Highways Agency

Background to Biodiversity

What is Biodiversity

The term 'biodiversity' encompasses all of the variety of life on Earth, and relates in particular to the importance of preserving a complex system of habitats and species inorder to maintain the ecological health of the planet. It places an emphasis not only onthe conservation of rare and threatened habitats and species in the most valuable areas,but also on the enhancement of features of importance to wildlife in the wider countryside.

In June 1992, over 150 heads of state or government (including the UK) agreed the Convention on Biological Diversity at the UN Conference on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro, committing them to take action to conserve and enhance biodiversity within their national boundaries.

The Highways Agency has the responsibility for ensuring that biodiversity is conserved and enhanced on its soft estate.

Biodiversity policy in the UK

The UKBAP

In response to the Rio Convention, the UK Government set up a Biodiversity Steering Group to audit the country's resource of threatened species and habitats, and in early 1994 'Biodiversity: the UK Action Plan' was published. Almost two years later, in December 1995, 'Biodiversity: the UK Biodiversity Steering Group report' provided targeted and costed action plans for 116 species and for 14 habitats. This was subsequently supplemented by the 'UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans, Volumes I - VI', which provided action plans for a further 31 habitats and almost 300 species. All habitats and species for which a UKBAP action plan has been produced are referred to as 'Priority Habitats' and 'Priority Species', respectively. All other species listed in the UK Biodiversity Group reports are referred to as 'Species of Conservation Concern'.

'biodiversity action plans are increasingly being considered an important element of the planning process'

Local and regional BAPs

The conservation of Priority Species and Habitats, as well as biodiversity of more local importance, is currently being translated into action by the production of Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs). These documents are produced largely by local authorities in partnership with other interested parties (including English Nature, the Wildlife Trusts and the Environment Agency), and are increasingly being considered an important element of the planning process.

'natural assets for the benefit of people now and in the future'

Biodiversity and Sustainable Development policy

In the Government's sustainability strategy for the UK, 'A Better Quality of Life', emphasis is placed on 'building concern for wildlife into wider policies', and this will include 'examining policies and programmes [including management of the soft estate] in light of [the Government's] biodiversity commitments'. To help this process, the place of biodiversity in planning guidance is also being strengthened.

Since publication of the Integrated Transport White Paper (ITWP) in 1998, the strategic aim of the Highways Agency, as an executive agency of DTLR, has been 'to achieve sustainable development in support of the Government's integrated transport and land use policies'. Environmental sustainability is an important element of this, and can be defined as 'the maintenance and, where possible, enhancement of the total stock of natural assets for the benefit of people now and in the future'. Any improvement in the value of the HA's soft estate for biodiversity, both through changes in routine management practices and through more targeted conservation action or mitigation of effects on habitats not owned by the HA, will serve to contribute to the Government's objective to achieve sustainable development.