Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs)

What are Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs)?
 

LBAPs are simply a way of encouraging people to work together and deliver a programme of continuing action for biodiversity at a local level. They set out practical steps that aim to:

• help protect biodiversity
• enhance and improve biodiversity where possible, and
• promote biodiversity at a local level

LBAPs are first and foremost about wildlife, but as plants and animals are affected by choices that people make, LBAPs are also for us. One of their aims is to get more people involved and interested in the natural environment and the wildlife that shares our living space with us.

Why do we need LBAPs?
 

Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) will help to:

• ensure that nationally and locally important species and habitats are conserved and enhanced
• increase public awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the role it can play in areas such as health, education, regeneration and sustainable development
• involve relevant bodies and individuals
• refocus the tremendous conservation work currently undertaken by many groups and individuals
• stimulate new biodiversity projects
• attract funding for biodiversity action; and provide research information on biodiversity enabling politicians and policy makers to make informed choices

Are LBAPs working?
 

The best thing about LBAPs is that they are not just for politicians, or councils, or for ‘environmentalists’. They are for everyone. And that means that we can all help our LBAP to work.

The good news is that more and more people are becoming actively involved in implementing their LBAP - even if they do not always realise it. There is also an increasing awareness of the needs of wildlife and the issues surrounding biodiversity.

How can people contribute to LBAPs?
 

LBAPs are all about partnerships. No one individual and organisation can do everything – so we all have to work together.

Here are a few suggestions how we can all help.

• by organising a biodiversity project with friends, or class at school
• by helping wildlife in our gardens by feeding the birds, putting up a bird or a bat box, and not using pesticides
• by supporting local wildlife events, many of which are aimed at families and involve some active conservation work
• by creating a wildlife-friendly habitat in our local area – school grounds, gardens, park, etc
• by joining a local conservation group or body
• by recording the biodiversity that we see
• by not dropping litter when we are out and about
• by reducing our energy consumption at home, at school, or at work

These actions may seem small and insignificant – but they do add up and help to deliver all of those biodiversity action plans, and will ultimately help the wildlife that we all like to see around us.

To find out how you or your organisation can become involved in your Local Biodiversity Action Plan, please contact the relevant Biodiversity Officer listed

LBAP co-ordination within Northern Ireland is carried out by our Local Biodiversity Action team. The contact is Renny McKeown on 028 9056 9631 or renny.mckeown@doeni.gov.uk