A Local Nature Partnership

The Surrey Nature Partnership is one of several Local Nature Partnerships from across the country that were formally recognised by DEFRA¹ in August 2012, after having successfully applied to unify a group of locally interested organisations. Local Nature Partnerships have been set-up across the UK with the purpose of championing the value of the natural environment in decision-making at all levels.

Our Vision, Mission and Strategy

Vision

Our vision is to see a healthy natural environment supporting economic and social benefits throughout Surrey.

Mission

The Surrey Nature Partnership (SyNP) will hard wire recognition of the value of the natural
environment into all decision making, resulting in better informed decisions for Surrey. It will increase recognition of the value of our natural capital and associated ecosystems as critical assets for Surrey, as important as its financial and social capital, and promote the need for thoughtful, sustainable management of these assets

Strategy 

• be a strategic, co‐ordinating Partnership that provides ‘One Voice’ for the natural environment in Surrey,
• deliver our vision for Surrey, in collaboration with a wide range of partners,
• facilitate collaboration between those partners around one vision for Surrey ’s nature and develop a strategic approach for nature recovery within the county and across the boundaries,
• engage with a wide range of sectors, particularly those with economic, social and health dimensions,
• develop and support innovative approaches for embedding the essential value of a healthy natural environment within all decision making, fulfill our statutory role in strategic planning matters under the ‘Duty to Cooperate’,
• promote the UN sustainable development goals.

Terms of Reference

Surrey Nature Partnership Terms of Reference

Positioning Statements

The Biodiversity Working Group will occasionally publish formal Surrey Nature Partnership positions on various issues – if these are appropriate to the partnership’s business and it is felt helpful to do so in the interests of providing professional guidance.

• Tree planting for Climate Change mitigation in Surrey, January 2020
• Recommendation for 20% Biodiversity Net Gain in Surrey, November 2020

¹Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs