Community Awareness and Involvement

Description

Conservation organisations, local authorities and other bodies play a key role in conserving biodiversity but it is public awareness and appreciation of the natural environment that ultimately dictates the degree of success.

Active public or community involvement in conservation at the local level is critical:

  • Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and associated Community Strategies offer the opportunity to involve local communities in the BAP and encourage action at the local level.
  • Measures to implement Accessible Natural Greenspace Standards (Natural England) provide the means of ensuring more people are able to experience nature.
  • Education and interpretation promote public interest and increase understanding of biodiversity conservation. Schoolteachers have a large role to play in this respect.
  • Development of wildlife areas in school grounds and making links with local nature reserves can supplement these efforts usefully.

Main Issues

  • Conserving biodiversity is as much about people as it is about wildlife. If biodiversity is to be conserved then all sectors of the community should have the opportunity to be involved, not only in the implementation of projects, but also in the design of them.
  • A lack of awareness can lead to an unintentional disregard for wildlife and conservation.

Strategy and Guidelines

  • Develop 'flagship' sites to increase the public's awareness and appreciation of their local biodiversity.
  • Environmental education of local school groups.
  • Natural history sessions for adults.
  • Local community events and guided walks.

 Targets

Target Code

Target Description

Target Units

Northants Baseline Resource

Target

By

Unit Cost £

Total Cost £

NOR_CAI_T1

Develop a 'Signature' Green Infrastructure site with significant biodiversity and the infrastructure to support large visitor numbers in each district of Northamptonshire by 2015 (total of 7 sites).

Sites

3? Stanwick Lakes, Salcey Forest, Fineshade Woods

7

2015

    

NOR_CAI_T2

20 new schools should have biodiversity areas by 2012.

Schools

0

20

2012

    

NOR_CAI_T3

Increase the number of Pocket Parks in the County by creating 3 new Pocket Parks per year over the next 4 years.

Sites

80

92

2011

    

NOR_CAI_T4

Increase the number of LNRs by one in each district per year 2015.

Sites

14

70

2015

    

NOR_CAI_T5

Ensure that all LNRs have management plans for improving biodiversity and that they are implemented.

Sites

?

22

2015

    

NOR_CAI_T6

Provide 50 Wildlife Trust training workshops per year on natural history topics.

Workshops/year

50

50

Ongoing

    

Actions

Action Code

Action Description

Lead Partner

Support Partner(s)

Related Target

NOR_CAI_RE_A1

Identify potential sites for 'Signature' Green Infrastructure sites, which have significant biodiversity value and sustainable transport connections with a large amount of the local population.

Local Authorities, RNRP

  

NOR_CAI_T1

NOR_CAI_CA_A2

Provide an environmental education visit for x school groups at Lings Environmental Education Centre.

The Wildlife Trust

  

NOR_CAI_T2

NOR_CAI_CA_A3

Increase number of participants receiving environmental education at NCC Country Parks from the 2008 value of 8000 participants a year (5,500 school children 2,500 non schools).

NCC

  

NOR_CAI_T2

NOR_CAI_CA_A4

Promote the Biodiversity topic in the Eco-Schools program.

NCC, Local Authorities, Schools

The Wildlife Trust, BTCV, Groundwork

NOR_CAI_T2

NOR_CAI_SU_A5

Identify potential new Pocket Park sites through community consultation and ensure that new sites incorporate the existing biodiversity value of the site and strive to enhance it.

NCC

  

NOR_CAI_T3

NOR_CAI_SP_A6

Identify areas of land rich in biodiversity (ideally county wildlife sites) that have the potential to support the infrastructure required in a LNR and designate.

Northamptonshire County Council

NBP, Natural England

NOR_CAI_T4

NOR_CAI_HS_A7

Review existing LNR management plans every 5 years and write plans for those that currently do not have them.

Northamptonshire County Council

The Wildlife Trust

NOR_CAI_T5

NOR_CAI_HS_A8

Set up a 'Friends of' group, a 'Green Gym' or similar initiative with every new nature reserve that is designated and with each large conservation project.

Groundwork, BTCV

The Wildlife Trust

NOR_CAI_T5

NOR_CAI_CA_A9

In partnership with local experts and other BAP partners run a schedule of 50 wildlife training workshops per year, and ensure that 85% of all places are filled.

Wildlife Trust

All

NOR_CAI_T6