SNN 1.0 Press Page

We can rebuild nature, and in doing so create a healthier, more resilient and more prosperous future for people across the UK.

That is the message behind the launch today of the Strategic Nature Network (SNN) 1.0 by the Rebuilding Nature alliance: a growing cross-sector coalition bringing together organisations and leaders across sectors around a shared national mission to rebuild the UK’s natural infrastructure.

At a time when the country is experiencing increasing heatwaves, flooding, drought pressures and growing concern over climate resilience, water security and public wellbeing, the Strategic Nature Network offers a practical and hopeful vision for the future: reconnecting nature at national scale so that it can once again support thriving communities, resilient economies and healthier lives.

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Decades of habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation have weakened the natural systems that regulate water, cool towns and cities, support farming, store carbon, protect wildlife and underpin human health and wellbeing. But the solutions are already well understood. We need more, bigger, better and more joined-up habitats.

Across the country, thousands of organisations, farmers, landowners, local authorities and communities are already restoring rivers, peatlands, wetlands, woodlands, urban green spaces and wildlife habitats. The challenge is not a lack of action, it is the lack of a shared national framework capable of connecting these efforts into a coherent and resilient ecological network at the scale required. That is the purpose of the Strategic Nature Network.

The SNN provides a long-term national framework to help align restoration efforts, planning, investment and infrastructure and societal resilience around a shared vision for rebuilding nature as critical national infrastructure; an essential counterpart to our transport, energy, water and digital networks.

The modelling behind the Strategic Nature Network (SNN) starts to quantify the true scale of the UK’s natural infrastructure opportunity. 3.9 million hectares of restoration corridors would help create a fully connected national nature network capable of supporting biodiversity recovery, climate adaptation, water resilience and long-term economic and societal resilience. The benefits of delivering the SNN are valued at hundreds of billions.

Restored to good ecological condition, the core land area of the SNN could generate an additional £600 Billion in benefits.

The climate value is equally significant. The terrestrial SNN v1 currently locks up approximately 8.5 million tonnes of CO₂ each year, over 50 years valued at over £125 billion. Building the English terrestrial restoration zone could remove more than 300 million tonnes of CO₂ over 50 years, worth a further £24 billion.

The benefits extend far beyond biodiversity and carbon. The Strategic Nature Network would reduce flood and drought risk, cool towns and cities during heatwaves, improve water quality, strengthen food and farming resilience, support pollinators and wildlife, create healthier places to live and increase people’s access to nature and green space.

It would also help protect infrastructure, reduce long-term economic risk and create new opportunities for strategic public-private investment through Nature Investment Zones — place-based delivery areas capable of blending public funding and private capital into long-term restoration and stewardship.

Importantly, this is not about replacing local initiatives. It is about connecting and strengthening them so that together they become something transformational: a functioning national ecological network capable of supporting future generations.

The growing alliance behind the Strategic Nature Network reflects increasing recognition across sectors that healthy natural systems are not a “nice to have” but the foundation for long-term prosperity, resilience and national security.

Rebuilding Nature is inviting organisations, investors, policymakers, infrastructure operators, land managers and communities to help shape and build the Strategic Nature Network together.

For more information visit: www.rebuildingnature.com

Stephen Elderkin, Co-Founder Rebuilding Nature and Director Environmental Sustainability National Highways said:

“The Strategic Nature Network demonstrates that we absolutely can build a connected national nature network that the UK can be proud of, an essential counterpart to our energy, road and rail networks.

This is about recognising that healthy natural systems underpin economic stability, food security, water resilience, public health and infrastructure resilience.

We already have many of the building blocks in place. What has been missing is a shared national framework capable of connecting these efforts into a long-term strategic endeavour that gives confidence to government, business, investors and communities alike.

The opportunity now is to move beyond the false choice between nature and growth, and instead recognise nature recovery as a core part of the UK’s future prosperity and resilience.”

Evan Bowen-Jones, Co-Founder Rebuilding Nature said:

“The Strategic Nature Network provides a practical route towards financing nature as infrastructure. By creating a coherent national framework and identifying Nature Investment Zones capable of blending public and private finance, we can begin to unlock investment at the scale needed to restore resilience across landscapes, catchments and communities.

This is about building a national asset that delivers environmental, economic and societal value for generations to come.”

Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Natural England, said: ““Our reliance on the natural world as the foundation of a strong economy, a source of health of wellbeing and a secure supply of food, water and energy is increasingly clear to everyone. Restoring Nature after decades of steep decline is one of the most urgent challenges we face, especially as we seek to cope with the ever more evident impacts of climate change, including extreme weather.

“Much good work is taking place across the country, but if we can take this opportunity to collaborate at scale we can connect our efforts and set the nation on the path to Nature recovery.”

Professor Sir John Lawton, Chair of Making Space for Nature, said:

The vision of the Strategic Nature Network is absolutely brilliant. It has the potential to transform our ability as a nation to deliver 30 by 30 by creating more, bigger, better managed and joined up spaces for nature in working landscapes and urban spaces, for the benefits of both wildlife, and people."

Harry Bowell, Director of Land & Nature, National Trust, said:

“Our economy depends on a healthy natural world. If we are to build resilient communities and long-term prosperity, we must restore nature at scale. The Strategic Nature Network brings together the many inspiring efforts already underway, creating bigger, better and more connected habitats. By coordinating action and investment, we can strengthen climate resilience, support livelihoods and harness nature as essential infrastructure. This is a moment of real hope — a chance to rebuild nature for the benefit of everyone.”

Martin Lines, Nature Friendly Farming Network said:

“Rebuilding nature at the scale needed means joining up action across whole landscapes, and working with the people managing the land every day. The Strategic Nature Network is a welcome step towards treating nature as critical national infrastructure, helping to identify where reconnecting habitats can deliver the greatest benefits for wildlife, climate resilience and communities.

Farmers and land managers have a central role to play in making this work on the ground. With the right support and reward, nature friendly farming can help restore soils, water, habitats and species alongside resilient food production.”

Prof Anusha Shah, Founder & CEO - Plan for Earth, Steering Group Member- Rebuilding Nature Alliance said:

"Nature recovery will only succeed if we move beyond isolated projects and start thinking at the scale of systems. The Strategic Nature Network provides a strong framework for connecting individual actions into a coherent national asset, helping to build the resilience needed for nature, communities and economies to thrive."

Dr Amy McDonnell, and James Sutton Co-Executive Directors | Zero Hour, said:

The Strategic Nature Network is a powerful demonstration of what becomes possible when we start treating nature as the critical national infrastructure it truly is. Healthy ecosystems are essential to food security, help protect communities from flooding and extreme heat, support public health and strengthen national resilience. The vision set out by Rebuilding Nature reflects a growing recognition that nature recovery must be part of building a more resilient Britain. By recognising critical ecosystems as national infrastructure, we can help secure a safer, healthier and more prosperous future for generations to come.

Dr Bruce Howard, Director, Ecosystems Knowledge Network, said:

“From computing to travel, our world runs on networks. Why should nature - the most interconnected phenomenon of all - be treated as though it isn’t a network? Welcoming this Strategic Nature Network for this part of Europe. Let’s rebuild this dimension of our collective prosperity.”

About Rebuilding Nature

Rebuilding Nature is a growing cross-sector alliance working to position nature recovery as critical national infrastructure essential to the UK’s resilience, health and prosperity.

The alliance brings together expertise from conservation, finance, infrastructure, business, land management, science and policy to help build a coherent Strategic Nature Network capable of supporting long-term ecological and economic resilience.

Its work focuses on developing shared frameworks, investment models and strategic approaches that can accelerate nature recovery at national scale while supporting sustainable growth, infrastructure resilience and regional prosperity.

Supporting context: Why the UK needs a Strategic Nature Network

The UK faces growing climate and ecological risks, including flooding, overheating, drought, declining biodiversity, soil degradation and increasing pressure on food and water systems.

Scientific assessments now indicate that seven of the nine planetary boundaries linked to Earth system stability have been crossed. At the same time, the economic consequences of climate and nature risk are becoming increasingly material, with estimates suggesting that 6–12% of GDP could be at risk globally by 2030 if environmental decline continues unchecked.

Nature already performs infrastructure functions essential to society and the economy — regulating water, reducing flood risk, cooling towns and cities, supporting agriculture, storing carbon and underpinning public health and wellbeing. The Strategic Nature Network reframes these natural systems as Critical Natural Infrastructure requiring long-term strategic planning, coordination and investment.

The SNN also supports delivery of national and international commitments including 30x30 targets and emerging land use and resilience strategies across the UK.

• Rebuilding Nature SNN 1.0 Brochure 2026
• Rebuilding Nature Strategic Nature Network (SNN) 1.0 Dashboard
• NIZ Blueprint

For interviews, briefing materials, imagery or further information please contact:

Rebuilding Nature Media Team info@rebuildingnature.com

Website: www.rebuildingnature.com