Highland Biodiversity - Biodiversity - Biodiversity Action Planning

Highland Biodiversity - The Variety of Life

Biodiversity

[Biodiversity: What is Biodiversity? | The Biodiversity of Highland | Biodiversity Action Planning]

Biodiversity Action Planning

In the UK, Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) and Species Action Plans (SAPs) have been produced for a number of national priority habitats and species, many of which occur in Highland. To help deliver these national plans at a local level, the Government has encouraged the formation of Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs), which tend to be drawn up for local authority areas by a partnership of representatives from councils, agencies and interest groups.

In Highland, LBAPs have been produced for Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty (East), Wester Ross, Skye & Lochalsh, Lochaber, and Inverness & Nairn. Badenoch & Strathspey is covered by the Cairngorms LBAP, which is being taken forward by the National Park Authority. The purpose of these plans is to raise awareness of local biodiversity, identify priority habitats and species, and suggest projects and actions that could be undertaken by individuals, communities & agencies in the next five to ten years.

In addition, a Highland Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was produced in 2006 to draw together the key strategic issues that emerged from the eight LBAPs and provide a work programme for the Highland Biodiversity Partnership. The Highland BAP was revised and underwent a consultation process in 2009 to provide an update on progress and agree the priorities for the next three year period. The latest Highland BAP (2010 – 2012) was launched at the Highland Biodiversity Forum event in Inverness in March 2010.

Local Biodiversity Action Plans are non-statutory, i.e. they are not legally binding. However, successive governments are placing increased emphasis on biodiversity and related issues, as can be seen by the recently published Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act. It is widely accepted that such plans will become more and more important in the targeting of resources and setting of priorities for the natural heritage.