Sustainable Natural Resource Management

The South East region is one of the most beautiful in England. The quality and variety of the environment is one of South East England's defining characteristics.

The Regional Assembly aims to protect and enhance this environment by encouraging efficient use of natural resources, reducing pollution and waste and preserving important natural features. This includes taking into account the effects of climate change.

These aims are in the South East Plan and are supported by a large amount of research, which is available on the research reports page.

Current Work

Thames Basin Heaths - Consultation ran from 19 November 2007 to 15 February 2008 on a strategy to allow house building around the Thames Basin Heaths without damaging protected nature sites.

The Heaths, designated a Special Protection Area (SPA), cover parts of Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey. They are rare examples of lowland heathland and are home to three important bird species.

Consultation was co-ordinated by the Regional Assembly on behalf of the Thames Basin Heaths Joint Strategic Partnership Board. The Regional Assembly-chaired Board has representatives from the Assembly and local authorities affected by the SPA.

Other key work areas - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Climate Change Summit - The Regional Assembly organised a South East England Climate Change Summit on 30 March 2007 to share good practice and discuss how regional partners and organisations can help meet the challenges of climate change. The Regional Assembly launched a practical guide at the Summit for planners, local councils, developers, regulators and service providers to inform their plans.

• Natural England
• Environment Agency
• European Waste Management
• ESPACE Project
• South East Renewable Energy Statistics

Further information can be found on our Water and Climate Change page.