{"id":111,"date":"2014-07-10T11:34:42","date_gmt":"2014-07-10T10:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/?page_id=111"},"modified":"2020-09-28T09:21:07","modified_gmt":"2020-09-28T08:21:07","slug":"d3protecting-and-enhancing-biodiversity","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/strategy\/principles-and-strategic-priorities-for-devon\/d3protecting-and-enhancing-biodiversity","title":{"rendered":"Guiding principle 3: Protecting and enhancing biodiversity"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"contentbox\">\n<p>Plan, deliver and manage green infrastructure in Devon to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>ensure decisions affecting land result in a net gain for biodiversity<\/li>\n<li>expand, enhance and link Devon\u2019s wildlife habitats where opportunities arise<\/li>\n<li>safeguard habitats of wildlife importance, particularly irreplaceable habitats<\/li>\n<li>ensure the management regimes that support wildlife habitats are sustainable in the long term<\/li>\n<li>ensure other functions and benefits of green and blue infrastructure assets\u00a0 are compatible with enhancing biodiversity, and seek to resolve conflicts where they occur<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Why this is important for Devon and beyond<\/h2>\n<p>Biodiversity is simply the variation of lifeforms on the planet. Caused by genetic divergence from a common ancestor, biodiversity represents a significant resource of genetic differences and how these are expressed in the environment. The need to preserve biodiversity is set out in various legislation at local, national and international\u00a0level. Devon County Council\u00a0has a responsibility under <a href=\"http:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2006\/16\/section\/40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">section 40<\/a> of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2006\/16\/contents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006<\/a>, which states that\u00a0<em>Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2>Strategic priorities and approaches for working together across Devon<\/h2>\n<p><strong>3.1<\/strong> Use the <a title=\"In your local area\" href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/in-your-area\/\">Devon online mapping<\/a> to target what types of habitat need to be expanded and linked<\/p>\n<p><strong>3.2<\/strong> Refer to the Devon Biodiversity Action Plan to understand what species and habitats should be given priority to support<\/p>\n<p><strong>3.3 <\/strong>Utilise the biodiversity mitigation <a href=\"http:\/\/planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk\/blog\/guidance\/natural-environment\/biodiversity-ecosystems-and-green-infrastructure\/#paragraph_018\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hierarchy<\/a> when preparing policies and projects<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3.4<\/strong> Refer to relevant National Character Area and Devon Landscape Character Area profiles for ideas on how to enhance biodiversity and bring other benefits<\/p>\n<p><strong>3.5<\/strong> Learn from case studies of how working together results not only in biodiversity enhancement but also other benefits (see links below)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"accordion \" data-accordion data-allow-all-closed=\"true\" data-multi-expand=\"true\" ><li class=\"accordion-item\" data-accordion-item>\r\n<a href=\"#mac1\" id=\"head1\" role=\"tab\" class=\"accordion-title\" aria-controls=\"mac1\">Your role <\/a><div id=\"mac1\" aria-labelledby=\"head1\" class=\"accordion-content\" data-tab-content><div class=\"targetclass\" >\n<h2>Local Authorities<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Policy planners: <\/strong>apply the guiding principles and priorities in this strategy as the basis for formulating planning policies, strategies and plans that are consistent across administrative boundaries, through the duty to co-operate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>All planners: <\/strong>use the planning process (including legal requirements under european legislation, section 106 agreements and CIL) to ensure biodiversity is taken account of in planning policies and decisions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Public sector landowners and land managers: <\/strong>get involved in the planning and management of green infrastructure to improve biodiversity<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"guide\">Landowners, developers and design professionals<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Developers and designers: <\/strong>When formulating masterplans and development plans, carry out environmental appraisals early in the design process to identify which biodiversity assets should be protected, and how to achieve a net gain in biodiversity using the mitigation <a href=\"http:\/\/planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk\/blog\/guidance\/natural-environment\/biodiversity-ecosystems-and-green-infrastructure\/#paragraph_018\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hierarchy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"guide\">Communities and individuals<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Neighbourhood planning bodies:<\/strong> when preparing their neighbourhood plans or community right to build orders, should pro-actively plan to preserve and enhance biodiversity assets<\/p>\n<p><strong>Individuals:<\/strong> can make meaningful contributions towards improving biodiversity, for example through better garden design and management. See below for useful links.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul>\n<h2>Tools and case studies to help you<\/h2>\n<div class=\"table-scroll\"><table border=\"1\" width=\"627\" cellpadding=\"4\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4>Devon Local Nature Partnership<\/h4>\n<p>The<a href=\"http:\/\/www.naturaldevon.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Local Nature Partnership<\/a> for Devon and Torbay was established in 2012. Its role is to protect and improve the natural environment, grow the green economy and reconnect people with nature. The partnership acts by providing evidence, supporting key projects and liaising with numerous stakeholders throughout the area.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4>State of Devon\u2019s Environment report<\/h4>\n<p>The Local Nature Partnership has prepared a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.naturaldevon.org.uk\/priorities-and-projects\/documents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">report <\/a>setting out the state of Devon\u2019s natural environment. This features assessment of many different aspects including the condition of protected habitats and species in Devon.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4>Online mapping<\/h4>\n<p>See the Green Infrastructure in <a title=\"In your local area\" href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/in-your-area\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">your local area<\/a> pages.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4>Devon Biodiversity Action Plan<\/h4>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/environment\/wildlife\/the-devon-biodiversity-action-plan-bap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Devon Biodiversity Action Plan<\/a> sets out targets for habitat and species protection within the county.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4>Natural environment community toolkit<\/h4>\n<p>Communities and individuals wanting to get more involved in Devon\u2019s natural environment can seek advice on how to do this in Devon\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/devoncc.sharepoint.com\/sites\/PublicDocs\/Planning\/_layouts\/15\/guestaccess.aspx?guestaccesstoken=s1oS0t0iL5%2bQeCFYW2ya0wwB%2fXH%2fZx3eUXSRdmKAFv4%3d&amp;docid=0069985821aba469098d181ad62900d37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">natural environment toolkit.<\/a> The toolkit provides advice on creating nature maps, undertaking wildlife surveys, habitat management and much more.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<h4>Improving your garden<\/h4>\n<p>The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds provides helpful <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rspb.org.uk\/makeahomeforwildlife\/advice\/gardening\/wildlife-friendly_garden.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">advice<\/a> on how to improve your garden to promote biodiversity.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plan, deliver and manage green infrastructure in Devon to: ensure decisions affecting land result in a net gain for biodiversity expand, enhance and link Devon\u2019s wildlife habitats where opportunities arise safeguard habitats of wildlife importance, particularly irreplaceable habitats ensure the &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/strategy\/principles-and-strategic-priorities-for-devon\/d3protecting-and-enhancing-biodiversity\" aria-label=\"Continue reading Guiding principle 3: Protecting and enhancing biodiversity\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":229,"parent":61,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-111","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-16 17:22:02","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":986,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/111\/revisions\/986"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/greeninfrastructure\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}