EFRA Committee launches inquiry on land use and nature

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Fresh off the back of the Government publishing the Land Use Framework, the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has launched a new long-term inquiry on land use and nature.

The inquiry comes at a time when Government has set ambitious goals for habitat restoration through the Environmental Improvement Plan and Environmental Land Management schemes, alongside significant commitments on housebuilding and the transition to net zero energy. Together, these priorities place increasing pressure on how land is used and managed.

With agriculture accounting for around 70% of England’s land use, farmers and land managers are expected to play a central role in delivering these changes. While this presents opportunities for nature recovery, it also introduces risks, particularly given existing pressures on the agricultural sector.

The inquiry will also consider the importance of access to nature. While access to high-quality green and blue spaces is vital for physical and mental wellbeing, it can create challenges for landowners and the natural environment if not carefully managed.

As a long-term, thematic inquiry, the Committee will explore how Government and public bodies manage these trade-offs, including progress towards international commitments such as protecting 30% of land for nature by 2030. The Committee will issue regular calls for evidence and publish a series of focused reports over time.

Topics for scrutiny may include, but are not limited to:

  • Restoration of different habitats, such as heathland, wetlands and forest
  • Protected sites
  • National parks and landscapes
  • The design and implementation of the Land Use Framework
  • Rights of way
  • Urban green spaces
  • Land use in the agricultural sector

CIEEM has already started to engage with the Committee on this inquiry.