NEWS BULLETIN - The Ecology Team at North Yorkshire County Council is calling for volunteers to help identify and record the County's veteran trees. Veteran trees are trees that have reached their full maturity. They provide habitat for many wildlife species. For further details please click here to view the County Council's press release, or contact Matt Millington, the Biodiversity Officer at North Yorkshire on 01609 533240.
The Craven Local Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was launched in May 2008. It covers the area of Craven that falls outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park and was produced by North Yorkshire County Council in partnership with Craven District Council and other organisations that have an interest in ecology and nature conservation.
To download a copy of the Craven Local Biodiversity Action Plan please use the links below:
Alternatively, hard copies of the Craven Local Biodiversity Action Plan are available to view at Skipton and Settle Town Halls, Granville Street Council Offices, Public Libraries throughout the District.
The Craven Local BAP will be provide valuable evidence for writing policies in the Local Development Framework and will be used by Development Control Planners to inform future planning decision.
The Council is very grateful to all of the people who have helped to write the Local BAP, many of whom are from local conservation groups and have given their time freely and generously.
Background Information:
BAPs are part of a global initiative which looks at ways in which we should protect our plants, animals and habitats. The UK government pledged to take action against the loss of habitat at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and as a result the UK Biodiversity Action Plan was published.
Government recognised that biodiversity would have to be delivered at a local level and this lead to the production of district and county wide Local BAPs.
The functions of the Local BAPs are:
- To translate national targets for species and habitats into effective action at the local level.
- To identify targets for species and habitats important to the local area and reflecting the values of local people.
- To stimulate effective local partnerships to ensure programmes for biodiversity conservation are developed and maintained in the long term
- To raise awareness of the need for biodiversity conservation and enhancement in the local context
- To ensure opportunities for conservation and enhancement of biodiversity are promoted, understood and rooted in policies and decisions at the local level
- To provide a basis for monitoring and evaluating local action for biodiversity priorities, at both national and local levels.
Each Local BAP works on the basis of partnership to identify local priorities and to determine the contribution they can make to the delivery of the national Species and Habitat Action Plan targets.