We are proud to announce the first Natural Capital Account for the North West, a piece of work we have developed in collaboration with many regional organisations to give nature a voice.
The account explores the types and benefits of natural assets across the region and is one of the most complete natural capital accounts in the UK. It will help us, and our partners, understand how valuable our region’s natural capital assets are. By considering this baseline value in everything we do, we can use it to benchmark the impact of future changes to our natural assets with confidence.
With this data we can also make better decisions about what the environment means to means to us, our customers, stakeholders, and wildlife, and how we should look after it. We can quantify improvements in the quality of both our air and water; qualify the impact of climate change; and manage the natural world so that it helps us with our physical and mental health – improving the quality of life for all.
The account provides a valuable, usable benchmark – not just for us, but for any organisation working in our area. From Crewe to Carlisle, in and around the North West region and down into the Welsh catchment areas from which we abstract water – the Natural Capital Account report will be an important tool to support long-term planning. We’re making these accounts available so that all stakeholders in the region can access consistent data on natural capital. This will help build and strengthen partnerships, and drive a consistent understanding of the North West, as well as promote collaboration to deliver the environmental improvements that we all need.
You can read about the key findings with the At a Glance document or you can read the Full Report.
If you would like to request a copy of the North West Natural Capital Account, you may do so by emailing CatchmentSystemsThinking@uuplc.co.uk