Skip to content

Biodiversity strategy

Biodiversity strategy - full (pdf, 1.6Mb)

The county council has produced a biodiversity strategy, which outlines how it can work with partners to protect and enhance Warwickshire's wildlife.

Within the Biodiversity Strategy, council functions are divided into six strands, and objectives for enhancing biodiversity are laid out for each strand. The six strands are shown below - click each one to see what the council is doing to protect biodiversity in each case.

Consultation process

The public consultation for the Biodiversity Strategy has now closed. Thank you to all those who responded with their comments.

Consultation Response Report (pdf, 886Kb)

Data and information

To meet the NERC Act (2006) requirements, the main biodiversity aim of this strand is to obtain, manage and share environmental data to inform decision-making and monitor changes.

Context

The council has access to, generates and manages a large amount of environmental data. Much of this data can be used to assist in delivering biodiversity outcomes. This can be through identifying existing habitats and species, predicting previously unknown populations, and evaluating how Warwickshire will look in the future. It can be used to assist in enhancement projects, resource mapping, research and monitoring.

Examples

  • The council has an Assets Register , which enables officers to be aware of the environmental data held by the council.
  • The Warwickshire Observatory collates data from a wide range of sources, on social, economic and environmental themes. The annual Quality of Life report brings together a range of indicators to illustrate how residents of the county experience quality of life.
  • The Warwickshire Biological Records Centre holds over 2 million species and habitat records for Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.
  • The Habitat Biodiversity Audit is an ongoing survey of Warwickshire showing habitat types for every single parcel of land in Warwickshire.

Best practice case studies

Case Study 1: Habitat Biodiversity Audit (HBA) (pdf, 137Kb)

Case Study 2: Warwickshire Biological Records Centre (WBRC) (pdf, 238Kb)

> Back to top

Regulation

To meet the NERC Act (2006) requirements, the main biodiversity aim of this strand is to ensure that the council considers biodiversity in exercising all of its statutory regulatory functions.

Context

The NERC Act in October 2006 cemented other commitments to biodiversity contained within a number of European and UK Government Law plus guidance documents. These include:

  • The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)
  • The Protection of Badgers Act (1992)
  • The EC Habitats Directive
  • The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000)
  • Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (2005).

Examples

  • Within the council's Minerals, Waste and Development Control planning department, all applications must show how they will improve biodiversity.
  • The Ecology Unit provides ecological advice for planning applications at district or borough level.
  • The Ecology Unit provides ecological input into all key council strategies and Local Development Frameworks.

Best practice case study

Case Study 1: Planning and Biodiversity (pdf, 85Kb)

> Back to top

Management of our own estate

To meet the NERC Act (2006) requirements, the main biodiversity aim of this strand is to improve the management for biodiversity of land and buildings owned by WCC.

Context

The Council owns and manages a varied estate including buildings, roads, smallholdings and country parks. Some of these are dedicated to biodiversity whilst others are schools or care homes. All have a place for biodiversity.

Some species are protected by European and UK Law and need to be considered in all council operations. This could be bats during cavity wall installation or tree works; and otter habitat in brook re-alignment works. Before any work begins protected species and/or habitats must be considered.

Examples

  • Country Parks manage large area of land for biodiversity.
  • Eco Schools is a national programme implemented at local level to increase environmental protection in schools.
  • The Rural Estates department owns over 60 smallholdings - these have been surveyed to assess their wildlife importance and encourage best management practices.
  • All council buildings have features that biodiversity will use - such as gardens or grounds, ledges for mosses and ferns, stonework for lichens or cavities for bats or birds. These features should be protected.
  • All new council buildings should conform to a recognised environmental standard that has a biodiversity element, such as BREEAM. All new acquisitions should assess biodiversity interests of the site and have a biodiversity management statement to protect and enhance these features.

Best practice case studies

Case Study 1: Myton Pools habitat management (pdf, 101Kb)

Case Study 2: Wildflowers along Barford Bypass (pdf, 599Kb)

> Back to top

Education and learning

To meet the NERC Act (2006) requirements, the main biodiversity aim of this strand is to raise awareness of biodiversity and promote opportunities for formal and informal learning about and understanding of the natural world.

Context

The Council provides many formal and informal opportunities for residents, employees and visitors to experience and learn about the environment they share with wildlife. These can be through Key Stage curriculum within education or through museums and libraries. The delivery mechanisms also vary from structured lessons, guided walks and events to leaflets, Internet and enquiries to officers, be they estate workers, rangers or home-helpers.

Examples

  • Children, Young People and Families department provide resources to deliver Key Stage targets relating to the environment.
  • A Manifesto for Learning Outside the Classroom is being commissioned to promote opportunities for outdoor learning across the county.
  • Warwickshire's libraries are supporting the Big Wild Read and BBC Breathing Places programmes. In conjunction with the Ecology Unit there is information available in all libraries about wildlife events occuring each week in Warwickshire.
  • The Museums Service has a dedicated Natural History area at Market Hall, promoting the county's past and current biodiversity. Regular environmental education events are also run from the museums and a Wlidlife News newsletter is regularly produced listing events and local conservation groups.
  • The Early Years team works in partnership with other local authorities and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to provide Forest Schools throughout the county, which involve taking children from 3 years old out into a woodland area weekly throughout the year.

> Back to top

Community leadership

To meet the NERC Act (2006) requirements, the main biodiversity aim of this strand is to act as an exemplar of best practice, by incorporating biodiversity into relevant strategies and within partnership working.

Context

The Council works in a variety of partnerships affecting biodiversity within Warwickshire, the West Midlands and the Country. It strives to promote, conserve and enhance Warwickshire’s biodiversity within these close-working relationships.

Biodiversity has been included in a number strategies including:

  • Corporate Business Plan
  • Local Area Agreement
  • Climate Change Strategy
  • Procurement Strategy
  • Sustainable Schools Strategy
  • Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan
  • Minerals and Waste Strategies

Each strategy working towards the common goal of considering biodiversity within officer’s day-to-day work or planning future projects.

Examples

  • The council has an influential role on the Local Biodiversity Action Plan steering group and contributes towards meeting the targets of the species and habitat action plans.
  • The 2008/2009 Local Area Agreement has adopted the National Indicator 197 (NI197), which is a biodiversity indicator that all Local Authorities will now be reporting on.
  • The Ecology team plays a vital role on appraising county important Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation in Warwickshire within the Wildlife Sites Partnership.
  • The Ecology Unit and Country Parks work closely with the Police on tackling and preventing wildlife crime.
  • The council is an active committee member of a number of biodiversity related organisations such as the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.
  • WCC is committed to Sustainable Procurement and has adopted the recommendations of the Local Government Sustainable Procurement Strategy 2007.

Best practice case studies

Case Study 1: Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull Local Biodiversity Action Plan (pdf, 708Kb)

> Back to top

Reporting and review

To meet the NERC Act (2006) requirements, the main biodiversity aim of this strand is we will establish and maintain an internal reporting mechanism to inform and report on how WCC is actively progressing biodiversity.

Context

There are a variety of biodiversity indicators within the Local Authority functions from Minerals and Waste Planning to Local Action Plan reporting procedures. With the implementation of the NERC Act these are being reviewed. At the time of writing there are two major consultation documents on monitoring biodiversity across a county and within local authority functions:

  • National Indicator 197 Improve Local Biodiversity – Management of Local Sites
  • Audit Commission: Consultation of Resources Assessment 2008/2009

The council also contributes to other reporting mechanisms and schemes related to motnioring and enhancing biodiversity.

Examples

  • Annual Monitoring Reports (e.g. Minerals & Waste, planning function) - the council reports annually on minerals and wastes sites and their impact on the environment.
  • The council contributes to the Biodiversity Action Reporting Scheme (BARS) to measure progress of meeting Local Biodiversity Action Plan targets.

> Back to top