Biodiversity-Strategy-January-2023

29 9.0 A Positive Plan for Biodiversity – Our Next Steps The Council requires a plan which is realistic, achievable and measurable. We are one of many stakeholders involved in efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity. Each will play an important role to deliver better outcomes for biodiversity. The Council recognises its obligations and responsibility to contribute positively and, as such, has developed a series of plans which aim to: • Protect, enhance and restore biodiversity on Council managed estate • Increase awareness and action for local biodiversity in the District • Work in partnership with others to deliver biodiversity action in the District. The Council manages approximately 112 hectares of green space across the District. This natural capital provides spaces for people and biodiversity as well as acting as a carbon sink, removing approximately 400 tonnes of CO2 per year, based on average benchmarks for carbon sequestration from municipal green space. This carbon capture capability can be increased through appropriate habitat management and innovative thinking, such as planting the right trees in the right places or changing how we manage our grass cutting regime. The Council managed estate includes over 850 individual property assets. This includes 130+ play and amenity areas, 35 playing fields/multi-use games areas, 10 community centres, 2 theatres, 4 leisure centres, 50+ public convenience facilities and 5 cemeteries. There are also assets reflecting the rural heritage of the district, including caves, castles, islands, loughs, jetties, bridges, forests and an extensive walkways network. Using the Framework for Biodiversity Action, this Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan will focus our work for the next 5 years through 7 key themes. The Council aims to deliver on the core principles of the Biodiversity Duty, utilising these as our Biodiversity Strategy Outcomes . The scope of this document outlines opportunities to protect, manage and restore biodiversity on Council managed estate where possible. However, there is further potential to work in partnership beyond our own estate, which may be an excellent way to promote and raise awareness of the importance of ‘living in harmony with nature’ and meeting our Biodiversity commitments. The following sections provide more detail on the seven themes that form part of the Biodiversity Strategy. This includes some context on each area, an overview of work already undertaken and Council’s intentions going forward to help deliver on the aims of the Biodiversity Strategy. © Kate Carrothers