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'Natural Partners' a new report from the England Biodiversity Group, celebrates the achievements of Local Biodiversity Partnerships. The report highlights the benefits of local action for biodiversity (the rich variety of life) and how it benefits people, as well as wildlife.
Over 100 local partnerships have
been formed throughout England and involve a broad range of partners; from local
authorities, conservation agencies and charities, to landowners, educational
institutes and businesses. A wide variety of volunteers and community groups
are also engaged in putting the plans into action and 'Natural Partners' highlights
local success stories.
In the Cheshire region, the Cheshire region Biodiversity Partnership and Steering Group are responsible for driving forward the Biodiversity Action Planning process in Cheshire, Warrington, Wirral, Halton, Stockport, Thameside and Trafford.
The LBAP for the Cheshire region, popularly known as Countdown, was first produced in 1997. Since then it has been updated annually and this year 2,500 copies on CD-ROM will be distributed locally, nationally and internationally. Countdown now includes action plans for 17 habitats and 60 species.
There is a Countdown Website which you can visit at www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk which includes all the latest biodiversity news in the region as well as useful contacts.
The Cheshire region Biodiversity Partnership has a new logo, courtesy of Chester based marketing and design company, Promote Environment, who designed the logo free of charge for the Partnership. This will be used on all promotional material for the Countdown LBAP, including the Website and new CD for 2003.
The current rotating Chair of the Cheshire region Biodiversity Partnership and Steering Group, Dr Anne Brenchley of English Nature,'s North West Team commented on the importance of Local Biodiversity Partnerships as follows: "It is thanks to the energy and commitment of partners and the innovative activity at a local level that we can work towards halting and reversing wildlife losses in the north west".
Barn owls, black poplars, water voles, tree sparrows, bluebells, fritillaries, the house sparrow - not to mention people - are reaping the rewards from the work of Local Biodiversity Partnerships. The partnerships have set targets for conserving and restoring declining wildlife and natural places. Locally organised surveys and monitoring, for example for the stag beetle and brown hare, provide a measure of the success of local action and its contribution to achieving national biodiversity targets.
Local Action By Local People
The water vole is a widespread but threatened UK BAP priority species. Local partnerships have initiated action across England, with surveys taking place in 34 counties and 30 local projects to restore the water voles' homes, advise landowners and train volunteer surveyors. Additionally, locally instigated projects, such as the Native Black Poplar LBAP Action Group in the Cheshire region, are doubling the population of the endangered native black poplar, by co-ordinating the efforts of tree nurseries run by colleges, garden centres and primary schools in growing 6,000 black poplar seedlings, and landowners in planting these out.
The partnerships actively seek wide involvement and provide all sorts of opportunities for local organisations and individuals to become involved with biodiversity, such as school projects; advice to farmers; information on wildlife-friendly gardening and summer schools for teenagers.
"English Nature is committed to a strong local biodiversity partnership. Local action is key to the achievement of national Biodiversity Action Plan targets for priority species and habitats. We welcome this report, which we hope will encourage greater involvement, attracting new partners to help build on successes to date." Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of English Nature.
Dr Simon Lyster, Director General of The Wildlife Trusts, said: "Local Biodiversity Action Plans are a key mechanism for enabling closer working with partners locally, driving forward practical action for wildlife and helping us measure our achievements."
In addition to recovering our lost and dwindling wildlife, Local Biodiversity Partnerships work towards a healthy natural environment that is an essential part of the quality of life of local communities. Their activity contributes to the economic and social prosperity, as well as environmental and the general wellbeing of the local community.
Local examples highlighted in 'Natural
Partners' from the north west include:
· The Cheshire region Countdown Programme's successful black poplar project.
· Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan's launch
More local case studies from LBAP
partnerships will be published at www.ukbap.org.uk
in April 2003.
For further information please contact Chris Mahon, Cheshire Wildlife Trust
on 07980 912164 or Charlotte Gault, England Local Biodiversity Action Facilitator,
The Wildlife Trusts on 01636 670092.
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