Support for organisations that want to make decisions with nature, not just about it.
Why governance needs to change
Most governance systems were designed to organise human interests and activities.
As a result:
Land, water and ecosystems sit outside formal decision-making structures
Ecological limits are rarely considered at the point decisions are made
Long-term consequences are addressed late, if at all
Over time, this has contributed to increased climate risk, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation through repeated decisions made without Nature being represented.
Complement existing governance frameworks that can evolve as your skills, knowledge, and confidence develop.
This approach creates ways for land, water, and ecosystems to be meaningfully represented in organisational decision-making
In practice, this includes
Named roles that speak for Nature
Shared principles or charters that guide decisions
Decision processes that hold ecological limits over time
How this supports better decisions
Nature-centric governance helps businesses, public bodies, local authorities, estates, utilities, and infrastructure operators move from reactive compliance to proactive stewardship — creating healthier ecosystems, stronger communities, and more future-fit organisations.
It does this by supporting decision-makers to:
Understand long-term environmental risk more clearly
Make more coherent choices across policies and projects
Reduce tension between environmental responsibilities and delivery pressures
What We Offer
Support at each stage of the journey
Exploring options & readiness
We help you understand what nature-centric governance could look like for your specific context.
This includes exploring available approaches, levels of commitment, costs, risks and expected outcomes.
Design & Consenting
Where new governance tools, roles or structures are needed, we can guide, support or lead their design and delivery.
We cover recruitment, induction and integration with existing governance arrangements.
Ongoing support & stewardship
We provide ongoing supportfor organisations using nature guardians, river charters or advisory and interspecies councils, helping ensure these approaches remain active and useful over time.
FAQ
Is nature-centric governance a legal requirement in Wales?
No. Nature-centric governance is not a legal requirement in Wales. However, it aligns closely with Welsh legislation such as the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act and the Environment (Wales) Act, which place duties on public bodies to think long term, prevent harm and work with ecosystems.
Nature-centric governance provides practical ways to meet those duties through decision-making structures and processes.
Why should we care about governance and not just environmental management?
Environmental management focuses on actions and impacts. Governance determines how decisions are made in the first place.
Many environmental risks facing businesses, such as flooding, supply disruption, planning delays and reputational risk, arise from governance gaps rather than lack of activity.
Is the Rights of Nature relevant for businesses in Wales?
The Rights of Nature is not part of Welsh law. However, its principles are influencing governance thinking through voluntary charters, guardianship models and decision frameworks.
For businesses and other types of organisations, this can provide clarity around environmental limits, accountability and long-term risk without requiring legal change.
Does this replace existing ESG or sustainability frameworks?
No. Nature-centric governance complements ESG and sustainability work by strengthening the decision-making structures behind them. It helps ensure commitments are supported by clear processes, roles and accountability.
How does this relate to Welsh policy and regulation affecting businesses?
Welsh policy places strong emphasis on long-term thinking, prevention and ecosystem health. While duties under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act apply directly to public bodies, they increasingly shape expectations placed on businesses through planning, procurement, partnerships and funding.
Get in touch to explore how nature-centric governance could support your decisions around land, water or long-term risk.
Email us to arrange a no-obligation call to discuss your organisational needs.
