Introduction and Overview:

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Background

The conservation of biological diversity is an important global issue. The variety of plants, animals, habitats and ecosystems is of fundamental importance to the future of humankind. Further, there are sound economic, moral and aesthetic reasons for conserving biodiversity and it has been estimated that the economic benefits of biodiversity amount to US$33 trillion (1012) per year, or twice the global GNP (Constanza, R. et al. 1987. The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature: 387). Yet, these benefits are often ignored and biodiversity continues to be diminished.

Biodiversity loss is not an issue confined to tropical rainforests. In the UK, 97% of unimproved lowland grasslands and 94% of lowland raised bogs were estimated to have been lost since the nineteenth century. Seed-eating farmland birds declined sharply between 1977 and 1991, species at risk including the common linnet, reed bunting, skylark and tree sparrow and some continue to decline. Species such as the large copper, Kentish plover and Ivell’s sea anemone are now extinct in the UK.

In 1992, the global community responded to biodiversity loss by publishing the Convention on Biological Diversity. As a signatory to this important treaty, the UK published the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) in 1994. Fundamental to this publication was the production of separate Action Plans for priority species and habitats setting out clear, measurable targets. There are currently 391 Species Action Plans and 45 Habitat Action Plans that extend across the UK. These cover not only the rare and localised but also species and habitats, such as skylark, brown hare and lowland heathland, that were once much more widespread but have declined considerably in recent decades. Action is also being taken at a local level through 161 Local Biodiversity Action Plans.

Delivering the targets of the UK priority species and habitat action plans is used as a measure of progress on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Regular reporting on these targets is therefore important. The first reporting round in 1999 formed the basis for the UK Biodiversity Group's Sustaining the Variety of Life: 5 Years of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (Millennium Biodiversity Report) published in March 2001. Experience gained from the 1999 reporting round was used to plan the 2002 trial reporting round, as a step towards full reporting in 2005.


The 2002 report

The main objectives of the 2002 reporting round are listed below:

  1. Maintain regular reporting of progress on priority species and habitats against targets and biological outcome, as an indicator of the success of the UK BAP;
  2. Continue to encourage Lead Partners (individuals responsible for co-ordinating and reporting action for UK priority species and habitats) and steering groups to assess progress against targets, and report on constraints and successes in a structured way;
  3. Reassess factors affecting priority species and habitats and establish their relative significance;
  4. Assess issues affecting plans where UK policy action would be most effective;
  5. Trial reporting against country-based targets by giving the opportunity to report measurable, numeric targets in a devolved way;
  6. Continue to improve the communication of information and experience throughout the entire UK Biodiversity Partnership and, in particular, help communication between Lead Partners and Local Biodiversity Action Plans;
  7. Trial incorporation of Local Biodiversity Action Plans into the reporting process;
  8. Trial the information collection software and start developing a web-based dynamic reporting system.

The 2002 reporting round was staged entirely online and was accessed via the UK BAP web site http://www.ukbap.org.uk/. Requests for information were sent to the Lead Partners for the 436 UK BAP priority species and habitats and to 161 Local Biodiversity Action Plan officers. Respondents completed forms online by selecting answers from predetermined options customised for their plan. Reporting success was high with 410 (94%) Lead Partners sending in reports comprising 45 (100%) Habitat Action Plans and 364 (93%) Species Action Plans. One hundred and twenty three (76%) Local Biodiversity Action Plans sent in reports.