Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential role of protected landscapes in delivering nature recovery and improving public wellbeing.

In recognition of their huge potential for nature, climate, people and place, Defra have established ambitious targets for National Parks and National Landscapes as set out in the Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework. Protected Landscapes also have a major role in delivering the 30by30 commitment, given the scale of land they manage and their leadership in nature recovery.

Defra have published the first report of progress against these targets in the Protected Landscape Targets and Outcomes Framework progress report - GOV.UK. This sets out the progress made in 2023 to 2025, and how Protected Landscapes are delivering against the nature recovery and access to nature elements of the EIP.