Biodiversity in Richmondshire
Richmondshire is home to some of the most beautiful areas of
the country, and many of the habitats and species included in
these areas are of great importance.
Maintaining a high quality environment is a key priority for
the Richmondshire Local Strategic Partnership, Richmondshire
District Council and its key partners. Working together they have
produced a Richmondshire Biodiversity Action Plan
(BAP) (pdf 3.22mb) which sets out how they are
going to focus on conservation issues at a local level.
What is Biodiversity?
The term 'biodiversity' was introduced at the Rio Earth Summit
in 1992. It means the variety of all life and natural
processes on earth. It is vital to life and enables us to exist on
earth. It provides our air, water, food, medicine and
materials. These are all linked together in a complex web, with
every plant and animal having its own small part to play.
Why conserve Biodiversity?
Human activity means that the world is losing biodiversity at
an ever-increasing rate. In the UK, loses have rapidly increased
over the last fifty years, with many more species and habitats in
danger of disappearing. We have a responsibility to look after our
planet, but the present rate of development is threatening the rich
natural resources that we have taken for granted.
What is a Biodiversity Action Plan?
The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is the UK's initiative to
maintain and enhance biodiversity. This has led to the
encouragement of local BAPs, which identify UK and local priority
species and habitats in an area, and determine ways to conserve and
increase their numbers.
Biodiversity Action Plans are not a statutory requirement of
Local Authorities, but the Richmondshire Community Strategy aims to
improve the quality of life in the district and protecting its
biodiversity is one way to help achieve this.
Richmondshire Biodiversity Action Plan
The Richmondshire BAP was launched in August 2005. It contains
12 Habitat Action Plans and 5 Species Action Plans which identify
specific and postive actions that should be undertaken to conserve
our district's biodiversity.
The BAP also includes a number of guidance notes for a wide
range of people, including gardeners and farmers, which provide
useful hints and tips on how you can help to make a contribution
towards maintaining the biodiversity of Richmondshire.
A summary leaflet
of the BAP (pdf 1.07mb) is also available.
The next steps...
The Richmondshire Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group
consists of a wide range of people, from local wildlife
organisations to national bodies and individual farmers and
landowners. The partners of the Group will continue working to
implement the BAP's actions and targets.
The progress of the BAP is monitored twice yearly. For the
latest action status and progress report, see BAP Progress
Report April 2008 (excel 15.5kb).
Further information
If you would like further information on how you can help, or
would like to discuss the content of the Biodiversity Action Plan,
please contact:
Matthew Millington
Biodiversity Officer
North Yorkshire County Council
Tel: 01609 533240
Sites of Importance for Nature
Conservation
Richmondshire has a number of local sites which are identified
as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs). For
more information on SINCs, please go to http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3089
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Last updated:
01 April 2009
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