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Foreword
It’s now eight years since the formation
of the London Biodiversity Partnership. We have a comprehensive
Audit of London’s 19 key habitats and over 300 species in place,
and an ambitious work programme. Including new additions this
year, we now have a portfolio of action plans for 11 habitats,
12 species, and 8 generic issues, that all require delivery
and in time, we aim to produce action plans for the full range
of habitats included in the Audit.
Considerable progress has already been made. London organisations
and individuals from a range of sectors are working together
to implement major projects on the ground, and contribute to
local, regional and national targets. We have received national
recognition for our work for example where Acton Plan partners
have used innovative approaches to achieving conservation through
regeneration or health agendas and the Mayor recognises the
Partnership as the major delivery mechanism for his Biodiversity
Strategy.
However, the review of our first round of Action Plans has shown
that in many areas the Partnership could be more effective.
Despite our efforts, wildlife in London still faces major challenges
from development, lack of management, lack of awareness and
so on and in some ways our work is still beginning.
Delivering under this ambitious portfolio will require the support
of a well-resourced, dedicated secretariat for the Partnership,
which our Business Plan aims to achieve. The framework for further
action is now in place, with the mechanisms to secure further
funding and other resources. I look forward to working with
you to make it happen.
James Farrell
Chair, London Biodiversity Partnership Project Board, May 2004
Introduction
1. Why conserve 'biodiversity'?
Biodiversity, or biological diversity,
is the ‘variety of life’ · the myriad plant and animal species
and the range of habitats in which they live. It is the term
for the variety of life and the natural processes of which living
things are a part. This includes the living organisms and the
genetic differences between them and the communities in which
they occur.
Unless we reverse current declines in biodiversity, future generations
will inherit an impoverished world. We are dependent upon the
global biological resource for survival - The air we breathe,
the water we drink and the food we eat ultimately depend upon
natural processes. Natural processes provide ‘services’ humans
could not replace: flood control, for example. Genetic information
from wild species provides an invaluable resource for food and
medicine. Changes in species numbers and habitat quality can
provide an indicator of environmental change, giving us early
warning of harm or damage to the natural environment. Some would
argue that we have a moral duty to avoid causing damage to habitats
and the extinction of species, which may have evolved over thousands
or millions of years. Biodiversity is part of our natural heritage
and provides the backdrop to our everyday lives.
It’s now eight years since the formation of the London Biodiversity
Partnership. We have produced a comprehensive Audit of London’s
19 key habitats and have provided information on over 300 species.
We now have a portfolio of action plans for 11 habitats, 12
species, and 8 generic issues requiring delivery. It is an ambitious
work programme and in time, we aim to produce action plans for
the full range of habitats included in the Audit.
Considerable progress has already been made. London organisations
and individuals from a range of sectors are working together
to implement projects on the ground. Whether large or small
scale, all these projects contribute to local, regional and
national targets. We have received national recognition for
our work for example where Action Plan partners have used
innovative approaches to achieving conservation through regeneration
or health agendas and the London Mayor recognises the Partnership
as the major delivery mechanism for his Biodiversity Strategy.
However, the review of our first round of Action Plans has shown
that in many areas the Partnership could be more effective.
Despite our efforts, wildlife in London still faces major challenges
from the demands of a growing and more compact city; lack of
resources to manage sites and habitats, and lack of awareness
of the value of conserving biodiversity in an urban environment.
In some ways our work is just beginning.
Delivering this ambitious portfolio will require the support
of a well-resourced, dedicated secretariat for the Partnership,
which our Business Plan aims to achieve. The framework for further
action is now in place, with the mechanisms to secure further
funding and other resources. I look forward to working with
you to make it happen.
2. The London Biodiversity Partnership
The London Biodiversity Partnership,
established in 1996, aims to conserve the capital's priority
habitats and species for their own sake, and for the benefit
of Londoners. The Partnership works by identifying what action
is needed, through consensus among a wide range of people and
organisations. Partners work together to take this action forwards
- pooling resources, applying for funding together, delivering
work through their own organisations and activities. By bringing
partners on board from sectors not traditionally thought of
as relevant to conservation, the Partnership aims to broaden
the impact of its work, encouraging others to modify their activities
so that they benefit biodiversity.
Working in this way can be very effective, and differs from
other approaches such as campaigning and lobbying. However,
it is still a new approach, and takes time to work. A number
of elements are needed if we are to be more effective in conserving
biodiversity: a reliable core of long term funding for the Partnership;
the ability to bring in significant project funds for partners;
and success in engaging with the sectors that have a major impact
on biodiversity, particularly development, planning and land
management. A business plan to be published in 2004 will identify
how the Partnership can secure these needs.
Origins of the London Biodiversity Action Plan
The origin of London Biodiversity Action Plan can be traced
back to the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Key
environmental issues requiring international action were addressed
and over 150 national governments, including the UK, signed
the Convention on Biological Diversity as a commitment to protecting
and promoting biodiversity.
The UK Government responded by publishing Biodiversity:
The UK Action Plan in 1994 and establishing the UK Biodiversity
Action Plan Steering Group, set up to implement further action.
As a stimulus to government, the voluntary nature conservation
sector published Biodiversity Challenge, which outlined
their agenda for action.
The UK Steering Group Report was published in 1995
and set out the first set of country-wide action plans for habitats
and species. Although the Report provides the national framework
for biodiversity conservation, it also emphasises the importance
of local action through Local Biodiversity Action Plans.
Today there are 162 Local Biodiversity Action Plans in England,
Scotland and Wales and they are being set up in Northern Ireland.
Each Plan is produced and implemented through a partnership,
which identifies local priorities and determines the contribution
they can make to the delivery of the national Species and Habitat
Action Plan targets.
DEFRA have published a new Biodiversity Strategy for England,
Working with the grain of nature, which puts the work
of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan in a strategic context. The
Strategy recognises the good work of the London Biodiversity
Partnership, and its role in contributing to the delivery of
the Urban Areas section in particular. Further details are available
on www.ukbap.org.uk
3. From Audit
to Action
In January 2000 the London Biodiversity
Partnership published Volume 1 of the London Biodiversity Action
Plan, 'The Audit', which takes stock of London's priority habitats
and species, and provides an assessment of their status, threats
and needs. The one remaining Audit, on London's rivers and streams,
is published alongside this revised volume.
'Our Green Capital' was also published in 2000, as a follow
on to Capital Assets (1996), and as a companion to The Audit
and introduction to the Partnership's work.
The first 'round' of action plans was published in 2001, as
Volume 2 of the London Biodiversity Action Plan - 'The Action'.
A second round of action plans was added in 2002, and a third
in 2004. The Partnership now manages the implementation of 31
Action Plans altogether: 11 habitats, 12 species, and 8 Generic
Action Plans covering cross-cutting issues. There are also Statements
for the house martin, 'humble bumble' and London's exotic flora.
A statement on private gardens published in 2000 has been superseded
by the Private Gardens Habitat Action Plan (2002).
The process from audit to action has involved a wide range of
individuals and organisations, and the list of those involved
in the Partnership has grown as the action plans have begun
to be implemented, new ones written and the first round revised.
It is now three years since the publication of London's first
biodiversity action plans, and the first round of plans has
been revised accordingly. This has enabled us to take stock
of progress, as reported in our Annual Reports, take on new
priority action, bring other partners on board, and correct
errors. The review process is detailed below.
Why these Action Plans?
The Audit identified 20 habitat or land use types that cover
the majority of land in the capital. Each of these habitats
merits an Action Plan. After the publication of Round 3 (see
above), 8 habitats remain without Action Plans (Open landscapes
with ancient/old trees; Grassland, meadows and pasture; Grazing
marsh and floodplain grassland; Marshland; Ponds, lakes and
reservoirs; Railway linesides; Farmland; Hedgerows).
This approach targets habitat-based conservation, rather than
focusing on producing documents for every important species,
as has been the trend in action plans produced at the UK level.
These habitats can be promoted by 'flagship' species - species
of animals and plants associated with the habitat that will
generate interest among the public.
In general, Species Action Plans have been written for those
species whose needs cannot be covered by an individual Habitat
Action Plan. However, there are exceptions, mainly where there
were seen to be advantages to the profile a stand-alone plan
can generate.
The Statements are scene-setting documents that provide background,
suggest ways forward, stimulate discussion, and act as the Partnership's
'policy' on particular issues, such as exotic flora.
It is recognised that London's buildings and other structures
have potential for the creation of biodiversity habitat, nesting
and roosting opportunities and so on. Some Action Plans have
been taking forwards work in this area through a direct link
to their species or habitat - in particular the Black Redstart
Species Action Plan and the Wasteland Habitat Action Plan. As
part of the review process, all action plans will include actions
relevant to these issues, and a Built Structures Generic Action
Plan is incorporated here as part of the first review in 2004.
4. Implementation
and monitoring
The role of Leads and other partners
Each Action Plan has a Lead, whose contact details can be found
at the end of the plans. Their role is to co-ordinate the work
of the individual partners, and ensure that implementation is
recorded and monitored. Action Plan Leads each produce an annual
monitoring report (see below).In addition, each action within
the Action Plans has a lead partner. The role of these partners
is similar to the Action Plan Leads - and it should be pointed
out that the lead will not necessarily be solely responsible
for undertaking the action by themselves. The 'other partners'
identified in the actions are some of the implementers, but
there will be may organisations not involved in the process
of putting the plans together that are needed on board.
Organisations identified as lead or other partner are only listed
next to actions if they have agreed to be. Therefore, the Action
Plans are not a wish list of people who should be involved,
but are not aware yet, and the process enables organisations
to integrate the relevant actions into their own work programmes.
The role of Action Plan Working Groups
Some of the Action Plans have recognised the need to set up
a working group specific to that habitat or species. Working
groups have proved to be an excellent medium for Lead Partners
to co-ordinate implementation, identify new threats and opportunities
for their plans and to draw in new members with the required
expertise.
The initial composition of the working groups is indicated in
the plans, but further members may be needed and interested
organisations are encouraged to contact the Lead Partner for
the relevant plan.
Monitoring and review
Progress on actions is monitored on standard forms by Action
Plan leads, by collating reports from their partners. This information
is collated annually by the Project Officer, and reported to
the partners and the public every financial year in an Annual
Report.
A national biodiversity action plan reporting database, BARS,
is due to be ready in 2004. London has been involved in the
trials. BARS will hold information on all UK national, regional
and local partnership actions and progress. It will be useful
to the Partnership in producing progress reports, and measuring
our contribution to the delivery of relevant national Biodiversity
Action Plans.
The Partnership is committed to reviewing action plans when
they are 3 years old. In 2004, for example, we are publishing
revised action plans from Round 1, first released in 2001. These
reviews assess whether the objectives, targets and actions are
still relevant (in light of progress made, or new developments),
and add new actions that may have arisen from new or existing
partners. The revised plans will be published on www.lbp.org.uk.
The Review process has involved all members of the action plan
working groups, co-ordinated by the Partnership's Habitats,
Species and Data Working Group. The Generic Action Plans were
revised in consultation with all Action Plan Leads, and London's
boroughs.
The species section of The Audit was revised in 2002, and published
on the website. A review of the habitat Audit is planned.
| Timetable |
| Action Plans |
|
Publish |
Review |
| Round 1 |
4 Habitats, 10 Species, 7 Generic |
2001 |
2004, 2007 |
| Round 2 |
6 Habitats, 2 Species |
2002 |
2005, 2008 |
| Round 3 |
1 Habitat, 1 Audit, 1 Generic |
2004 |
2007, 2010 |
Details of all action plans, audits,
events, meetings and partners links are available at www.lbp.org.uk
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