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Local Authorities

Home : Biodiversity Duty and the Pledge : Local Authorities and the Biodiversity Pledge

Local Authorities and  the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge

Guidance for local authorities on the discharge of this duty was published by Defra in 2007. The guidance provides comprehensive information concerning ways to integrate biodiversity into local authority services and some extremely useful case studies of good practice and includes the following:

“Local authorities have a key role to play in conserving biodiversity, through their role in: developing and influencing local policies and strategies; planning and development control; owning and managing their estates; procurement; education, awareness raising and advisory functions. 

Biodiversity is hugely important in its own right and we have international responsibilities and national and local systems in place to protect and enhance it.  It plays a key role in underpinning local quality of life and giving a “sense of place”.  Biodiversity offers opportunities for tourism, economic development, health promotion, sustainable communities and social cohesion.”

In association with the WMLGA the WMBP are seeking to raise awareness of this new duty across the region through the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge which has been developed specifically to encourage local authorities in the region to sign up to as a way of showing their commitment.

  

  

Current Position

At the beginning of July 12 Local Authorities had confirmed their willingness to sign and on the 9^th July we held a signing event where CEOs or senior members of each authority signed their copy and were presented with their individual Pledge by Roger Clarke (Natural England Board Member and Mike Kinghan Chair of the West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership.

“I fully support the West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership’s championing of the region’s valuable wildlife through the Biodiversity Pledge.  It’s good to see so many local authorities signing up to the Pledge and taking seriously the new duty we have placed on them.  I would urge others to follow their lead.”

Joan Ruddock Minister for Wildlife 2005 to 2008

Councillor David Smith Leader of Litchfield DC and Chair of the LGA signing the Pledge at the summet event

Since then a further 10 authoritites have agreed to sign the Pledge bringing the total number of local authorities to 22.  More authorities are also considering this and we hope that by the end of 2009 that all the authorities across the region will have shown their commitment to biodiversity by signing this pledge.

 

   

Local Authorities who have agreed to sign

• Staffordshire County Council
• Worcestershire County Council
• Herefordshire Council
• Warwickshire County Council
• Lichfield District Council
• South Staffordshire District Council
• Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
• Newcastle Borough Council
• Warwick District Council
• Wychavon District Council
• Stafford Borough Council
• Cannock Chase District Council
• Peak Distrist National Park
• Stoke City Council
• Malvern Hills District Council
• Tamworth Borough Council
• Wyre Forest District Council
• Telford & Wrekin Council
• Bromesgrove District Council
• East Staffordshire District Council
• Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council
• Rugby District Council