The London biodiversity action planning process, whilst ambitious and aspirational, should be based on the achievable. Although much can be done to implement biodiversity action by working within existing and shared resources, there is no doubt that many individual actions will require additional, external funding.

Funding sources may include programmes for environmental improvement that are already established in London. For example, there are various schemes based on environmental improvements through good agricultural practice which can deliver biodiversity benefits. However, there may be the need for some of these programmes to give greater weight to urban habitats in order to be applicable to a wider range of action.

Many infrastructure and regeneration initiatives take place in London and in general, these have yet to recognise the links between biodiversity conservation and securing sustainable communities. The London Biodiversity Action Plan needs to be taken into account in these initiatives and resources should be devoted to the programme of action identified by the Partnership.

A strategy is required to set out a framework that prioritises actions that need external funding. This strategy should propose ways of increasing funding availability through current and new agencies, as well as sponsorship and partnership. It will require regular review as new sources of funding become available and new actions plans are produced.

The Partnership expects that this strategic approach will help to enable projects in many parts of London, thereby also increasing the resources available to local biodiversity partnerships.