Partnership Action Plan
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Northumberland Biodiversity Action Plan Cresswell Shore © NBP Photographer John Williamson Partnership Action Plan Plan Co-ordinator Northumberland Biodiversity Partnership Each group is made up of environmental professionals that operate in Northumberland. They have selected Plan Author Elaine Jaggs the habitats to be included in the BAP based on their Plan Lead Partnership Steering Group level of protection, current threatened status and local knowledge of their extent and condition in Latest version January 2008 Northumberland. The conservation of habitats will Description automatically lead to improvements for various species so each group only selected BAP species that they The Northumberland Biodiversity Partnership is a deemed to require specific conservation measures to collection of organisations and individuals working reduce threats. The list of habitats and species action together to conserve, enhance and promote biodiversity plans has been approved by the partnership steering in Northumberland. group. The word ‘biodiversity’ comes from the term ‘biological The action plans for Northumberland are: diversity’ and simply means all living plants and animals on earth and the complex and fragile natural systems Habitats Species that they support. This includes everything from plankton to puffins, weasels to willows and backyards to Blanket Bog Barn Owl border mires. Brownfield Land Bats The members of the Northumberland Biodiversity Built Environment Black Grouse Partnership deliver action for wildlife through Calaminarian Grassland Coastal Birds implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Northumberland. Individual plans have been developed Coastal Heathland Common Seal to reflect those habitats and species which are Fen, Marsh & Swamp Dingy Skipper characteristic of Northumberland’s natural heritage and Gardens & Allotments Dormouse most at risk from loss, fragmentation and deterioration of quality. Specific actions within the individual plans Heather Moorland Farmland Birds vary depending on the species or habitat and range Lowland Heathland Freshwater Fish from practical conservation management and survey Lowland Meadows & Pastures Freshwater Pearl Mussel work, through to promotional activities and working with policy makers. Maritime Cliffs & Slopes Garden Birds Native Woodland Great Crested Newt The Northumberland BAP enables partners to focus resources and develop local projects in order to conserve Ponds, Lakes & Reservoirs Grey Seal and enhance the threatened habitats and species. Recreational & Amenity Spaces Hedgehog Action at a local level in Northumberland helps to Reedbeds Otter contribute to the conservation of English, UK and world- wide biodiversity. Rivers & Streams Red Squirrel Rocky Shore, Reefs & Islands River Jelly Lichen The action plans were developed by members of the six habitat groups for the Northumberland Biodiversity Saline Lagoons Upland Waders Partnership: Saltmarsh & Mudflat Violet Crystalwort • Coastal Sand Dunes Water Rock Bristle • Lowland Transport Corridors Water Vole • Rivers & Wetlands Trees & Hedges White Clawed Crayfish • Upland Upland Hay Meadows • Urban Whin Grassland • Woodland Northumberland Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership Action Plan Each action plan provides a brief description of its Current Extent in Northumberland habitat or species, which is followed by a list of the key legislation that it is protected by. The amount There is currently no central ecological information of information that is known about presence and centre in Northumberland and this makes it difficult to distribution in Northumberland is then briefly explained ascertain exactly how much information is in existence and where little or no data has been recorded this and for what particular habitat or species. The is stated. Specific threats that inhibit the survival Northumberland Biodiversity Partnership will continue or expansion of a habitat or species are then listed, to support the development of the Exploring Your followed by sources of further information such as Environment (EYE) project to hopefully develop into an relevant websites or journal articles. ecological record centre for the North East and will also urge its partners to submit their information to such a The key sections of each document are the targets and central source. Information will then be accessible by all priority actions. Targets are identified for each plan and contribute significantly to both strategic planning against which the partnership can measure progress and development control. towards the conservation of that habitat or species. Finally, the priority actions that need to be carried out Northumberland is home to a wide variety of important in order to help achieve the targets are listed along with wildlife and as such certain areas are specifically dates by which they must be achieved. Action points designated for their wildlife importance. The are not static and continuous review of the BAP will following environmental designations exist within ensure that they are constantly updated. Biodiversity Northumberland: mapping for habitats and species in the county is • Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) - designated being developed by the partnership so that visual under the EC Habitats Directive as a network of sites representations of their distribution throughout the of European importance (Natura 2000) county can be included in the respective action plan. • Special Protection Areas (SPA) – designated for their Each action plan has a named lead partner, which is the importance for birds under the EC Birds Directive body responsible for the overall coordination of the • RAMSAR – designated for wetlands of particular actions and the gathering and reporting of information importance, especially as wildfowl habitat following on work progress. the convention on wetlands of international importance in 1971 Conservation Status • Northumberland National Park – one of 14 parks designated in the UK for their spectacular and The different habitats and species within this action valued landscapes whose natural beauty, wildlife and plan are each afforded various levels of protection cultural heritage is conserved and enhanced by the under a variety of environmental legislation and national park authority these are identified in each specific plan. Key pieces • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – of environmental legislation that organisations in precious landscapes whose distinctive character and Northumberland should be aware of when planning any natural beauty are so outstanding that they have operations with implications for biodiversity include: been safeguarded. Northumberland is covered by all of the Northumberland Coast AONB and part of the • EC Habitats Directive North Pennines AONB. • EC Birds Directive • National Nature Reserves (NNR) - areas of national • Bern Convention importance for nature conservation. Owned or • EIA Directive leased by Natural England or other approved bodies, • SEA Directive or managed by agreement with landowners. • Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - selected and notified by Natural England under the Countryside • Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and Rights of Way Act 2000 with the aim of • Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) safeguarding the best examples of habitat types, Regulations 2006 sites with notable species and sites of geological • Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006 importance. • Planning Policy Statement 9 • Local Nature Reserve (LNR) – places with wildlife or • UK Biodiversity Action Plan geological features that are of specific interest locally • North East Biodiversity Action Plan declared by local authorities. • UK Red Data List • Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) – locally valued non- statutory sites declared by local authorities. • Northumberland Red Data List Not all priority habitats will be protected by land designations and it is important to pay particular attention to these habitats as they will be most under threat from development. Northumberland Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership Action Plan Environmental Targets designations in Create numeric values for the ‘maintain’, ‘achieve Northumberland condition’, ‘restore’ and ‘expand/increase’ targets in Nland AONBs each relevant habitat and species action plan where not Nland National Park already done so based on new survey information by Local Wildlife Sites 2010. SSSI !!!!! SPA !!!!! Deliver all ‘maintain extent’ targets for Northumberland !!!!! SAC BAP habitats and species in line with the ‘countdown RAMSAR 2010’ programme by 2010. European Marine Site Create and maintain a website for the Northumberland Biodiversity Partnership by 2007. Include specific objectives for biodiversity conservation in the community strategy for Northumberland by 2008. Include specific objectives for biodiversity conservation in the Local Area Agreement for Northumberland by 2008. Include specific policies for biodiversity conservation in the Local Development Framework for the new Northumberland authority by 2015. 1 centimeter equals 5 kilometers Create and maintain a computer based mapping system This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of for BAP habitats and species in Northumberland by the controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Northumberland