan. This sets
out planned actions for the NPAs collectively and is a step up
in terms of delivery.
The SDNPA currently assist with convening the Climate
Change and Energy Group, which is covered by existing staff
time/resource. This will need to be extended to cover the
additional activity of the group.
2020-2025
Joint Advocacy Use NPE to advocate for policy change in Government to provide us
with the tools locally to deliver net zero.
Support the Committee on Climate Change in doing the same and
provide practical examples of good local action and barriers to
progress that they can help in removing
National Parks England, SDNPA,
UK National Parks and
protected landscapes network.
National Parks England will also be setting up a NPA Chairs
Task & Finish group – which the SDNPA will represent the
Lowland NPAs.
The SDNPA may need to support the work to develop a
presence for NPAs at COP26 in November. This will require
2020-2021
Ongoing Programme
Climate Change Action Plan – 5 year programme (Comms Draft)
Agenda Item 12 Report NPA19/20-29 Appendix 5
Consider the opportunities with UK National Parks to promote our
work through our National communications programme. Work
together to plan a fringe event at CoP26.
Work with National Park Partnerships to secure funding for the Net
Zero with Nature proposal.
Help to implement the recommendations of the Glover Review and
promote collaboration at strategic level between NPA/AONB’s
additional staff time to support and is over and above the
current allocation.
Setting Carbon Budgets
Work to ensure each park has a production and consumption based
Carbon Budget that is consistent across all Parks
Develop scenarios to reach net zero by the fastest time possible
A monitoring framework to report, ideally annually on progress
toward net zero
National Parks England, SDNPA,
UK National Parks and
protected landscapes network.
Work is currently being commissioned jointly with other NPAs
to develop a standard approach to baseline and metrics for
achieving Net Zero. This will include scenarios for each NP to
reach the target as efficiently as possible, and the areas where
we would need to concentrate to make the most impact.
2020-21
Ongoing Programme
Research & Evidence
Better data on carbon storage by land use or habitat type, to make
more informed choices on land use change
Understanding of how to maximise carbon through biodiversity
projects. Develop case studies of nature based and adaptation
solutions
National Parks England, SDNPA,
UK National Parks and
protected landscapes network.
Natural England have recently expanded their Climate Change
Team. They are looking to update their research work on the
comparative ability of habitats to lock up carbon. This will
include new mapping for the UK.
The SDNPA will need to support this work to a limited extent,
and use the results to develop guidance for the South Downs
to highlight current carbon sinks, and where the greatest
potential is for carbon sequestration is across the Park.
2020-2022
Ongoing Programme
Meeting a ‘Net-Zero’ Carbon target for the National Park by 2040
Objective Potential Actions Lead Partner/Partnership Resources Target Date
Establishing a baseline for our
Carbon Targets
Commission a piece of joint work with the UK National Parks to
establish a common approach to data and metrics.
Establish a baseline from which we can monitor the effectiveness of
our actions to cut emissions.
Produce options that allow us to demonstrate different trajectories
to achieving the 2040 target, and how it might achieved. This should
include a rapid-transition scenario so we can understand the scope
for cutting emissions as rapidly as possible.
Supplement this with some additional work to align us with the
modelling and approach being used by our constituent LPAs. Obtain
the BEIS data-set in a form that supports our work and is useable at
National Park level.
National Parks England, BEIS,
SDNPA, UK National Parks and
protected landscapes network.
This contract is in the process of being let, but we should have
an updated set of emissions figures during 2020, and the
contract will also include annual updates. By achieving a cost-
benefit of this being a joint piece of work, it will cost us
around £6-7K per annum to monitor progress.
2020-2021
Ongoing monitoring.
Climate Change Action Plan – 5 year programme (Comms Draft)
Agenda Item 12 Report NPA19/20-29 Appendix 5
Working with our constituent
Local Authorities
Work more closely with our Local Authority partners on Climate
Change actions. Help support and add value to their work through
the delivery of our own Climate Change Action Plan.
Establish links and working arrangements with Climate Change leads
within Local Authorities and with important sector groups such as
South East Climate Action (SECA). Work to co-ordinate climate
action with key delivery partners.
Work with our LA partners to establish common metrics and targets
so we can make a clear contribution to delivering national and
locally based targets.
Promote the principle of achieving ‘Net Zero with Nature’ and the
role that the National Park and nature-based solutions can play in
helping them achieve their net-zero targets.
Target project funding and environmental grant funding towards
measures that increase resilience to a changing climate, support
biodiversity and provide wider Ecosystem Service benefits.
SDNPA, Local Planning
Authorities, Sector Partners
such as South East Climate
Action (SECA).
This is a new area of work for us, previously we have focussed
on Adaptation Planning. The need to establish a ‘Net Zero’
target and trajectory requires us to work more closely with
our constituent LPAs more closely on this.
We are starting to engage and develop our networks in
relation to this element of the Action Plan.
CPM and Planning Team will need to secure additional staff
time to ensure we can adequately cover this work. At present
this represents a gap.
CPM and Planning to do further work to establish the staff
time and resourcing requirements around this work. OMT to
assist with the resource planning.
2020-2022
The role of the South Downs
NPAs Planning Function
Embed the principle of both Biodiversity and Environmental ‘net
gain’ within the planning System through our Local Plan strategic
policies.
Make use of the SDNPA Green Infrastructure framework. Highlight
areas for GI investment in and around the National Park.
Promote Sustainable Drainage Schemes (SuDS) to enhance the
resilience of urban areas.
Use our existing Local Plan policies to influence positive impact on
landscape character and ecosystem function (Strategic Policy SD2).
Encourage an increase in urban trees to provide ecosystem service
benefits within towns and villages. Promote the value of trees, parks
and other Green Infrastructure.
Promote green corridors, high quality green spaces and street trees
within the urban environment to improve capacity for regulating air
quality, providing shade and helping to manage the ‘urban heat
island’ effect at a local level.
SDNPA, Local Authority
Partners, Natural England,
Environment Agency,
Developers and Planning
Agents.
Much of this work will be delivered through our existing
planning policies and Development Management processes.
Some additional work required to embed the GI Framework
effectively.
Net-gain is likely to be mandated, and is supported by our
Local Plan policies. Additional work needed between lead
officers in planning and CPM/Strategy Leads to ensure join-up
with the Nature Recovery Network.
Possible to revise or strengthen Local Plan policies when it
comes up for review.
Current Management
Plan and Local Plan
cycle.
Carry Forward into next
Management Plan cycle
2024-2030
Sustainable Construction –
Supplementary Planning
Document (SPD)
Promote energy efficiency and sustainable building standards in
terms of design, materials and site layout.
Raise the bar in terms of design and build standards via the use of
incentives i.e. CIL or other mechanism.
SDNPA, MHCLG, Local Authority
Partners, Natural England,
Environment Agency,
Developers and Planning
Agents.
Currently being developed and will shortly return to Planning
Committee for approval. Then it will be a case of applying it.
Work may be required to update this work when the
opportunity arises – especially if Government moves to revise
or strengthen building standards in the interim.
2020-2021
Revisit in 2022-2023
Climate Change Action Plan – 5 year programme (Comms Draft)
Agenda Item 12 Report NPA19/20-29 Appendix 5
Development briefs for specific
sites.
Develop design codes that result in