Rebuilding Nature: Why the Strategic Nature Network Matters for Businesses, Communities and Protected Landscapes
On 5th June, our Nature-based Solutions Project Manager, Jayne Wilkinson, attended the launch of Rebuilding Nature‘s Strategic Nature Network 1.0 (SNN), an ambitious alliance of cross sector organisations who want to invest in nature now and with confidence.
Bringing together representatives from government, environmental organisations, utilities, finance and infrastructure sectors, the event explored a fundamental shift in how we think about nature: not simply as a collection of individual habitats or projects, but as critical infrastructure that supports economic resilience, climate adaptation and long-term prosperity.
For National Parks Partnerships (NPP), the discussions reinforced the growing role that nature-based solutions will play in addressing some of society’s biggest challenges, from flooding and water security to biodiversity loss and climate resilience.
Nature as Critical Infrastructure
A recurring theme throughout the day was the idea that nature should be viewed as critical infrastructure.
Just as a single road, bridge or power line becomes more valuable when connected to a wider network, nature delivers greater benefits when habitats are connected across landscapes.
The Strategic Nature Network builds on the principles established by Sir John Lawton’s landmark review, creating a framework for a larger, better and more connected network of habitats across England.
This approach recognises that individual nature-based solutions can deliver local benefits, but their greatest value comes when they contribute to a wider, joined-up system that supports biodiversity, water management, climate resilience and community wellbeing.
The Role of Protected Landscapes
One of the most significant takeaways for NPP was the important role that Protected Landscapes will play in delivering this vision.
Many of the proposed “core zones” within the Strategic Nature Network overlap with National Parks and other Protected Landscapes. These areas already contain some of the country’s most important habitats and are uniquely placed to support large-scale nature recovery.
Protected Landscapes offer more than just space. They bring together land managers, communities, businesses and public bodies, creating the partnerships needed to deliver nature recovery at scale and over the long term.
As the Strategic Nature Network develops and Nature Investment Zones emerge, Protected Landscapes are well positioned to act as key hubs within a connected national system.
Nature Recovery is a Team Sport
If there was one phrase that captured the mood of the event, it was this: nature recovery is a team sport.
The scale of environmental challenges facing the UK means that no single organisation, sector or funding source can deliver the change required on its own.
Success will depend on collaboration between businesses, investors, government, utilities, environmental organisations and local communities.
This collaborative approach is already at the heart of NPP’s work. Acting as a connector between corporate partners and all 15 National Parks, we work alongside landowners, local communities and delivery partners to turn investment into tangible environmental and social outcomes. By bringing together expertise, resources and shared ambition, we help deliver projects that create lasting benefits for nature, people and place.
Unlocking Investment Through Better Systems
Alongside habitat restoration and landscape planning, the event focused heavily on the need for new approaches to finance.
Speakers highlighted a growing appetite among businesses and investors to support nature-based solutions. However, existing systems often make it difficult to aggregate demand, align funding cycles and invest confidently in long-term environmental outcomes.
Several discussions noted that public, private and philanthropic funding need to work together more effectively, with standardised approaches that enable investment at a much larger scale.
Importantly, the conversation is moving beyond funding individual projects towards investing in measurable outcomes such as flood resilience, water quality improvement, biodiversity recovery and climate adaptation.
Creating the frameworks needed to support these outcomes will be critical to unlocking the next generation of nature investment.
Shaping the Future Through Nature Investment Zones
The event also highlighted the development of Nature Investment Zones (NIZs), a concept designed to help attract and coordinate investment into large-scale nature recovery programmes.
Jayne Wilkinson sits on one of the working groups helping to shape proposals for Nature Investment Zones, particularly exploring how private investment could contribute to these models and what they could mean for Protected Landscapes.
This work is helping to address some of the practical questions that businesses, investors and delivery organisations face, including how multiple organisations can invest in shared outcomes, how risk can be managed and how investment can support both environmental recovery and economic growth.
Potential pilot Nature Investment Zones are already being explored, offering opportunities to test new approaches to partnership working, finance and delivery.
For Protected Landscapes, these emerging models could create new pathways for investment while supporting long-term stewardship and nature recovery goals.
Looking Ahead
The launch of the Strategic Nature Network 1.0 marks an important milestone, but it is only the beginning.
As the framework evolves and moves from strategy to delivery, collaboration will remain essential. Businesses, investors, communities and environmental organisations all have a role to play in creating a more connected, resilient and nature-rich future.
At NPP, we are excited to be part of that journey.
Through the National Parks network, our experience in developing nature-based solutions and our involvement in shaping emerging approaches such as Nature Investment Zones, we are helping to create opportunities for organisations to invest in nature in ways that deliver meaningful, measurable and lasting impact.
If your organisation is exploring how nature-based solutions can support its environmental, resilience or sustainability goals, we’d love to start a conversation.
Speak to our expert team
Whether you are exploring your first partnership, or looking to deepen existing commitments as part of a wider partnerships portfolio, our team will work with you to shape a partnership aligned to your organisation’s goals, governance and reporting needs.