The natural environment was one of the reasons I got involved in politics. I have a degree in Zoology, and seeing the catastrophic decline in biodiversity, especially in this country, should worry us all. It’s good news that my colleague, Jacqi Hodgson, has just launched the county’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).

This also includes Plymouth City and Torbay council areas. It’s taken on extra importance as the government appears to be cancelling environmental protection in favour of short-term economic growth. It’s easy to bulldoze a complex and crucial ecosystem in the blink of an eye. It can take years, sometimes hundreds, to replace.

One of the main areas of attack on environmental legislation has come through the government’s planning reforms. I’m sure we’ve all heard of examples where excessive mitigation has been required to address environmental concerns. Rather than tear up the rule book, can’t we just ask that common sense prevail?

The government’s obsession with house building seems to have clouded its judgment. They have swallowed the developer's line that extra housing is prevented by planning rules. At the same time, thousands of approved permissions are land banked until the financial climate suits the developers. Having sold off the family silver of public utilities and council houses, we now appear to be selling off the family estate to the highest bidder.

The LNRS is not regulatory, but it will give weight to arguments supporting nature recovery and protection. Planning is a balance between conflicting pressures.

The more we can highlight the benefits of our natural environment, the stronger the case will be. With attempts to remove democratic influence on planning decisions at the local level, strategies and local plans must push the environmental agenda. Local councillors will no longer be involved in many decisions.

These will be made by unelected officers guided by adopted plans. The LNRS will feed into these plans. Restoring habitats and contributing to halting wildlife decline strengthen ecosystems and bring many benefits. They store carbon, improve soil and water quality, and reduce flood risk, all of which contribute to climate resilience and, fundamentally, future sustainability. It also enhances access to high-quality natural spaces, supporting community health and wellbeing and opportunities for green skills and jobs linked to conservation and land management.