Policy priorities for protecting natural capital in England and the role of a 25-year Environment Plan

With the Environment Secretary due to introduce a 25-year Environment Plan by the start of 2018, this seminar will be a timely opportunity to discuss policy priorities for further protecting the environment and conserving natural capital.

The agenda includes keynote addresses from: 

• Nick Barter, Deputy Director, Natural Environment Strategy, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Emma Howard Boyd, Chair, Environment Agency

Discussion will focus on:

• measures to protect the environment, including the funding mechanisms and access to capital for new schemes;
• the potential impact of additional Government support such as the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fundaimed at encouraging farmers and organisations to implement environmentally-friendly measures; and
• further options for policy.

Sessions will also bring out latest thinking on how the direction of policy fits in with the commercial use of land, the future relationship between conservation and good business practice, latest thinking on the role of the planning system in environmental protection, and challenges for developing the evidence base to inform policy decision-making with the setting up of the Natural Environment Research Council as part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).