Biodiversity-Strategy-January-2023

40 Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has worked alongside partners within the Biodiversity Steering Group, local communities and neighbouring Councils in developing and delivering actions within the Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs), to promote, protect and improve biodiversity within the District. This partnership approach is essential to continue with our collaborative efforts for biodiversity action in the District. Whilst our key themes or areas of work have been identified in the previous 5 themes, there are many other upcoming, ongoing and previous projects, programmes and actions which will or have already helped to protect, enhance, restore or promote biodiversity. To this end, our approach to projects and partnerships will cover these additional actions we aim to deliver, recognise the ongoing potential that comes from partnership working, and allow for aspirational action through exploration of new and innovative approaches. These partnerships are also being utilised to help deliver many of the environment commitments in our Fermanagh and Omagh Community Plan. We will seek to strengthen existing and develop new partnerships across public, private and third sectors. Surveying and Mapping The processes of surveying and mapping are key to protecting valuable biodiversity on Council managed estate. We aim to complete a comprehensive suite of habitat surveys across Council owned land; prioritising first, our most important spaces for wildlife, such as meadows and woodlands, and following with surveying of natural heritage features throughout. As with the process for implementing a capital works programme, we first need to know what wildlife or habitats are present in an area in order to protect it. The same applies to the development of Park Management Plans on the remainder of our estate. Council Capital Works Investment and Play Park Strategy Implementation Council Capital Works Investment and Play Park Strategy Implementation With Council commitment to significant investment through our Capital Works Programme and Play Park Strategy, it is essential we follow all existing and new legislation on wildlife protection to conserve biodiversity as a priority on our estate and where possible, enhance and restore biodiversity with the resources available to meet the Biodiversity Duty. An example of surveying on Council managed estate. 9.6 Theme 6: Projects and Partnerships