Rother District Council has voted to declare a nature emergency in Rye, Bexhill and the surrounding villages. It made the decision at the full council meeting on 15 December in what councillors say is a bid to help reverse the long-term decline in nature.A notice of motion – proposed by Councillor Sue Prochak MBE and seconded by Councillor Kathryn Field, acknowledged the decline in nature and the urgent need to reverse it. The resolution recognised the link between the nature crisis and the climate emergency, and the role of environmental protection in sustainable development.Councillor Prochak said, “We are now committed to embedding nature’s recovery into all our strategic plans and decision-making processes in all our departments. We’ve pledged investment in nature-based climate solutions, setting clear recovery goals by 2030 across areas such as wildlife protection, planning, and community engagement. Following the decision, the council says it will:
- develop clear strategic targets for nature recovery by 2030 and seamlessly integrate these into climate initiatives.
- work closely with local communities—including under-represented groups—to achieve these targets. Progress will be monitored and reported via its Climate and Nature Emergency Steering Group.
- build on its earlier success in tackling climate change, including its carbon neutrality commitments and recent tree-planting initiatives.Councillor Kathryn Field, portfolio holder for environment, said, “By declaring a nature emergency, Rother District Council has taken a decisive step towards reversing biodiversity loss and deepening its commitment to environmental resilience.”