Cornwall Declared a Nature Emergency – But Where’s the Action?

Cornwall Council declared a nature emergency in 2021, but new findings reveal that it has no action plan in place to push nature into recovery.

The Nature Emergency Scorecard, launched by the Woodland Trust, shows that while Cornwall Council has recognised the crisis, it has not committed to key measures needed to reverse decades of decline.

The full scorecard can be viewed at www.natureemergency.com.

Cornwall’s Missing Commitments

Despite acknowledging the severity of the nature crisis, Cornwall Council has not committed to:

• Developing an evidence-based action plan to support nature recovery
• Embedding nature’s recovery into strategic plans and policies
• Protecting and managing 30% of council land for nature recovery by 2030

With British wildlife declining by 19% since 1970 and nearly one in six species at risk of extinction, campaigners say local authorities must take stronger action to protect Cornwall’s unique natural environment.

How Cornwall Compares to Other Councils

A comparison of Cornwall Council with ten similar councils shows a mixed picture when it comes to tackling the nature crisis.

Council	Similarity	Nature Emergency Declared	Evidence-Based Action Plan	Embedded in Strategy	30 by 30 Commitment
Cornwall Council	This council	2021	No	No	No
North Devon Council	77.0%	2019	Yes	No	No
Devon County Council	75.5%	No	No	No	No
Somerset Council	75.2%	2022	Yes	Yes	No
Mid Devon District Council	72.8%	No	No	No	No
Herefordshire Council	72.4%	2023	No	No	No
Shropshire Council	71.0%	No	No	No	No
Forest of Dean District Council	70.4%	2020	No	Yes	No
Denbighshire County Council	69.9%	2019	Yes	No	No
Dorset Council	69.0%	No	No	No	No
Conwy County Borough Council	67.8%	No	No	No	No

While some councils, like North Devon and Somerset, have developed action plans to back up their declarations, Cornwall Council has yet to take the next step.

The Woodland Trust: Councils Must Step Up

The Woodland Trust is calling on local councils to take immediate action, warning that time is running out.

Louise Wilkinson, the Trust’s nature recovery lead, said:

“Local authorities – as landowners, policy makers, and local champions – have a unique role in driving the change that nature urgently needs. Many are not doing enough, and a nature emergency declaration is a vital first step in acknowledging the challenge and turning it into nature recovery on the ground. By putting nature on an emergency footing, councils can take meaningful steps to reverse decades of decline and create healthier, greener communities for people and wildlife alike.”

The Trust is pushing for councils to:

• Develop a clear action plan for nature recovery
• Ensure nature protection is built into planning policies
• Manage 30% of council land for nature by 2030

Low-Cost Solutions and Public Pressure

For councils facing financial pressures, the Woodland Trust suggests simple, cost-effective steps such as letting wildflowers and grass grow on public land, which helps wildlife at no extra cost.

The charity is also calling on the public to take action by contacting Cornwall Council through a templated e-action available at www.natureemergency.com.

Andy Egan, the Trust’s Head of Conservation Policy, said:

“The nature crisis is every bit as critical as the climate crisis. We have seen the benefits of local authorities declaring climate emergencies and taking climate action, which is why we are calling on all local authorities to join the 100 trailblazers who have already done so and to make their own nature emergency declaration. And this new website is a great resource to help them do this.”

What Happens Next?

The UK Government has committed to protecting 30% of England’s land and sea for nature by 2030, but the success of this target depends on local authorities like Cornwall Council following through.

Cornwall has taken the first step by declaring a nature emergency, but without an action plan, clear policies, or land commitments, campaigners say the declaration means little.

Will Cornwall Council step up and take real action?