Biodiversity is short for 'biological diversity', meaning the whole variety of all living things on earth, including plant and animal species and their genetic diversity. The term also includes the way these organisms interact. In short, the term biodiversity means the whole living world, of which we are an integral part.
Human activity is damaging the very environments on which we depend, causing the destruction of habitats and, in extreme cases, the extinction of species. Biodiversity conservation is about safeguarding species and their habitats. It includes the protection of high profile endangered species but also, crucially, locally important wildlife and habitats in all parts of Scotland.
In recognition of the urgent need to safeguard the Earth's biodiversity, the UK signed the Convention on Biological Diversity at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
As a result, the UK government has produced 'Biodiversity: the UK Action Plan'. This sets out broad strategies for conserving and enhancing wild species and wildlife habitats in the UK for the next 20 years. The UK Biodiversity Steering Group has developed national aims and objectives to implement these strategies.
In Scotland, a Biodiversity Group has been set up as a partnership, linking key organisations in the public and private sector. The group provides information and practical guidance for those involved in preparing Biodiversity Action Plans. It also oversees the production of species Action Plans for plants and animals which are mainly or wholly found in Scotland (such as corncrakes, red squirrels and chequered skipper butterflies). In addition, habitat Action Plans are prepared for Scotland's most special wild places, including pine forests, blanket bogs and the machair of the Western Isles.
Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs)
Biodiversity is a key factor in making a local area distinctive and recognisable. For example, native pinewoods with their distinctive flora and fauna are an integral and essential element of the landscape of the central and northern Highlands. Here and elsewhere national targets need to be translated into local action to make a difference.
Practical action is being taken to protect species and habitats at a local level through the development of Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs). LBAPs are being produced for all regions across Scotland, and this TRBAP has been developed to support and complement them.
A LBAP identifies which species and habitats are important, rare or threatened in an area, and sets out what should be done to protect and enhance them. It describes how this should be done, promotes partnerships for action and raises public awareness about biodiversity in general. LBAPs in Scotland are being developed by networks of organisations such as local authorities, wildlife groups and local businesses.
Biodiversity and sustainability
Sustainable development has been defined as:
"Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"
(Brundtland Report, World Commission on Environment and Development 1987).
Protecting biodiversity is an integral part of achieving sustainability in the long term. There are close links with local authority plans for tracking and promoting the quality of the environment indicators of sustainability, of which biodiversity is one.
The Scottish Executive Trunk Road Biodiversity Action Plan (TRBAP)
The Scottish Executive welcomes the current initiatives on biodiversity, which reflect its long-term commitment to the environment. The Transport and Planning Group has been carrying out Environmental Assessments and implementing environmental mitigation measures for many years. This document is a continuation of that commitment. It will identify targets and objectives which promote and protect biodiversity on the trunk road network, and will integrate with LBAPs and provide a link to other initiatives. Figure 1 shows how the TRBAP links to national and local biodiversity commitments and other road related initiatives.
These efforts are supported in a wider policy context. Section 4.13.3 of the Scottish Executive White Paper 'Travel Choices for Scotland' states that the Strategic Roads Review:
"is likely to involve commitments to...minimise the impact of roads and traffic on the global and more local environment, e.g. by protecting biodiversity, and employing principles of sustainability in the management of trunk roads...".
Special issues for the trunk road network
The objectives of this Plan must be compatible with the key responsibilities of the road operators, including any engineering and operational constraints relating to road management.
This Plan is different to a LBAP, principally in that it relates to an operational facility designed to transport users safely and efficiently, rather than to a geographic area. Trunk roads are linear features which are under the control of one organisation, but which cross geographic, administrative and ecological boundaries. The land area covered may encompass many different types of landscape and habitat. This creates opportunities to work in partnership with the many landowners whose land adjoins the trunk road estate, and with the government, environmental and business groups which have formed to address biodiversity throughout Scotland.
Fig.1: The Scottish Trunk Road Biodiversity Action Plan in Context
Figure 1
*Cost Effective Landscape: Learning from Nature.