Planning Policy Wales - Brecon Beacons National Park

5.2 Caring for biodiversity 3 4 5 6
5.2.1 The United Kingdom has ratified the Biodiversity Convention 7 , which requires that the
components of the Earth’s biological diversity should be used in ways which do not lead to their
decline. The commitments contained in the Convention are reflected in the Welsh Ministers’
Sustainable Development Scheme and in other policies and programmes.
5.2.2 The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 8 places a duty on every public authority,
in exercising its functions, to have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of
those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity. Under section 42 of the Act, the Welsh
Assembly Government must publish a list of the living organisms and types of habitat which, in
the Assembly Government’s opinion, are of principal importance for the purpose of conserving
biodiversity in Wales. Under section 41(3) of the Act the Assembly Government has a duty to take
such steps as appear to be reasonably practicable to further the conservation of the living organisms
and types of habitat included in any published lists, or promote the taking by others of such steps.
5.2.3 The Assembly Government will ensure that its policies contribute to the conservation of the
abundance and diversity of native wildlife and its habitats and will minimise the adverse effects on
wildlife where conflict of interest is unavoidable.
5.2.4 The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) includes objectives to conserve, and, where
practicable, enhance:
• the quality and range of wildlife habitats and ecosystems;
• the overall populations and natural ranges of native species;
• internationally important and threatened species, habitats and ecosystems;
• species, habitats and natural and managed ecosystems characteristic of local areas; and
• biodiversity of natural and semi-natural habitats where this has been diminished over
recent decades.
5.2.5 The Assembly Government is committed to promoting Habitat and Species Action Plans
relevant to Wales prepared under the UKBAP in fulfilment of its obligations under the Countryside
and Rights of Way Act.
5.2.6 The UKBAP objectives can best be realised through close co-operation and partnership
between public agencies, local communities and the private and voluntary sectors. In line with its
commitment to active community involvement in the planning process, the Assembly Government
supports the preparation of Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) as a means of engaging
communities and private sector organisations in the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity at
the local level to achieve these national goals.
5.2.7 The Wales Biodiversity Group has a special role in taking biodiversity commitments
forward in partnership with local authorities, Assembly Government Sponsored Bodies (AGSBs),
non-governmental organisations, the private sector and local communities. It has issued practical
guidance on the preparation of LBAPs.
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Planning Policy Wales Edition 3 - July 2010 - Chapter 5 Conserving and Improving
Natural Hertiage and the Coast