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

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Executive Summary Biodiversity is a term used to describe the variety and richness of life on earth. It was a term first used at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 where over 150 countries pledged to protect and enhance biological diversity. The UK Biodiversity Partnership Standing Committee is steering the UK Biodiversity Partnership, which to date has produced six volumes of national Species Action Plans (SAPs) and Habitat Action Plans (HAPs). The plans set out very clear objectives and targets. For this process to work effectively it has to be implemented at different levels. Therefore Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) have been developed, and more recently organisations are producing their own BAPs. Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network, or Sustrans’ NCN BAP, is Sustrans’ commitment to biodiversity along its ever-growing network of cycling and walking routes. The Network comprises linear features that act as wildlife corridors linking habitats and species which would otherwise be isolated from each other. Sustrans would like to acknowledge the work of drafting this document by Michael Woods Associates. It is a working document that has been reviewed by Dr Ant Maddock of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of the Biodiversity Reporting and Information Group (BRIG) which advises the UK Biodiversity Partnership and will be reviewed and updated every five years. The Sustrans NCN BAP highlights the organisation’s commitment to promoting sustainable forms of transportation while also protecting and enhancing wildlife and the natural environment. The Sustrans NCN BAP includes Habitat Action Plans for hedgerows, lowland calcareous grasslands and banks and verges and Species Action Plans for bats, badger, dormouse, slow worm and great crested newt. There are also generic action plans for birds and invertebrates. The Sustrans NCN BAP includes information on the recommended survey techniques and the recommended methods for treating invasive species. Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network (December 2007) 6
1. Introduction to biodiversity in the UK 1.1 Biodiversity is a term used to describe the variety and richness of all living things. The term encompasses all life forms, and includes both the genetic variation within species, the interactions between species and the relationships between species and their habitats. Biodiversity is the shortened form of two words "biological" and "diversity." The Convention on Biological Diversity defines biological diversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”. 1.2 The United Kingdom was one of over 100 countries that pledged to develop a national strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of Biological Diversity at the UN Conference on Environment and Development at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The UK Government was also one of the first signatories to the Convention to produce a biodiversity strategy and action plan in January 1994 – ‘Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan’ (HMSO 1994). 1.3 The Government has taken a lead in setting the approach for biodiversity conservation, but in order to succeed, action needs to be taken at all levels and in all sectors of the community. The UK Biodiversity BAP process is being steered by the UK Biodiversity Partnership Standing Committee, which replaced the UK Biodiversity Group (UKBG) in 2002. The Chairs of the four country Biodiversity Groups, representatives of the four country nature conservation agencies and representatives of the NGO community are standing members. Two support groups have been set up to help the Standing Committee. These are the UK Biodiversity Reporting and Information Group (BRIG) and the UK Biodiversity Research Advisory Group (BRAG). 1.4 There are over 150 Local BAPs in use throughout the UK, each with targeted actions. Each LBAP is based on partnerships that identify local priorities and determine the contribution they can make to the delivery of the national species and habitat action plan targets. Often, but not always, LBAPs conform to county boundaries. A healthy natural environment benefits everyone, and biodiversity conservation has an important part to play in this. Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network (December 2007) 7
Page 1 and 2: Biodiversity Action Plan for the Na
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Executive Summary 6 1. Int
Page 5: 12. Mitigation and enhancement meas
Page 9 and 10: Project National Cycle Network Safe
Page 11 and 12: 2.3.5 Map of National Cycle Network
Page 13 and 14: On-going key action plan items and
Page 15 and 16: Association, the British Horse Soci
Page 17 and 18: 7. Links with Local Biodiversity Ac
Page 19 and 20: 9. Habitat Action Plans 9.1 Hedgero
Page 21 and 22: grasses such as tor grass Brachypod
Page 23 and 24: Contribute to the implementation of
Page 25 and 26: Where planting is required in hedge
Page 27 and 28: 10.3 Badger Meles meles 10.3.1 Desc
Page 29 and 30: 10.4.2 Optimum survey time The opti
Page 31 and 32: 10.6 Great crested newt Triturus cr
Page 33 and 34: Loss of food plants for certain spe
Page 35 and 36: 12. Mitigation and enhancement meas
Page 37 and 38: 12.6.2 Some bat species rely exclus
Page 39 and 40: 13.3 Japanese knotweed Fallopia jap
Page 41 and 42: seed. Young plants are easy to pull
Page 43 and 44: 14. Education and understanding 14.
Page 45 and 46: 16. Glossary HAP Habitat Action Pla
Page 47 and 48: Cumbria LA7 7NH Tel: 01539 567953 w
Page 49 and 50: Ways for Wildlife Wildlife, cycle p
Page 51 and 52: © David Hall © Toby Smedley Visit
Page 53: Appendix 2 - Phase 1 and 2 habitat

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