Our Local Nature Recovery Strategy
This new county-wide strategy sets out how we can work together to support nature’s recovery across Somerset – creating landscapes that are richer in wildlife, more resilient to climate change, and better for people.
Developed with input from partners, landowners, communities, and experts, the LNRS provides a shared evidence base and a locally agreed plan for action. It identifies Somerset’s most valuable existing habitats, highlights opportunities to restore and connect spaces for nature, and sets out priority outcomes for recovery.
The LNRS provides a county-wide framework to help target investment, guide land management, and support projects that deliver real benefits for people, nature, and the climate.
Somerset’s Nature Recovery Strategy has 8 Habitat themes, with 42 priority outcomes plus 153 Actions to support 150 priority species.
Find answers to common questions about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Local Habitat Map
The Local Habitat Map is a key component of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. It highlights existing valuable habitats and the best locations for future habitat restoration or creation, helping guide conservation actions, land management, and planning decisions within an LNRS.
What the Local Habitat Map shows
- Existing areas of important wildlife habitats, including national conservation sites, Local Nature Reserves, Local Wildlife Sites and areas of ‘irreplaceable habitat’. These are called Areas of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (APIBs).
- Areas proposed as the best places to create and restore habitat, to achieve the most for biodiversity and the wider environment. These are called Areas that Could Become of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (ACBIs).
User guide
Please take a look at the Local Habitat Map User Guide before you go to the map.
View the Local Habitat MapTo understand more about how our mapping was made, read the full methodology: Appendix A – Developing the LNRS, Data, Evidence and Methodology.
Somerset’s LNRS was endorsed by Somerset Council on 11 March 2026. It received approval from its Supporting Authority (Exmoor National Park Authority) on 5 March 2026 and Government Arms Length Bodies (Natural England, Forestry Commission and Environment Agency) on 23 February 2026.
You can read a report on the Public Consultation here.
The finalised strategy and mapping was published on 26 March 2026.
