Biodiversity in the big picture

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Biodiversity in the big picture

• HEEPI, 23 Aug 2006
• Judith Hanna, Social Policy Adviser, English
  Nature
• Judith.hanna_at_english-nature.org.uk

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Natural Englands purpose

• Ensure that the natural environment is
  conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit
  of present and future generations, thereby
  contributing to sustainable development

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Natural England purpose

• Promoting nature conservation and protecting
  biodiversity
• Conserving and enhancing the English landscape
• Facilities for study, understanding and enjoyment
  of the natural environment
• Access to countryside and open spaces and
  open-air recreation
• Social and economic well-being through natural
  environment

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Nature and biodiversity

• Nature what people think of as nature
  enjoying greenspaces, trees, landscapes,
  gardening, feeding birds, rambling
• Biodiversity the amazing richness and variety
  of wildlife and habitats on earth

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Why Biodiversity is important to us all

• our environment's health determines our own
• hand over to the next generation a world no less
  rich than the one we inherited
• culture - music, literature and visual art - is
  inspired by landscape and wildlife
• respect for life -- encourages respect for
  ourselves
• power over other organisms confers
  responsibility life takes time to evolve but can
  be lost quickly and is impossible to replace
• some organisms are useful to us but we shouldn't
  limit our efforts to these - we must conserve all
  those about which we still know little.

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Biodiversity and global sustainability

• Rio Earth Summit 1990 Convention on Biodiversity
• UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK-BAP)
  www.ukbap.org.uk 391 priority spp and
• Local BAP partnerships (LBAPs)
• Regional BAP co-ordinators
• Joburg Earth Summit 2002 Biodiversity one of
  the 5 global priority challenges

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Local Biodiversity Action Plans

• LBAP partnerships link campus to wider
  community
• Identify priority local habitats and priority
  local species
• Targeted action plans
• National Biodiversity Network and Local Records
  Centres (www.nbn.org.uk)

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HE campuses role?

• Major local land-owners and built environment
  can support biodiversity too
• Partner in Local BAP manage estate for special
  habitat/species
• Local, student and staff community and volunteer
  involvement for nature, for health and
  relaxation, for kids, for fun
• Recording species
• Practical field skills employer demand

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