- Protected landscapes cover around 25% of England, welcome over 270 million visitors annually, and play a vital role in achieving the UK’s nature targets
- More than 80% of participants said they were confident in collective action by the end of the event, a significant jump from fewer than 20% of attendees that felt confident they could meet net zero targets alone at the start
- Real-world partnerships demonstrated how National Parks and National Landscapes are already delivering for business
Senior leaders from business, finance, government and the environmental sector came together last week [30 January 2026] at the National Parks and National Landscapes Forum, with a clear message emerging: nature recovery is no longer a ‘nice to have’, it is fundamental to business resilience, supply chains and long-term value.
The Delivering for Nature, Together Forum, convened by National Parks Partnerships (NPP) in collaboration with the National Landscapes Association, focused on how protected landscapes can work with the private sector to deliver large-scale nature recovery, climate resilience and social value.
Opening the Forum, Mary Creagh MP, Minister for Nature, Defra underlined just how central protected landscapes are to meeting national and international commitments. Her message reinforced the reality that without action in National Parks and National Landscapes, the UK cannot meet its Environment Act targets or its global 30 by 30 commitments to effectively conserve and manage 30% of land for nature by 2030.
She said: “Our National Parks and National Landscapes are the living proof that investment in nature delivers tangible returns for all of us. These places are crucial assets: they underpin our national infrastructure. Investment in them benefits communities, businesses, and the planet. Our future prosperity depends on them.“
Polling from the event highlighted a growing challenge facing businesses. Concern for the natural environment was extremely high, averaging over 9 out of 10, yet fewer than 20% of organisations felt confident they could meet their net zero targets independently. By the end of the Forum, however, more than 80% of participants said they were mostly or very confident that we can act together for nature, underlining the value of partnership and scale.
Discussions throughout the day focused on how protected landscapes — covering a quarter of England’s land area — can act as delivery partners, bringing together long-term stewardship, trusted governance and aggregated, investable projects at scale. Topics included the role of nature in managing business and supply-chain risk, the growing relevance of insurance and climate resilience, and the importance of social value — such as jobs, skills and wellbeing — in strengthening the business case for investment in nature.
The Forum also featured presentations from existing partners, demonstrating how collaboration with protected landscapes is already delivering impact. VodafoneThree shared how its partnership with National Parks is supporting business resilience and social value, including funding AI-enabled landscape habitat mapping and widening access to nature through community-led projects. Santander UK highlighted how working with National Parks has strengthened the bank’s understanding of nature-related risk, enabling more informed conversations with clients and supporting the integration of nature into financial decision-making at scale.
Cat Hawkins, CEO of National Parks Partnerships, said: “What came through clearly at the Forum is that nature recovery is no longer a ‘nice to have’. It is fundamental to business resilience, supply chains and long-term value. Protected landscapes are uniquely placed to offer long-term stewardship, trusted governance and the scale required to deliver nature recovery alongside real social value — turning commitments into measurable, lasting outcomes for people, nature and the economy.”
John Watkins, CEO of National Landscapes Association, commented: “Protected landscapes cover 25% of the country, but the footprint of the benefits they generate is far greater. From whole water catchments that support downstream communities to the millions of visitors they welcome each year, National Landscapes are rooted in place but delivering impact at a national scale. They combine local knowledge with national importance, bringing together ambition, innovation, partnerships and strong evidence to unlock the full vitality of place and drive nature recovery for the nation.”
The Forum marked a significant step forward in positioning National Parks and National Landscapes as active partners for business, helping organisations move from ambition to impact while supporting national climate, nature and growth objectives.
To find out more about partnering with National Parks visit www.nationalparks.co.uk or email partnerships@stagingnpp-com.stackstaging.com.
For further information on partnering with National Landscapes visit www.yournaturalpartner.org.uk or email kaye.jemmeson@national-landscapes.org.uk.
