ANDBC DRAFT Local Biodiversity Plan 2022 - 2032

Overview

Ards and North Down Borough Council is seeking views on the second edition of its Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP).  The Plan will cover the period 2022-2032 and sets out what can be done locally to help protect, restore and enhance our habitats and species over the next 10 years.

The LBAP aims to conserve biodiversity through local partnerships, considering both national and local priorities by involving local people and local community and conservation organisations through practical delivery of biodiversity conservation.

The objectives of the LBAP are:

• Objective 1: Help and conserve habitats and species
• Objective 2: Raise awareness of the ecosystem services provided by key species in Ards and North Down Borough Council area.
• Objective 3: Involve people in biodiversity projects and develop partnerships

An essential part of the LBAP process is to establish, through a biodiversity audit, which of the internationally important and UK and Northern Ireland priority habitats and species occur in the Council area. This is then used to identify habitats and species to be prioritised for conservation action.

As a result of an extensive audit a series of actions have been drafted to help conserve and enhance the priority habitats and species identified that are of international, national, regional, and crucially local significance within this Council area.

LBAP Actions fall under one of four themes:

• Theme 1: Education and Awareness
• Theme 2: Research and Monitoring
• Theme 3: Land Management
• Theme 4: Building Partnerships

A total of 77 Actions have been proposed across all four Themes

Why your views matter

Local biodiversity action plans are fundamental documents to deliver conservation at a local scale. The Biodiversity Action Plan is a partnership effort to target actions for key habitats and species in Ards and North Down. Integral to the success of the LBAP, is the collaboration of interested parties, sharing knowledge, expertise and resources to deliver action for nature.  We would like to know what you think about our plan.  Please take some time to read the Draft Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2022 -2032 and associated actions www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/consultations To take part in the consultation and make your opinion count please complete the online survey.

The consultation process has now been extended, the revised closing date for response is the 16th March 2023.  

What happens next

Thank you for completing this survey.  We are extremely grateful to you for contributing your valuable time, your honest opinions, and your thoughtful suggestions in relation to our draft Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2022 -2032.

We look forward to sharing the results of the survey via council webpage and working together to make Ards and North Down a place where people and nature can thrive.