Local Authorities

Wales is fortunate to have almost 100% coverage of biodiversity officers in each local authority and national park. Together with the county ecologist, the biodiversity officer provides biodiversity guidance to internal staff and answers external queries relating to wildlife and habitats. Promoting awareness and delivery of biodiversity action in partnership with a host of organisations, each biodiversity officer is an expert on their local patch, looking out for wildlife and seeking new opportunities to enhance our natural heritage for wildlife and for people. Bringing all this information together and channelling the enthusiasm of all partners allows the local partnership to conduct a biodiversity audit where actions can be monitored and progress towards targets tracked. The resultant Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) is usually formally adopted by the local authority or national park and each local authority and national park in Wales has a local biodiversity action plan (LBAP).

Click here to contact your LBAP officer

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Local Biodiversity Action Plans in Wales

LBAPS

The 1995 UK BAP Steering Group Report emphasised the importance of Local Biodiversity Action Plans to complement the national strategy. The UKBG’s Local Issues Advisory Group (LIAG), working with the Local Agenda 21 Steering Group, prepared 5 guidance notes in 1997 to advise local players. They were distributed to all local authorities throughout the UK. Following publication of the LIAG guidance notes, the task of developing and encouraging LBAPs passed to the Country Groups.

Functions of Local Biodiversity Action Plans (from LIAG Guidance note 1):

• To ensure that national targets for species and habitats, as specified in the UK Action Plan,are translated into effective action at the local level.

• To identify targets for species and habitats appropriate to the local area, and reflecting the values of people locally.

• To develop effective local partnerships to ensure that programmes for biodiversity conservation are maintained in the long-term

• To raise awareness of the need for biodiversity conservation in the local context.

• To ensure that opportunities for conservation and enhancement of the whole biodiversity resource are fully considered.

• To provide a basis for monitoring progress in biodiversity conservation at both local and national level.