LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Local authorities have a statuatory obligation to conserve and enhance biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006. Local authorities play a significant role in achieving a rich and diverse natural environment and are key partners in shaping sustainable communities. The Hampshire Biodiversity Partnership has produced advice on ways to integrate biodiversity into local government services Biodiversity Duty for Local Authorities and guidance on integrating biodiversity into Local Development Frameworks. It has also developed a planning Biodiversity Checklist as part of the National Application Form (1APP).

Key ways for local authorities to help biodiversity:

1. Integrate opportunities for biodiversity into policies, strategies and partnership arrangements.
   
   
2. Ensure that biodiversity is protected and enhanced through forward planning and development control.
   
   
3. Protect and enhance biodiversity on the local authority estate and promote positive management for biodiversity throughout the local authority area.
   
   
4. Enable access to biodiversity for the whole community and encourage an understanding of the natural world.
   

Contacts

• The Association of Local Government Ecologists represents professional ecologists working in local government in the UK. In partnership with others, ALGE supports and develops the nature conservation work of local authorities.
  
  
• The Local Government Association (LGA) promotes the interest of English and Welsh local authorities. The LGA exists to promote better local government.
  
  
• The South East England Biodiversity Strategy aims to be a clear, coherent and inspiring vision and framework that guides and supports all those who can impact biodiversity in the region. The South East England Biodiversity Forum has produced local authority guidance on National Indicator (NI)197 .
  
  
• DEFRA have produced 'Guidance for Local Authorities on Implementing the Biodiversity Duty'. The NERC Act is available through the DEFRA website.
  
  
• Biodiversity is central to sustainable development. Advice on biodiversity and community strategies is summarised in LifeSupport: Integrating biodiversity into community strategies
  

• The British Standards Institute and ALGE have produced guidance on biodiversity conservation standards for planning in the UK - PAS 2010: Planning to Halt the Loss of Biodiversity
  
  
• The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) have published Making contracts work for wildlife to assist those involved in managing parks and greenspace.