Biodiversity
Action
Plan
Local Priority Habitats: Key objectives
- Raise awareness of the changes in local priority species numbers and of the possible reasons.
- Collect and analyse records of local priority species across Barnsley and review and monitor sites where they breed, forage or shelter.
- Protect and extend sites with local priority species foraging, breeding or sheltering, and enhance particular habitat features they use.
- Ensure LWS or SSSI designation of sites which support populations of priority species or a significant assemblage.
- Establish positive conservation management of sites that support priority species to bring them into favourable condition for them.
Achievements
- See priority habitats achievements
- See individual groups of priority species.
- Barnsley Biological Record Centre established to collect and make available records of important sites, habitats and wildlife species.
- The Local Plan adopted in 2019 protects designated sites and has specific conditions for allocated development sites to protect and conserve biodiversity.
- SSSI designation Dearne Valley sites for breeding and wintering birds. 2018-21 Natural England, DVGHP
Previous designation of Dark Peak SSSi etc. - Local Wildlife Site desiignation.
Marking progress:
- Populations of priority species maintained/improved
- Assemblages maintained/improved
- Distributions of priority species extended
- Sites that support priority species in positive conservation management
- Sites that support priority species in favourable condition.
Proposed actions
- See priority habitats proposed actions
- Establish and maintain inventories of
- Sites with significant populations of priority species
- Sites with significant assemblages of species
- Positive conservation of habitat features that support priority species
- Analysis of records of wildlife species in priority habitats in a rolling programme. Every 5 years
- Carry out prioritised LWS designation of sites with populations of priority species or significant assemblage.
Actions for Priority Species
We need to recognise that …
- Some priority species, although common, have suffered long-term decline in numbers and need conservation to maintain their numbers or to restore them to previous levels.
- Some species are at higher risk of decline and loss. These are identified as in red, amber or green categories or as Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered.
- Some priority species are particularly at risk due to loss of the habitats they require, the impact of climate changes, and other issues which for migratory species may be in other countries.