Biodiversity Action Plans

Biodiversity (an amalgamation of the words Biological Diversity) is the term used to describe the variety of all life on earth; from all species of plants, animals and other forms of life, to the habitats and complex ecosystems of which they are a part.

The term ‘biodiversity’ was brought into prominence following the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, where more than 150 heads of Government, including our own, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD required these governments to take a wide range of actions to halt and, if possible reverse, the universal decline of biodiversity. The UK government responded to this by producing a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). The UK BAP incorporates plans for the protection, enhancement and expansion of biodiversity in the UK, concentrating on threatened or declining natural habitats and species. More information can be found on the UK BAP website

Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) enable the UK BAP priorities to be translated to a local level, while also including species and habitats that are of a local, but not national importance and thus do not appear on the UK BAP. LBAPs aim to provide a clear focus for conservation in their local area, prioritising future action and setting targets against which progress can be measured. Species and habitats of particular concern have their own Species Action Plan (SAP), or Habitat Action Plan (HAP) within the LBAP. These are written by bringing together people with a local interest in the habitat or species, including conservation organisations and local interest groups such as landowners or anglers. LBAPs therefore work on a local partnership basis.

Each target and action within a BAP is SMART - that is to say Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reportable, and Time-bound. Every action is assigned someone who has agreed to be responsible for carrying it out and ensuring the relevant target is met (within a specific time frame), so collectively we can make clearly measurable progress. In this way, BAPs are a way of ensuring that together we achieve more than the sum of our separate conservation efforts. More pragmatically, if a species or habitat features in the BAP it is more likely to attract funding for its conservation.

In the UK over 100 BAPs have now been produced on a wide range of geographical scales. This reflects the fact that wildlife priorities will differ significantly from one area to another. In this county, Swindon, Wiltshire, the Cotswold Water Park, Centre Parcs, Wessex Water, the New Forest National Park Authority, and British Waterways all have their own BAPs. Go to the Wiltshire Bioportal to find out more on the BAPs for Wiltshire, Swindon and the Cotswold Water Park.

Wiltshire BAP

The Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan was first produced in 2002, and revised in 2007-8. Further details and the Wiltshire BAP 2008, are available from the Wiltshire BAP website or by contacting Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. The Wiltshire BAP is coordinated by staff at the Trust and its coordination is funded by Natural England, Wiltshire Council and the Trust.

Swindon BAP

The Swindon Biodiversity Action Plan was produced in 2005 in recognition that the issues affecting wildlife in Swindon are very different to those affecting wildlife in Wiltshire as a whole, and because Swindon is now a Unitary Authority. The Swindon BAP is currently under review, and more information can be found on the Swindon BAP website. Staff based at the Trust’s Swindon office coordinate the Swindon BAP, and Swindon Borough Council and Natural England fund its coordination.