| Tayside Biodiversity - Action
Plan - Think
Global, Think Local |
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| THE
INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR BIODIVERSITY |
We
have come a long way since the United Nations Conference
on the Human Environment which was held
in Sweden in 1972. To mark the twentieth anniversary
of this landmark conference and in recognition that human activity is changing
and destroying the natural environment at an alarming rate, an ‘Earth
Summit’ was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. On the agenda was ‘Biological
Diversity’, a proposed ‘Statement of Principles on Forests’,
Agenda 21, and the‘ Climate Change Convention’.
The officially named ‘United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development’ attracted representatives from nearly 180 countries.
Of these, 153 world leaders - including Britain - pledged their commitment
to safeguard the global biodiversity resource by signing the “Convention
on Biological Diversity”. The international document required that
each signatory “develops national strategies, plans or programmes
for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity”. |
| THE
UK FRAMEWORK FOR BIODIVERSITY |
Arising from
the Earth Summit, the British Government produced its
UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) in 1994. A Steering
Group identified the rarest and most threatened species
and habitats within the UK and produced an Action Plan
outlining conservation targets and the actions required
to meet them.
The overall goal of the UK Action Plan is: |
| “to
conserve and enhance the biological diversity
within the UK and to contribute to the conservation
of global biodiversity through all appropriate
mechanisms.” |
|
The objectives underpinning this goal are to conserve, and where applicable,
to enhance:
the overall populations and natural ranges of native species and the
quality and range of wildlife habitats and ecosystems;
internationally important and threatened species, habitats and ecosystems;
species, habitats and natural and managed ecosystems that are characteristic
of local areas;
the biodiversity of natural and semi-natural habitats where this has
been diminished over recent decades.
As a result of the UK Action Plan, the Steering Group prepared detailed
programmes of action to achieve the following objectives:
Develop costed targets for our most threatened and declining species
and habitats;
Establish an effective system for handling the necessary biological data
at both local and national level;
Promote increased public awareness of the importance of biodiversity;
Broaden public involvement in biodiversity issues;
Promote Local Biodiversity Action Plans as a means of implementing the
national Plan.
A total of 391 UK Species Action Plans (SAPs) and 45 UK Habitat Action
Plans (HAPs), each with time limited targets to
measure their success, were drawn up and are now being implemented country-wide. |
| THE
SCOTTISH FRAMEWORK FOR BIODIVERSITY |
The UK
and Scottish parliaments remain committed to the conservation
of our biodiversity through the implementation of the
UK Biodiversity Action
Plan.
The Scottish Biodiversity Group was set up in 1996 to oversee the implementation
of the relevant UK Action Plans in Scotland. Now re-formed as the Scottish
Biodiversity Forum, its membership includes statutory and non-statutory
organisations from a very wide range of sectors. It produces a variety
of publications giving a strategic overview of the habitats and species
under threat in Scotland and provides a central liaison point for everyone
involved in the biodiversity process. As well as working at a national
level, the Forum provides support, guidance and information to the
Local Biodiversity Officers throughout Scotland.
Within Scotland, Wales and England approximately 170 biodiversity initiatives
have started since the Steering Group’s Report was published in 1995.
All 32 local authority areas in Scotland have now committed to preparing
a Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP). Some, such as Clackmannanshire
or Fife are county-based; others, including Highland and Tayside cover
a much wider area. In total there are 25 LBAP Partnerships in Scotland
with 20 Project Officers coordinating the process. Many local authorities
are integrating the process into an existing service such as Planning and
Development or Community Planning. Other partnerships are being co-ordinated
by a Biodiversity Project Officer who
may or may not be local authority based. In some areas the LBAP Officer
is based in different partner’s offices such as North-East Scotland
which is SWT-based, or in the Cairngorms which is based within the Cairngorms
Partnership. So far 11 LBAPs have been published in Scotland; many others
have reached consultative draft stage. |
| LOCAL
ACTION |
The national action required is ambitious. To be implemented successfully
it must be assimilated into the work already being undertaken by a variety
of statutory and non-statutory bodies. National targets need to be translated
into focussed local action, but at the same time consideration must be
given to those threatened or highly valued species and habitats important
to the region but not listed as nationally or internationally important
in the UK BAP. LBAP objectives are therefore to:
Translate national targets for species and habitats specified in the
UK Action Plan into effective action at local level;
Stimulate effective local working partnerships to ensure that programmes
for biodiversity conservation are developed and maintained;
Raise awareness
of the need and responsibilities for biodiversity conservation and enhancement
in the local context;
Identify biodiversity resources and priorities in the local area;
Identify targets for species and habitats important to the local area,
including both the rare and the common, according to local circumstances;
Ensure that delivery mechanisms for conservation and enhancement of biodiversity
resources are promoted and understood by a very wide audience at a local
level;
Provide a local basis for monitoring progress in biodiversity conservation. |
| THE
BENEFITS OF THE LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN |
AWARENESS
The LBAP provides the opportunity to raise public awareness of the area’s
flora and fauna – in a local and global context – and at the same
time emphasises the local character and distinctiveness of Tayside. The LBAP
may not only give a sense of ownership and pride in local surroundings, but may
extend such confidence and increased knowledge to welcome visitors from all over
the world.
QUALITY OF LIFE
By caring for the variety of species and habitats around us our own lives are
enriched by improved surroundings and the knowledge that we can pass on such
natural heritage to future generations. The UK Government has recognised the
importance of the environment by including populations of wild birds as one of
the indicators of the quality of life.
INCLUSIVE INVOLVEMENT
Local support is essential to ensure long-term adoption of the LBAP. People from
a very wide range of sectors - from schoolchildren to business people - will
be encouraged to participate, help implement and develop responsibility for a
variety of local biodiversity projects.
POSITIVE ACTION
Each Habitat and Species Action Plan within the LBAP has a prioritised Actions
Schedule so that clear objectives and targets can be worked towards and monitored.
Such actions may be adopted by the statutory bodies, local authorities and many
non-governmental organisations, as well as individuals.
FUNDING
Local and national governments are recognising the importance of maintaining
and enhancing biodiversity and a broad range of funding opportunities must now
be sought to ensure that biodiversity-related projects are implemented. Partnership
working will encourage a pooling of resources and the best use of existing funding.
INTEGRATION
The LBAP process informs an array of other plans, programmes and strategies,
including statutory development plans, of local priorities. It also converts
broad sustainability objectives into specific actions for wildlife and thus provides
indicators of a wider environmental quality. It links to and forms an integral
part of both the Local Agenda 21 programme and Community Planning. |
“Scientific study shows that just three minutes amongst trees gives a measurable
degree of stress relief - but we don’t need science to tell us that
a walk in the woods or a stroll in the garden works wonders. With GPs prescribing
more than £100 million of anti-stress tablets a year, the
economic benefit of stress relief alone makes Britain’s biodiversity a
bargain.”
Professor Chris Baines |
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| PARTNERSHIP
WORKING |
The UK Biodiversity Steering Group recommended that the production of an
LBAP should take a partnership approach. By co-operating with a wide range
of organisations and individuals the most effective local action can be
agreed, linking in with work currently being carried out by different organisations
and focussing us all to implementing national and locally-set targets.
Partnership working is not necessarily an easy option, but it can bring
huge benefits in avoiding duplication of effort and in providing a superb
network of committed and enthusiastic partners who can make a real long-term
difference. The UK Steering Group recommended that the local authorities
should take on the role of LBAP co-ordination as they are
in touch both with all the statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well
as the general public. Additionally, LBAPs link with the requirements of
the biodiversity component of Local Agenda 21 which increases the opportunity
for wide-scale partnership working. |
| BIODIVERSITY
AUDIT – Priority Species and Species of Conservation
Concern |
Once the Tayside Biodiversity Partnership had been set up, the first step
was to prepare an audit. This was achieved in 1999. From this document
a list of Priority Species and Species of Conservation Concern has been
drawn up. These two levels of national importance are used to indicate
how threatened certain species are–
Priority Species are those occurring (or are known to have occurred) in
Tayside for which either a UK SAP or a UK Species Statement has been published.
These include:
species which are globally threatened;
species which are rapidly declining in the UK – by more than 50%
in the last 25 years. |
| |
There
are 391 UK Priority Species in the UK; 89 of these
are found in Tayside
Species of Conservation
Concern include:
threatened endemic or globally threatened species;
species where the UK has more than 25% of the world or appropriate biogeographical
population;
species where numbers or range have declined by more than 25% in the
last 25 years;
in some instances where the species is found in fewer than 15 ten kilometre
squares in the UK;
species which are listed in the EC Birds or Habitats directives, the
Bern, Bonn or CITES conventions, or under the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981.
There are 1250 Species of Conservation Concern in the UK; 407 of these
are found in Tayside
Species of Local Concern. In each of the HAPs there is a Key Species listing
which shows which species is Priority or of Conservation Concern. A third
category is sometimes used to identify species not found on either the
Priority or Conservation Concern lists. This covers species identified
by local experts as being of ‘local importance’ or ‘under
threat’. This category has yet to be prepared in Tayside. Authors
of the Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) have suggested which species may be
considered in any future lists. Where any species fits into this third
category a blank will appear on the Key Species column, rather than the ‘P’ or ‘C’ code.
The Tayside biodiversity audit was based on the best information available
at the time and a great deal more information will be required in the future
to fully understand the needs of the habitats and species in our care.
As yet no funding is available to set up a Local Biodiversity Record Centre
and we need to consider how best we can manage the information which has
been accumulated. |
| LINKS
WITH OTHER LOCAL PLANS |
It is essential to link the LBAPs’ objectives and targets to other
plans in Tayside. Key processes and policies that could play a role in
biodiversity include:
Local Agenda 21;
Community Planning;
Local Authority land use development plans (Local Plans and Structure
Plans) and development control processes;
Shoreline Management Plans (Angus Council);
Natural Heritage Zones (SNH);
Environmental Management Systems;
Business Management Strategies;
Agri-environment Schemes;
Local site management plans;
Individual business or farming Biodiversity Action Plans;
Neighbouring LBAPs.
Where appropriate Plans should be linked across local authority boundaries
to ensure their message and actions reach the widest range of partners
possible.
The Tayside LBAP area is also bounded by five other LBAP areas – North-East
Scotland, the Cairngorms, Stirling Area, Clackmannanshire, and Fife. Awareness
of initiatives introduced in other areas is very important so that positive
action can be carried out in the most beneficial and co-ordinated way.
Effective links with other LBAP groups, together with the overarching Scottish
Biodiversity Forum, are also a key part of this co-working approach. |
| WIDER
ISSUES OUTWITH THE PLAN |
Our LBAP targets have been informed in part by the UK Action Plans. Our
contribution to the achievement of UK-wide objectives ensures we can be
central players in the biodiversity process whether it is at a local or
national level. There are, however, a number of factors which have a major
impact on our local biodiversity, but which the Plan, by its very nature,
cannot address. But we can highlight such issues and encourage the many
statutory bodies who are considering how best to cope with the wider challenges
of pollution, acid rain, waste, climate change and the European Union Common
Agricultural Policy.
Climate change, for instance, may have a profound effect on our montane
habitats which could virtually disappear if temperatures increase. The
Plan can highlight the issues and show linkages, but it cannot propose
solutions. There are, however, some actions we can all take to tackle the
issues at a local level:
Pollution – dispose of hazardous substances wisely, reduce chemical
use in both home and garden, use biodegradable washing and cleaning products,
refrain from flushing non-biodegradable items down the toilet. Acid Rain – much
of the acid deposition is due to pollution from our power stations and
over-use of the car so we could use less energy, make our houses and offices
as energy-efficient as possible, cycle more or make use of as many forms
of public transport as possible.
Climate Change – as with acid rain, we could look into buying electricity
from renewable resources, use more energy efficient appliances and use
less energy. We can consider our travelling habits – from transport
by air, boat, train or car - at leisure and at work. |
| WHERE
TO NEXT? |
Ten years
have elapsed since the first Earth Summit in Rio de
Janeiro. Some environmental scientists are warning
that it may soon become too late
to repair the damage we have done to nature and although science can give
no definitive answers as yet, the forecasts are becoming increasingly gloomy.
A report in December 2001 from the US National Academy of Science warns
of the possibility of large and abrupt climate change. It suggests that
we may be reaching the end of a cycle of opportunity to address challenges.
If we ignore that chance to act serious consequences may follow.
The Second World Summit on Sustainable Development is taking place in Johannesburg
as the Tayside Biodiversity Action is published. It is therefore a timely
occasion for collective reflection on the progress we have made towards
sustainable development and safeguarding biodiversity so far – and
our commitment to take action where we can – locally. |
| RESOURCES |
The LBAP will become a focus to all the action needed to enhance and improve
our local biodiversity. Partnerships are being forged not only by statutory
bodies and the larger environmental organisations, but also with local
community groups, businesses – large and small – and the
increasingly important tourism and recreation sectors.
Biodiversity creates work, providing employment directly and indirectly
to a large number of people in Tayside. Our countryside is renowned for
its beauty and diversity: it draws visitors from overseas as well as encouraging
residents to get out and about. What could be a better example of biodiversity
conservation than the income generated by people wanting to explore our
hills, woodlands and beaches? By investing in biodiversity we will reap
long term, sustainable rewards. Much of the planned action listed in the
LBAP will be integrated into an organisation’s existing work programme
or it will suggest ways in which a particular organisation can take a lead.
In some cases it will suggest new priorities and give a new
focus to an organisation. In many instances, the actions will even save
money.
To ensure the process got off the ground in Tayside, the major part of
funding for a three-year project was secured from SITA Waste Management
with significant contributions made by the three local authorities and
Scottish Natural Heritage. This allowed the Partnership to appoint a Co-ordinator
for a three year period between 2000 and 2003. In addition, many organisations
and individuals contributed their time and expertise.
The Partnership is aware of the challenge facing it to secure additional
funding to continue its work. Funding the coordination, implementation
and monitoring of all on-going aspects of the Plan is vital as the process
promises to be a sustained and long-term project in itself. New ways of
generating funds and resources will need to be investigated and addressed
to ensure the biodiversity process continues to build upon its successful
beginnings in Tayside. |
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