The Solent Forum
Working in partnership for the future
The Solent's coastal community is working towards the recovery of nature in both the marine and coastal environments. In January 2024, the Solent Forum worked with the Responsible Authorities to help host a workshop to support the development of the statutory Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) process.
The statutory guidance requires that LNRS follow administrative boundaries into the inter tidal zone only as far as mean low water. In May 2024, Defra clarified that Responsible Authorities (RAs) should not include marine at this time and that work is underway at the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to explore how spatial planning for marine nature recovery might develop in the future.
The Forum continues to have an ambition to promote recovery for both marine and coast ensuring the links between marine and the coastal margins and estuaries; the Solent Seascape Project is key to developing successful long term Solent nature recovery. The Forum proposes to:
The Solent Seascape Project is a partnership aiming to reconnect the Solent into a functioning and productive ecosystem for people, nature, and climate. It brings together local stakeholders to develop and co-create a long-term seascape recovery plan that supports better management of existing Solent marine and coastal habitats. This project runs from 2023 to 2028. It will form an integral part of nature recovery for the Solent in the longer term, contributing to local priorities and delivering opportunities to improve nature. Part of the project is the development of a Solent Nature Data Portal and a Solent State of Nature Report. The Solent Forum is supporting this project.
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) were brought in under the Environment Act, 2021. Responsible Authorities (usually local authorities) are required to develop them and report on progress every five years. They will initially focus on land (including the intertidal) and those terrestrial habitats in the 'coastal zone of influence' such as saline lagoons, coastal grazing marsh and wader roosting and feeding sites.
The Solent's coast is covered by the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and West Sussex LNRS'. They include:
LNRS' support a strategic approach to off-site biodiversity net gain delivery by agreeing evidence-based locations to expand and connect existing habitat and provide wider environmental benefits.
In 2021, a new network of nature partnerships in the South East was established. The South East Nature Partnership brings together Sussex Nature Partnership, Kent Nature Partnership, Surrey Nature Partnership, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Nature Partnership. Through this network, it collaborates across the region on common priorities. This partnership meets quarterly and is chaired by the Kent Nature Partnership
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Nature Partnership (LNP) was established in 2012 and is one of 48 strategic local nature partnerships formed in England following publication of the 2011 Natural Environment White Paper. LNPs operate at the county scale.
Its main focus is to:
