Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network ... - Sustrans

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3. Biodiversity commitment 3.1 Sustrans aims to encourage people to choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. The Network is a positive demonstration of the UK’s commitment to sustainability. 3.2 A widely used and accepted international definition of sustainable development is: “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” 1 . Sustrans considers that a policy of continuous reduction in vehicular travel is central to this goal and should be an objective of all environmental groups and organisations. This, in turn, helps the Government fulfil its commitments under the Rio Convention and really does enable people to ‘Think globally, act locally’. 3.3 Reflecting this commitment to act locally, Sustrans seeks to minimise the impacts on wildlife and its habitats during expansion of the National Cycle Network. Sustrans recognises the importance of its traffic-free paths as wildlife habitats and corridors to help reduce isolation and fragmentation. They also offer potential for educating the public about local wildlife and geology. In constructing and managing paths and routes for which it is responsible, Sustrans will aspire to do this with high biodiversity and geological gain as an objective, using the framework provided by the Biodiversity Action Plan. 3.4 In June 2007 a new list of UK priorities was identified, covering 65 habitats and 1149 species. By early 2008 all of these priority habitats and species will have national action plans. The LBAPs identify local priorities and determine the contribution they will make to the delivery of the national targets contained in the UK BAP. As the Sustrans Network covers the whole of the UK, it will need to consider a total of 162 Local Biodiversity Action Plans. Therefore partnerships will play a vital part in the successful implementation of the Sustrans BAP. 3.5 The National Cycle Network can be found throughout the UK. As the Network consists of a series of linear features, the actions set out in the habitat and species action plans reflect this. 4. Key activities and their impact on biodiversity Activity Encourage shift from private car use to cycling 15% of routes of National Cycle Network will require new-build tracks while other linear features with no current public use (but often with wildlife value) will require conversion Impact Reduce negative environmental impacts of road traffic (air pollution, health and safety, threats to wildlife) Disturbance to local wildlife and limited direct loss of habitat (addressed below) 1 World Commission on Environment and Development’s (the Brundtland Commission) report Our Common Future (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987) Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network (December 2007) 12
On-going key action plan items and how these make a positive contribution Proposed Action Continue liaison with conservation organisations (Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage & Environment Heritage Service Northern Ireland) and expertise, i.e. retain ecological consultant to provide advice Action to minimise impact of building new cycle routes: Contribution to biodiversity Increase awareness and knowledge of biodiversity and raise environmental standards Ecological surveys of areas of proposed paths (e.g. those running through/close to SSSIs etc.) Reduce threats and impacts to habitats and species Sensitive siting of new routes Contracts to include environmental responsibilities (general as well as mitigation of construction impacts) Improve environmental performance of contractors Assess the use of recycled or local materials as far as appropriate in construction Reduce impacts on biodiversity from extraction & supply of natural resources Use of tarmac as a path surface Provides a long lasting smooth surface and reduces detrimental impacts of repeated repairs which can affect adjacent habitats and increase extraction Appropriate screening of cycle routes at sensitive points taking into account the need for attractive and interesting views Work to enhance/protect biodiversity along National Cycle Network routes: Produce management plans for specific routes (those passing through sensitive areas (e.g. SSSIs) or those used by priority species) Conserve and enhance biodiversity Sensitive maintenance of routes e.g. wildlife friendly mowing regimes, enhancement of on-site ditches for wildlife, maintaining arboreal routes and enhancing hedgerows, etc. Support Rangers’ maintenance work on routes (e.g. training by retained ecological expert, articles on enhancing routes for wildlife in the Ranger newsletter, etc.); work with local wildlife trusts and other groups Control invasive alien species such as Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam Provide, where possible, wildlife and/or geological interpretation of interesting features Promote biodiversity awareness and knowledge to improve management of routes Promote biodiversity awareness and appreciation of nature by users of paths Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network (December 2007) 13
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