Progress with Biodiversity
(by Ken Butler)In 1992 the
government of the day signed the Convention on Biological Diversity, which
was one of a package of outcomes from the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro.
The government was quick off the mark with its own response to Article 6
of the Convention, which was to publish in January 1994 the UK
Biodiversity Action Plan - known as the UKBAP for short.
The Earth Summit recognised that the
earth was losing biological species at a fast rate as a result of human
activity. Action at all levels, from international co-operation level to
local community level, was needed to help species to survive. It also
needs co-operation between various government agencies, support and help
from non-government organisations, academics and help from local
communities.
The UK-level plan to respond to the
requirements now includes:
· proposals to monitor 1252 biological species;
· the production of action plans for 116 species and 14 habitats - later
expanded to 391 species and 45
habitats;
· the requirement to have action plans at lower levels, right down to
community level;
· Help with the format and contents of local action plans;
· Improving the quality and accessibility of data and biological
recording, including a national species
database and local record
centres;
· Over 80 proposals to increase public awareness and foster education and
training in biodiversity.
Responsibility for Biodiversity was
devolved to Scotland and down to Highland Council. Highland Council
prepared an Action Plan in January 2002.
Currently the
Caithness
BAP is being written by Highland Council with support from a
Biodiversity Group of local people. I represent the Field Club on that
group. The main features of the plan are:
· the county is divided into six
habitats which correspond to the national list of habitats - they are:
-
sea & coast
-
river, loch & wetland
-
farm & croft
-
forest & woodland
-
bog, moor & hill
-
town & village
· for each habitat there is a list of rare, scarce or threatened species
that need to be specifically
considered;
· for each habitat the environmental issues and threats are discussed;
· for each habitat there are proposals for action to make things better;
these are translated into specific
action plans where possible;
· local "know your own patch" events are being organised to inform local
people about the habitats
around them and to recruit local action to improve things. |