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Ten BAP steps to biodiversity

The UK BAP identifies 59 steps to promote biodiversity. These identify actions which the Government and its agencies will take, and also indicate how other organisations might contribute.

Ten of these 59 steps are of particular relevance to minerals industries (official ‘step number’ appears in brackets):

• Ensure that development control conforms to Government policies for the conservation of biodiversity (5).
• Use existing knowledge to identify prime biodiversity areas in the UK based on best available levels of data recorded, and work with all interested parties to agree a strategy to protect and enhance them (7).
• Continue to support measures for hedgerow management and restoration in England and Wales (23).
• Continue to protect ancient semi-natural woodlands and encourage forms of management which conserve their special characteristics (25).
• Continue to encourage the regeneration of woodlands (26).
• Continue to encourage a steady expansion of woodland and forest cover (27).
• Support the creation of community woodlands near population centres (30).
• Prepare action plans for threatened species, in order of priority (33).
• Update and publicise guidelines on trans-locations, re-establishments, introductions and re-stocking (36).
• Consider a publicity strategy to explain the meaning and importance of biodiversity, and explain what needs to be done to conserve and enhance it (45).

The 59 steps provide an important policy framework. The 10 examples cited above should be seen as indicators for the minerals industries, which should be used as appropriate within specific Action Plans.

Detailed Action Plans for specific habitats and species in need of most assistance are at the heart of the UK BAP. Derived nationally, they are largely implemented locally. The emphasis on priority habitats and species provides a starting point, from which strategic and local roles for minerals operators can be identified.

For the complete list of 59 steps, view part 7 of the UK Biodiversity Group report ‘Sustaining the variety of life’