Biodiversity
There are a number of nationally important Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats in the city.
Examples include woodland (5,000 ha), acid grassland (1,500 ha), chalk grassland (200ha), coastal and floodplain grazing marsh (800 ha), heathland (50 ha), ponds (411 ha), rivers and streams (600 km) and reedbeds (130 ha). These habitats provide vital places to live for a wide variety of species. Some are very common while others are nationally rare, such as the tower mustard plant and the stag beetle (over 30% of whose national population is found in London). Some once common species are now becoming rarer in the capital, such as the house sparrow, while other species have special legal protection, such as bats and reptiles.
London’s rich and diverse wildlife is under constant pressure from human activity. Climate change will further increase this pressure. The London Biodiversity Partnership seeks to address this by working to increase understanding of London’s habitats by assessing their condition. It undertakes work on the ground to maintain, enhance and increase the wildlife value of London’s habitats and contribute towards the capital’s 2015 habitat targets.
While progress continues to be made towards meeting the 2015 targets with some, such as the enhancement of coastal and floodplain grazing marsh and reedbed, overreaching their target; others, such as the restoration of heathland and lowland meadow, will be more difficult to achieve without concerted action from a wide variety of people and organisations both public and private. A Regional Delivery Framework, mapping areas for habitat creation and enhancement has been developed allowing us to target activity. This, together with increased mobilisation of partners, use of the Biodiversity Action Reporting System to monitor results and improved access to funding will help us to achieve these targets, and to plan ahead for 2020.
Current Projects and Initiatives
| BAP Delivery and the London Plan - Biodiversity Targets | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | The London Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) has 26 action plans for habitats and species that are important in London. The Wild London team is working with the London Biodiversity Partnership to help achieve the delivery of London’s 2015 targets, set out in the Mayor’s London Plan. A team member acts as the coordinator of the Partnership and others are actively involved in Partnership working groups and projects. |
| Latest update/progress | We will be assisting the Partnership to undertake a strategic review to ensure it continues to deliver biodiversity improvements across London in a changing economic and organisational climate. The suitability maps produced by the partnership with financial support and advice from Natural England have now been finalised and act as a guide to the most appropriate locations for habitat creation and restoration across London. |
| Supporting documents from NE | |
| Further information/web-links | |
| Integrated Biodiversity Delivery Areas (IBDAs) | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | A Thames and Tributaries Integrated Biodiversity Delivery area is being developed encompassing large areas of London as well as swathes of North Kent, South Essex and Hertfordshire. This IBDA will form part of England’s strategy to promote landscape-scale working as a means of enhancing biodiversity. It will work with a range of organisations and partnerships and have a particular emphasis on maximising biodiversity gain through green infrastructure and climate change adaptation. |
| Latest update/progress | A draft map of the proposed IBDA area has been produced and a workshop will be held in September for all interested organisations and projects within this proposed IBDA to look at how to take the IBDA forward and support and add-value to existing work within the IBDA area. |
| Supporting documents from NE | |
| Further information/web-links | |
| Acid Grassland and Heathland Restoration | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | Natural England is developing an acid grassland/heathland project across the London region, with the aim to create and/or restore acid grassland and/or heathland on a range of selected sites. Acid grassland and heathland are both nationally important habitats that have undergone significant declines and at present have an uneven distribution throughout London. This project will contribute towards the 2010-2011 BAP Habitat target. In addition, the project has the potential to help Local Authorities with meeting the requirements set out under National Indicator 197 (Improved Local Biodiversity). |
| Latest update/progress | A shortlist of sites that could benefit from improved management practice has been drawn-up and consultations held with the land owners to secure their agreement to the initiation of works to restore these sites back to their full ecological potential. The team is now working with these land owners to identify funding options. |
| Supporting documents from NE | |
| Further information/web-links | London Biodiversity Partnership: Habitats and species |
