e-Digest Statistics about: Wildlife
UK Biodiversity Action Plan
The Government published its Biodiversity Action Plan [1] in January 1994 in response to Article 6 of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity agreed at Rio in 1992. A Biodiversity Steering Group, with members drawn from central and local Government, academic institutions, industry and non-Government organisations, published in December 1995 a set of proposed specific, costed targets and action plans for 116 priority species and 14 key habitats of conservation importance. The habitat plans cover about 2 per cent of the UK land area.
The Government, in its response in May 1996 [2], welcomed and endorsed the Steering Group's main proposals. Implementation of the species and habitat action plans is being coordinated by the UK Biodiversity Group and Country Biodiversity Groups for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In October 1999 the UK Biodiversity Group completed the publication of the six tranches of species and habitat action plans which, when added to those already published by the Steering Group report, bring the total number of species action plans published to 391 and the number of habitat action plans to 45. Lead partner organisations or agencies have been appointed for the plans and implementation and reporting are under way. These plans form the basis for conservation action in the UK over the next 20 years.
- Key Facts:
- Priority species and habitats
- Scarce and threatened native species
- Species at risk and wildlife protection
- Sustainable Development Indicators:
- Biodiversity conservation
- References, further reading and links to other resources:
- [1] Department of the Environment, (1994). Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan. HMSO, London.
- [2] Department of the Environment, (1996). Government Response to the UK Steering Group Report on Biodiversity. HMSO, London.
- Internet Links:
- UK Biodiversity Partnership
- Defra: Wildlife & Countryside, The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP)
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Page last modified: 16 September 2005
Page published: 10 September 2003