A summary

Our recommendations on how mineral operators can work most effectively to help implement the UK Biodiversity Action Plan are based upon the various case examples we have studied, and to the analysis within English Nature Research report no.279: The potential contribution of the mineral extraction Industries to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Here we outline five broad recommendations and give guidelines as to their implementation. In each case, specific programmes could be running within around 18 months of start-up.

We also highlight:

• industry responsibilities
• opportunities for strategic, industry-wide initiatives
• the responsibilities of individual operating companies
• actions which individual companies might take, plus practical advice on taking them
• partners whose assistance might be sought in drawing up and implementing site-specific BAP programmes

Furthermore, because English Nature’s contribution is so important, we have retained from that organisation’s report the recommendations concerning specific areas and actions in which English Nature should be involved.

Finally, we highlight two issues recommended for action not by the minerals industries, but by outside bodies whose involvement would enable the minerals industry to contribute more to biodiversity, specifically:

• The Natural Area profiles for areas heavily worked for minerals should be revised to provide more detailed advice on how mineral companies can nurture local qualities distinctive to each Area.
• The authors of Local BAPs should pay more attention to the potential role of the minerals industries.