Herefordshire Biodiversity Partnership

Background to the Process

International

The biodiversity planning process originates from the Rio 'Earth Summit', where the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity committed signatories, including the UK government, to produce plans for the conservation of biological diversity in their countries. Two of the agreements that resulted from the summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity and Local Agenda 21, have acted as catalysts for incorporating concepts of biological conservation and sustainable development, respectively, at all levels of government and policy making.

Signing the Biodiversity Convention committed the UK to 'rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of threatened species, inter alia, through the development and implementation of plans.'

Also in 1992, member states of the European Community (EC) signed up to the EC Habitats and Species Directive. The directive committed member states to the conservation of biodiversity through measures to maintain or restore natural habitats and wild species at a favourable conservation status (as defined in the directive), through both site and species protection objectives. The government has committed to implement elements of this directive through the biodiversity planning process.

National

As part of the government response to the commitment made at Rio, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan was published in 1994, and the UK Biodiversity Steering Group set up to make further proposals to the Government.

The goal of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan was identified as: 'To conserve and enhance biological diversity within the UK and to contribute to the conservation of global biodiversity through all appropriate mechanisms.'

In 1995 'Biodiversity: the UK Steering Group Report' was produced, setting out guidelines for action to conserve biodiversity, including lists of priority habitats and species of conservation concern, costed action plans for 14 key habitats and 116 key species, and 37 habitat statements. A further 286 species action plans and 24 habitat action plans have been drawn up since and the final volumes were published during 1999.

This report included recommendations to produce local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) - the purpose of which is defined in local guidance notes as to 'focus resources to conserve and enhance biodiversity by means of local partnerships, taking account of both local distinctiveness and local and national priorities.' The Government responded in May 1996, welcoming the proposals.