Herefordshire Biodiversity Partnership

Regional Information

Biodiversity in the West Midlands

There are six strategic LBAP’s across the West Midlands and these include:

• Shropshire
• Staffordshire
• Herefordshire
• Worcestershire
• Warwickshire
• Birmingham & Black Country

West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership

 The Partnership is:

• The focal point for determining the regional Biodiversity vision, strategy and delivery priorities for the region.
• The link between national and local Biodiversity Strategy and activity, and is the prime conduit for translating the England Biodiversity Strategy into regional policy.
• An influential, independent body which engages with and is supported by all the key agencies in the region whose activities significantly impinge on biodiversity.
• Supported by and supports the 6 local Biodiversity Partnerships across the region.
• Ensures that regional policies and plans take account of biodiversity policies and priorities.
• Seeks to ensure that the evidence needed to develop and influence regional policy is in place.

The West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership’s fundamental purpose is to promote and co-ordinate action to achieve these complementary visions within the Region.

Regional level action for biodiversity is identified in the West Midland Regional Assembly and West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership’s Regional Biodiversity Strategy.  This is supported by an annual delivery plan which sets out the programme of work being delivered by the Regional Partnership.

Terms of reference.

• The West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership works with reference to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the England Biodiversity Strategy, Local Biodiversity Action Plans and the principles of Sustainable Development to:
• Identify, promote and regularly review regional biodiversity priorities.
• Work with Local Biodiversity Partnerships and other organisations to develop, monitor and promote regional biodiversity targets.
• Promote understanding and support for biodiversity by key regional sectors and organisations.
• Ensure that biodiversity is reflected as a key test of sustainable development within regional decision-making.

It achieves this by:

• Working together to develop an effective partnership of regional organisations.
• Working with the family of LBAP partnerships to ensure that a set of agreed SMART Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) targets inform and reflect regional priorities and cumulatively constitute the region’s contribution to the England Biodiversity Strategy.
• Working with regional and local partners to identify how the region’s 2015 biodiversity targets will be delivered.
• Providing strategic advice to the WM Regional Assembly, Advantage West Midlands and the Government Office for the West Midlands on regional progress in delivering the region’s biodiversity targets and priorities.
• Contributing to regional plans, policies and programmes to promote national, regional and local biodiversity objectives within regional policies and programmes.
• Promoting the integration of biodiversity objectives with social and economic priorities for the benefit of people and wildlife.
• Acting as a regional focus for biodiversity expertise and advice, including provision of strategic advice and guidance on biodiversity to regional organisations.
• Helping to support and co-ordinate activities by LBAP partnerships and Local Record Centres that contributes to delivery of regional biodiversity strategy.

The Steering Group.

The Steering Group should include representatives from key regional agencies and from LBAPs. It will be responsible for the following:

• WMBP Budget.
• WMBP Delivery Plan.
• Coordinator work programme.
• Work undertaken by sub-groups/T&F groups.
• Publication of reports/publications.
• Web site contents and publicity material.
• Appointment of consultants.
• Arrangements of Partnership Meetings.