"It is the responsibility of all of us to look after and care for our wildlife and a plan has been developed to enable us to do so."
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is an acronym for biological diversity and encompasses all life on Earth, from the smallest bacteria to the largest blue whale. It is broken down into three main levels:
- The diversity of habitats and ecosystems in which species live.
- The diversity of all species, whether they are an animal, plant, bacteria, fungi or microbe.
- The genetic diversity within species that has a profound effect on the variety within a species and the ability of a species to adapt and survive.
The benefits of conserving biodiversity are many and varied, they include:
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It plays an important role in tackling climate change. Habitats like woodlands and peatbogs act as carbon sinks, whilst other habitats such as floodplains and coastal habitats can help to reduce flooding and dissipate wave energy.
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It is an indicator of the wider health of our environment. An environment rich in biodiversity is likely to perform well against measures of environmental quality and to provide an attractive and healthy environment for people. Biodiversity is therefore a key indicator of sustainable development.
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It helps to sustain local economies. Conserving biodiversity benefits the economy through the provision of jobs, attracting visitors and boosting the tourism industry and provides new market opportunities for farmers and land managers.
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It supports other vital services that sustain life on Earth. These ‘ecosystem services’, as they are known include the provision of clean air and water, defence against floods and storms, and the management of waste and pollution. The economic value of these services is immense.
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It contributes towards our health and wellbeing. Nature helps to enhance our physical and mental health by encouraging outdoor recreation, exercise and relaxation.
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It is an important part of our cultural heritage and identity. Biodiversity defines local character and distinctiveness and is key factor in determining quality of life. Many habitats are also of heritage importance, such as lowland heathland and species rich grasslands.
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It offers opportunities for community engagement and volunteering. Through biodiversity local authorities can engage local communities and promote social inclusion. It is very satisfying to engage with and help manage the environment through volunteering.
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It provides us with essential products and materials. Biodiversity provides many vital products such as food, medicine, and building materials. Sustainable fisheries depend on the conservation of marine biodiversity. Biodiversity may provide new resources that have not yet been utilised or realised.
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We have a responsibility to conserve biodiversity. Apart from the benefits that biodiversity provides there are strong ethical reasons for mankind to conserve biodiversity. Many would argue that we don’t have the right to preside over the extinction of other species. In addition to the intrinsic value of biodiversity, we have a responsibility to pass on a healthy stock of natural capital to future generations.
The Biodiversity Duty
The biodiversity duty states that all public bodies must in carrying out their functions have regard to the conservation of biodiversity. This means that the Council has a responsibility to consider biodiversity in everything we do.
East Riding Biodiversity Plan
"Working together to safeguard the biodiversity of the East Riding, for now and forever."
The East Riding Biodiversity Action Plan (ERBAP) will allow biodiversity and conservation enhancement work to be prioritised and coordinated within the East Riding of Yorkshire. The ERBAP is being developed by the Council and its partners, through the Sustainable Natural Environment Task Group of the Local Strategic Partnership.
The East Riding Biodiversity Action Plan will help to implement the UK BAP and also to deliver local and regional priorities for biodiversity. In order to do this the important species and habitats that are present in the East Riding have to be identified. This means it is essential to have an accurate baseline of information on where key habitats and species are.
A set of priority habitats are being selected that will each have their own habitat action plan. Similarly a list of priority species will also be pulled together that will each have their own species action plan, or grouped species action plan.
The selection of SINCs must be based upon agreed criteria and standards that reflect the extent, variation and quality of the wildlife resource of the area. The criteria should also take into account the views and values of local people. A set of criteria is currently being developed for the East Riding. After these criteria have been agreed, the next stage is to start surveying the 800 potential sites across the East Riding and evaluating these against the criteria to determine which merit SINC status.
For each species or habitat the action plan will set out the following:
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The resource – how much of it is there?
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The threats – why is it declining or threatened?
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The potential for enhancement – what opportunities are there to increase it?
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The action already underway – what’s already being done to help?
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The overall vision for the habitat or species – the ideal end point!
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The long-term targets for their conservation and enhancement – what we want to do to help over the course of the action plan (ten years).
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The short-term actions for their conservation and enhancement – what are the first steps towards action and who is going to do this?
Through the plans different organisations will commit to delivering particular actions towards the conservation and enhancement of that particular habitat, or species.
Guidance notes will also be produced to cover other issues or areas of opportunity. These guidance notes will give specific advice or best practice. For instance these may cover wildlife friendly gardening, the management of invasive species, wildlife and farming and incorporating biodiversity into development.
The ERBAP is being written so that it can be incorporated into and complement other reports, policies and action plans, such as the local development framework, the community plan, the local area agreement and parish planning.
To develop and implement the plan the East Riding Biodiversity Partnership is currently being setup. This group will include the Council, statutory organisations such as the Environment Agency and Natural England, voluntary and non-governmental organisations like the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. Local wildlife and countryside groups, amateur naturalists, local landowners, interest groups and other stakeholders will also be members of the group. The first key role for the Partnership is to assist in the development of the plan into a working document.
Once the ERBAP document is complete it is hoped that the Council and the East Riding Biodiversity Partnership will adopt the plan and work towards its implementation.
Local Wildlife Sites
Local Councils are responsible for the identification and designation of regionally and locally important sites for wildlife and geology. These sites, which were previously known as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), form a network of important habitats underneath the suite of nationally and internationally designated sites. Local Wildlife Sites are a material consideration in the planning process.
The selection of SINCs must be based upon agreed criteria and standards that reflect the extent, variation and quality of the wildlife resource of the area. The criteria should also take into account the views and values of local people. A set of draft criteria has been developed for the East Riding, but they are yet to be tested against new survey data.
This year a Phase 1 habitat survey has been started. This survey will identify the broad habitats present in the East Riding from aerial photographs and can be used to identify the major network of green infrastructure. It will also identify areas that have high biodiversity interest that require a more detailed survey. Along with the old list of SINC sites these will be surveyed for consideration as a Local Wildlife Site.
Sites that have been surveyed as candidate Local Wildlife Sites will then be considered against criteria for recommendation for designation. This will be done by an expert panel that will recommend sites for adoption by the council who will then adopt them through the local development framework.
The network of designated sites and the broad habitats that link them form an essential system of green infrastructure through which species can move and disperse. It is essential that these networks be identified through the spatial planning process and that areas of opportunity to strengthen these networks are also identified.
As the effects of climate change take hold species will need to be able to adapt and move to find conditions that suite them, habitat corridors will be essential to allow this to happen.
Local Nature Reserves
Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are sites boasting wildlife of special local interest and provide opportunity for people to enjoy nature.
The council's Countryside Officers are working to improve access to the sites and encourage greater community participation in the development and management of them. Further information on the East Riding’s LNRs can be found here: Local Nature Reserves information.
How can you help?
There are many things that you can do to help biodiversity in and around your home and through the choices you make in your everyday life.
Wildlife-friendly gardening
One of the best ways you can help is to think about biodiversity in your garden and to do a few simple things to create space for wildlife. Examples of ways we can all help include:
- Avoid using chemicals like pesticides, such as slug pellets and find natural alternatives such as the ‘Slug Pub’.
- Helping birds by planting climbers such as ivy and honeysuckle, and dense shrubs such as hawthorn. This provides birds and other wildlife with a habitat in which to roost, nest and feed.
- Bird, bat and bee boxes can all be put up to provide habitats for roosting and nesting.
- Plant berry and seed bearing shrubs to provide food for birds and small mammals.
- Even the smallest garden pond is a valuable habitat for wetland species, attracting dragonflies, amphibians and invertebrates, as well as providing a bathing and drinking point for other wildlife.
- Leave a corner or strip of your garden to go wild so that insects, small mammals and other wildlife have a refuge area to escape to, and reduce the intensity of your garden tidying and management.
- Leave small piles of brash or logs to provide habitat piles for wildlife to use for hibernation and shelter.
- Collect rainwater from roofs in water butts and other containers to provide irrigation for the garden. This reduces the amount of mains water used and reduces the energy expended on moving water around the country from its source to its use.
- Use only peat-free composts that don’t lead to the irreversible destruction of valuable peat bog habitats. Best of all, set up your own composting bin and compost your household green waste.
- Ensure wood and timber used in the garden is from sustainable certificated supplies that minimise the impact on the environment.
- Feed the birds and other animals, especially in winter. If you have bird tables or feeding stations ensure that they are cleaned annually to prevent the build up of parasites or diseases.
- Select plants for the garden that have high pollen and nectar content, this will benefit invertebrates in the garden including bumblebees.
In addition to wildlife friendly gardening you can also do other things to benefit the environment, all of which also benefit biodiversity. These include:
- Cutting down on household waste.
- Saving energy in the home.
- Reducing car use.
- Buying products that are produced locally and in a sustainable way.
- Support a wildlife organisation or charity by signing up for membership or by volunteering your time to do some practical or survey work.
Contact details
If you have any queries regarding biodiversity in the East Riding then please contact:
David Renwick
Biodiversity Officer - East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Community and Sustainable Development
County Hall, Beverley
East Riding of Yorkshire
HU17 9BA
Tel: 01482 391718
Email: david.renwick@eastriding.gov.uk
For further information
The following websites provide further information on biodiversity and nature conservation.
