Rewilding: Organisations which own a third of England’s land sign pact to boost biodiversity and tackle climate crisis

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A swathe of England’s biggest land owners and managers have signed a joint pact committing them to large-scale habitat restorations and a major tree-planting programme across a portfolio of 10.5 million acres, to help boost biodiversity and tackle the worsening climate crisis. “This demonstrates what can be done at ground level to tackle the climate change threat, restore nature, and ensure the future health and wellbeing of the landscapes we all love.” She added: “The UK’s Climate Change Committee is clear that ‘a transformation in the use of land’ is needed if we are to meet our Net Zero target. “Restoring our environment and the wildlife that lives there delivers a double whammy of tackling the climate and nature crises together.” Andrew McCloy, chair of National Parks England, said: “We are already seeing the impact of the climate emergency across our National Parks and have been working hard to achieve significant change at pace and scale through our nature recovery projects and partnerships. “The Net Zero with Nature strategy defines the role that the National Parks will play in the UK’s fight against climate change and the biodiversity crisis and solidifies our commitment to working across boundaries to create real change, fast.” John Weir, Head of Real Estate at the Church Commissioners, said: “The two pillars that underpin our approach to responsible investment are respect for people and respect for the planet.