Cynth%20Napper

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• Cynth Napper
• Community Officer
• Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum
• www.oncf.org.uk

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NERC Act 2006Parish Council Duties

• Every public authority must, in exercising its
  functions, have regard, so far as is consistent
  with the proper exercise of those functions, to
  the purpose of conserving biodiversity

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What is the Acts purpose?

• 1. Clarify and consolidate existing biodiversity
  commitments - e.g.
• PPS9 Biodiversity and geological conservation
• EIAs, SEAs
• 2. Make biodiversity a natural consideration in
  your policy and decision making processes
• 3. Highlight the role of biodiversity in
  underpinning sustainable local communities
• 4. Raise the awareness and profile of
  biodiversity within your community

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What is Biodiversity?

• Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is a term
  for the variety of life and the natural processes
  of which living things are a part. This includes
  all living organisms and the genetic differences
  between them and the communities in which they
  occur.

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Why should we have regard for biodiversity?

• Because we are all, even in the developed
  world, 100 dependent on other species for our
  survival
• Plants/Animals Domesticated/Wild food,
  clothing, shelter, fuel, oxygen, climate control,
  medicine
• Genetic resource
• Economic value growing, trading
• Ecosystem services bees, floodplains, soil
• Aesthetic and Moral

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Threats to Oxfordshires Biodiversity

• Infrastructural Development (including housing)
• Land Management
• Climate Change
• Introduced species
• Pollution

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Implications of the NERC Act

• Through your normal duties it is hoped that
  parish councillors will promote
• Recording and maintenance of the existing
  biodiversity resource within your parish
• Enhancement of local biodiversity
• Restoration of what has been lost
• Recreation of links between habitats within the
  parish where/when possible

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When to consider biodiversity - 1

• When commenting on planning applications
• - will this harm or benefit wildlife?
• When preparing your Parish Plan
• - what opportunities are there?
• When employing contractors
• - do they work in wildlife-friendly ways
• You are allowed to create bylaws
• - A new Local Nature Reserve?

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When to consider biodiversity - 2

• When you are managing land
• Are we considering wildlife as well as people?
• When commenting on district policy and plans
  (Local Area Agreements, community strategies,
  transport, housing, procurement, waste)
• We know our parish best and care about it the
  most are we giving our opinions clearly, and to
  the right people?

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Support for councillors

• Local environment group species baseline
• Environmental sub-committee
• Individual recorders in the parish/TVERC
• Parish plan
• Parish conservation plan
• BBOWT guidance on S40 of the NERC Act at
  www.bbowt.org.uk
• Advice and contacts through ONCF

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Rebuilding Biodiversity in Oxfordshire
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Target Areas

• 36 target areas for conservation action
• Landowners are being supported to access
  agri-environment funds
• Communities are being supported

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Support for councillors

• In Conservation Target Areas Book a visit by an
  ecologist (50/50) through ONCF

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Ways to help your native wildlife

• Require your contractors to sign up to consider
  your wildlife and obey the law
• Be less tidy! Save money
• Relax mowing regimes in communal spaces
• Create wood habitat piles
• Encourage people to record and monitor species in
  the parish birds, botany, butterflies mammals
  trees, - to help fight unwanted development
• Use TVERCs free database for information on your
  local species

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..

• Create a wildflower meadow
• Create a new pond where appropriate
• Put up bird, bat and bee boxes in communal spaces
• Plant native hedgerows, trees and shrubs
• Remove invasive species

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• Photo of Himalayan balsam

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More ideas

• Celebrate your local wildlife
• Most importantly your example will help to make
  your community understand that the conservation
  of biodiversity, both for our future and for our
  childrens uncertain future is everyones
  responsibility

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Oxfordshire Nature Conservation Forum

• www.oncf.org.uk
• cynth_at_oncf.org.uk