A nature recovery plan for Oxfordshire is set to be shaped by the county's residents.
People, businesses, landowners, and farmers are being invited to help decide on the priorities for restoring natural areas and wildlife across the county.
In 2023, Oxfordshire County Council was named by the government as a key authority for leading nature recovery.
It is one of 48 authorities funded to work with residents to create a local nature recovery strategy.
Now, the council is seeking the public's views on Oxfordshire's draft strategy through a consultation that will end on November 26.
The draft document, associated maps, and an online survey can be found on the Let's Talk Oxfordshire website.
Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council with responsibility for climate change, environment, and future generations, said: “A good quality environment with a range of species is important in its own right, but also offers people a lot of benefits.
"This is why the severe loss of biodiversity in the UK is so alarming, because it will negatively impact us all.
"Oxfordshire is home to a rich and diverse natural environment, with ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, wetlands and rivers.
"But it is not immune to this threat and without positive action, we will see our ecosystems decline and possibly disintegrate."
The strategy aims to tackle biodiversity loss by collaborating with people and organisations across Oxfordshire to establish a list of priorities and actions.
The government expects county partners to direct future funding opportunities towards achieving these biodiversity priorities.
Dr Sudbury added: "We want to hear from a wide range of people and organisations across Oxfordshire as these views will help us to refine and improve the local nature recovery strategy, to ensure that it reflects the local priorities and opportunities for recovering nature’s biodiversity in the county."
Local nature recovery strategy project manager, Chloe Edwards, said: "You don’t have to be a wildlife expert to give your views.
"We want to hear from everyone to see if you agree that we’ve got the priorities and actions right for Oxfordshire’s habitats and wildlife.
"Responses to this consultation will provide the local nature recovery strategy project team with more information to help prepare and publish the final strategy including opportunities, benefits, and measures for nature recovery in Oxfordshire."
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