Land Use and Water

Horsham District’s land uses absorb more carbon than they emit (a net carbon sink). This is due to a large amount of high-quality forest and grassland in the local area. The amount that is absorbed is reduced by carbon emitted through farming processes. However, rural land can still deliver carbon savings as well as climate resilience (including reduce risk of flooding) and nature recovery as the impacts of climate change worsen. There is a direct link between these issues and water, through reducing flooding, water consumption and pollutants entering rivers and streams.

Overarching Goals

• Climate Resilience: To support and improve green and blue infrastructure across Horsham District and increase climate resilience and biodiversity in urban and rural areas.
• Sustainable Farming and Land Use: To capitalise on Horsham District’s natural environment to maximise natural carbon sequestration opportunities and support farmers in decarbonising and future-proofing their operations.
• Sustainable Food Systems: To create sustainable, low carbon and resilient local food systems that increase food security and residents’ health and wellbeing.
• Water Systems: To reduce water consumption across the district to support the recovery of water ecosystems, help to improve resilience to drought, as well as reducing flood risk and reversing the decline in water quality in rivers and streams.

Actions

Immediate (2024)

• Contribute to the development of river catchment wide approaches to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and biodiversity.
• Support the development of a District-wide Nature Recovery Network.

Short Term (2024-26)

• Explore carbon sequestration opportunities with farmers and large landowners.
• Promote alternative land uses, such as forestry, as well as sustainable and regenerative farming techniques to sequester carbon and improve biodiversity.
• Support projects that reduce area wide water consumption, and implement the Sussex North Offsetting Water Strategy.
• Improve access to healthy, fresh, local food that is produced using low carbon farm practices and increases food security in Horsham District.
• Reduce food miles by encouraging local food production and consumption.

Medium Term (2026-29)

• Invest in climate resilient infrastructure to adapt to extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall.
• Support improvements to blue and green infrastructure across the district, including urban areas.