The Church of England's national assembly, the General Synod, has rejected a proposal to rewild 30% of its extensive landholdings by 2030, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups. The C of E, which owns approximately 425,000 hectares (105,000 acres) of land, making it one of the largest landowners in England, currently dedicates only 3.5% of its estate to nature restoration.
The motion, introduced by the Rev Canon Val Plumb, an area dean in Oxford, aimed to align the Church with the international '30by30' commitment, a target adopted by over 100 countries, including the UK, to restore 30% of land for nature by the end of the decade. This target is widely regarded as the minimum necessary to halt and reverse the global decline in biodiversity. However, the private motion was blocked during Tuesday's vote.
Instead of committing to a measurable rewilding target, the Synod passed a separate amendment put forward by the Right Rev Graham Usher, the lead bishop for the environment. This alternative approach outlines six steps, including supporting nature restoration projects 'where appropriate' and engaging with tenants on sustainable farming, but notably lacks any specific, quantifiable goals for land restoration.
Prior to the vote, William Nye, the secretary general of the Archbishops' Council, stated that Canon Plumb's motion was inconsistent with the Church's legal obligations and its responsibility to ensure 'long-term capital growth'. The Church Commissioners, who manage the C of E's financial assets and land, welcomed the amended motion, emphasising a 'collaborative approach that balances further support for nature with our legal and fiduciary obligations'. They highlighted that around 90% of their farmland portfolio is productive agricultural land, and their focus lies on integrating nature recovery into working landscapes while supporting food production and rural businesses.
Claire Rogers, a campaigner at Wild Card, a citizens' movement advocating for major landowners to rewild their estates, expressed disappointment, stating that the Church had 'missed an opportunity to show moral leadership'. She added that 'at a time when wildlife is collapsing in our countryside, we need much greater action than has been committed to today'. The criticism comes as other significant landowners, such as the Crown Estate, have already committed to managing 36% of their land for nature by 2030. The government's own recently published strategy to meet its 30by30 target was also condemned as 'pathetic' and 'completely insufficient', with only 7% of land in England currently meeting the criteria.