Biodiversity - Wildlife & Conservation

More than 100 species of plants and animals have disappeared from the UK since 1900 and many species that were once common, such as the Song Thrush, Skylark and Water Vole, are falling in numbers.

At the 1992 Earth Summit, national governments committed to conserving biodiversity. Our own government subsequently produced a 20 year UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

All around us, in our woodlands and hedgerows, our fields and rivers, even in our gardens, there are many varieties of birds, plants, insects and other animals. This is biodiversity - the rich variety of life on earth.

Why the conservation of biodiversity matters

Biodiversity underlies our existence. No organism lives in isolation from other living things - each plant and animal has a role to play in the connections which make the world go round. A diverse landscape, rich in wildlife, in our towns as well as our countryside, plays an important role in making sure that we have a high quality of life. It all adds to our physical and mental health and means that we stay in touch with the natural world. We have to take action today to protect tomorrow’s wildlife.

The United Nations has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). The aim is to celebrate the diversity of life on earth and highlight the loss of biodiversity habitats. IYB-UK is the partnership co-ordinating the International Year of Biodiversity in the UK. We are an important member of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Partnership, which is a partner organisation in IYB.

What is the Biodiversity Action Plan?

In 2000 we signed up to deliver the Bucks & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). This plan identifies important habitats and species that local and national organisations, as well as individuals, take practical action to conserve. It sets measurable targets to attempt to map out a brighter future for biodiversity.

Our commitment to the plan

We created our own plan from Bucks and Milton Keynes BAP and the Biodiversity Team is a lead partner in delivering the plan. Their work supports our aim on improving the local environment. The team is part of the Bucks & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Partnership, which brings together local authorities, government agencies and conservation charities to help deliver the action plan across the county.

We work towards delivering the action plan by:

• working with parishes, landowners and farmers to encourage wildlife-friendly ways of managing land;
• working to reduce, as far as possible, the effect of development on protected species and other wildlife;
• promoting ways of managing the land we own so that we take account of wildlife;
• identifying sites with special wildlife (Wildlife Sites) and giving advice to owners;
• running projects to help protect rare or endangered species, for example, bats, barn owls, swifts and great crested newts; and
• encouraging people to take an interest in and care for their local wildlife through guided walks, talks and events.

Raising awareness of conservation is a critical part of the plan. We have organised a wide range of promotions which include producing literature and displays, events and press coverage. We launched the Wildlife Gardening Scheme in 2000, environmental education activities which are held at Parklife, and leaflets including Wildlife in the Vale, Black Poplar Conservation Guide and the Ecology and Geology of Buckingham Sandpit.

Biodiversity Team

Our service is free and we work with farmers, community groups, parish councils and other conservation groups to deliver the Biodiversity Action Plan by:

• providing advice on nature conservation issues;
• helping with managing and creating habitats;
• giving advice on funding and grant aid;
• developing survey and management plans for wildlife sites;
• developing opportunities for people to get involved in wildlife conservation; and
• supporting community conservation groups.

We are very grateful for the invaluable contribution made to the wildlife of Aylesbury Vale by the many volunteers who have given up their time, by our partners who have helped us, and by those who have worked with us on their land.

Locally, the Bucks Biodiversity Action Plan was published in April 2000. It identifies actions to conserve habitats, wild plants and animals and aims to involve individuals, local communities and businesses in a range of important measures.

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Biodiversity Achievements		607KB 56Kbps Modem: 1 Minute 28 Seconds Broadband : Less than 1 Minute
Achievements 2010		607KB 56Kbps Modem: 1 Minute 28 Seconds Broadband : Less than 1 Minute