A Flying Start
Local Biodiversity Action Plans in Scotland

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Council delivery of Biodiversity

Biodiversity project officers are in post in many areas and have been important for adding focus and drive to the initiative.

Setting the scene - the local biodiversity audit

A biodiversity audit brings information on locally important species and habitats into one place, for the benefit of planners, conservation organisations, schools, developers and the people who live amongst them. These now exist all over Scotland.

Local Biodiversity Action Plans agree a set of species and habitat priorities for the area, with associated targets. This is a framework around which all partners are working, incorporating it into decision-making and work programming. It is an efficient way of working and is good value for money.

The auditing process has shown where there are data gaps and has stimulated new data collection and research.

West Lothian LBAPs Birds, Banks and Boundaries project gave farmers an opportunity for positive action.

Farming and Biodiversity

Many species and habitats are dependent on agricultural management; this highlights the role managers of that land have in safeguarding their future. LBAPs give local farmers and crofters a say in how this can be done. LBAPs have led to local projects to tackle the issues identified as important to the local farmland habitats. These projects involve local farmers and are guided by their experience. LBAPs can identify locally appropriate management, publicise, and promote these.

A small-scale project in the Cairngorms growing grain should benefit a range of bird species.

Community Benefits of Biodiversity

Local Biodiversity Action Plans can help people make connections between their lifestyle and the biodiversity around them. LBAPs can bring biodiversity alive, through involving people in both decisions and practical actions that influence the wildlife and habitats in their area.
Callander meadows are being managed for wildlife and the community are getting involved in projects such as hay cutting, seed collecting and butterfly surveying.

In Orkney school children are involved in a native tree-restoration project to bring tree cover back to the islands.

Business and Biodiversity

Many businesses depend directly or indirectly on a well-maintained biodiversity from fisheries to whisky, timber to tourism. Scotland's image of a high-quality environment in which to live and work is largely dependent on biodiversity, soaring eagles, clean rivers full of fish, tranquil pine forests.

Local Biodiversity Action Plans help to safeguard this resource and highlight what makes each area of Scotland so special.

A LBAP is a vital tool for business to enable them to gain environmental certification. Companies are increasingly being expected to show green credentials - LBAPs helps them identify what they can do.

LBAPs species and habitat action plans include actions which support jobs and local economies, e.g. marketing native timber, keeping rivers healthy so supporting fishing, employment opportunities in conservation management or wildlife tourism. LBAPs help bring EU and UK money to local areas through identifying national and international priorities within a local area which can attract funding.

LBAPs have already attracted money directly (and indirectly through landfill tax credit) from business. They are attractive to funders because they are addressing local concerns and are based on action. They also offer companies opportunities to get involved.

In Moray the LBAP led to a working group involving Moray Council, Forest Enterprise, Forestry Commission, RSPB, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Landowners Federation and Cairngorms Partnership. This has developed a framework for protection of the habitat.

Biodiversity and other countryside initiatives

The objectives developed by LBAPs are being used to guide other countryside initiatives, such as agri environment spending and forestry certification.

As LBAPs are locally agreed plans, built on best information, they are a robust guide to help other initiatives safeguard and enhance biodiversity.

The partnership nature of LBAPs mean that common ground has been found and new projects can be built on this.

Meeting our national and international commitments

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan needs the support of local people and local organisations to succeed.

The combined impact of local action can be very significant for vulnerable species and habitats.

LBAPs can mobilise action on the ground for UK priorities from a wide range of local partners.

LBAPs identify local threats and opportunities for nationally important species and habitats.

The Biodiversity Partnership in North East Scotland is working with the Moray Firth Partnership to raise awareness of the needs of dolphins in the Moray Firth.

The full 'Flying Start' report gives details on biodiversity initiatives being developed across Scotland through the LBAP process. It also gives a snapshot of the achievements of each LBAP partnership. It contains reference lists of the species and habitat priorities for each area in Scotland (where they have been agreed). It summarises what difference Local Biodiversity Action Planning has already made and lays out the challenges ahead.

The report is available from your local LBAP Officer and the Scottish Biodiversity Group Secretariat, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ; tel: 0131 244 6540 e-mail: biodiversity@scotland.gsi.gov.uk It can also be accessed on the Scottish Biodiversity Group web-site: www.scotland.gov.uk/biodiversity