Why this matters for wildlife.

In addition to roles in strategic planning and delivery of housing, economic growth, transport, local infrastructure, energy, and health, the new Mayor will have the job of coordinating efforts to restore nature though the delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategies for Suffolk and Norfolk. 

These new strategies - one for each county - describe what is needed and where to help wildlife to recover from long-term declines, and are seen as crucial to hitting legally binding targets to halt biodiversity loss and protect 30% of the UK’s land and seas for nature by 2030.

Turning the strategies from a set of ambitions, priorities, and opportunities, into actual new wildlife habitats on the ground though, will requires real commitment and leadership.

A "Mayor for nature" in Suffolk and Norfolk?

Given the powers, duties, and - crucially - the budget to do so, the Mayor of what will become a Combined County Authority would be able to kick start nature recovery in Norfolk and Suffolk; and to make sure that the growth in jobs and the economy, new transport and energy infrastructure, housing, and health services all benefit from, and go hand in hand, with the restoration of our natural environment.

Suffolk Council Leaders and Cabinet Members ask Government to ensure devolution delivers for nature and people.

In June 2025, a group of Council Leaders and Cabinet Members from all six of Suffolk’s local authorities, along with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Norfolk Wildlife Trust, signed a letter to the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution - Jim McMahon - asking him to ensure the Government’s devolution proposals ‘maximise the benefits to local people, businesses, the economy, and the environment from nature-positive growth and development that support local and national ambitions and targets for nature recovery and net zero.’ 

Read the joint letter

Next steps for a nature-positive devolution deal.

As the proposals take shape, we will continue to engage councils and the Government to ensure that nature-positive growth and nature recovery are at the heart of a devolution deal for Suffolk and Norfolk.

The Government has announced plans to introduce an English Devolution Bill in Autumn 2025. Making sure this includes specific powers, duties and funding for Mayoral strategic authorities to lead on nature recovery is going to be essential for nature recovery, not just in Suffolk and Norfolk, but for nature across the whole country.