Watford Borough Council

The process began at the ‘Earth Summit’ in Rio in 1992 where the Biodiversity Convention was signed by 167 nations, including the UK. The UK has an overall plan to protect and enhance its natural heritage, recognising the differing needs of species, habitats and the people responsible for them. The plan emphasises the importance of local action.

In response to this plan, the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust have produced a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for Hertfordshire, with support from English Nature, the Environment Agency and local authorities. The plan urges local authorities to protect what remains of their semi-natural habitat. It particularly advocates that all land managed by local authorities should be managed in a way which promotes conservation. At both national and local government level it is acknowledged that as well as protecting existing sites of importance there is a need to create new wildlife habitat. It is not just important to conserve the rare species but the common ones have to remain common too.

Watford Borough Council will be producing its own Local Biodiversity Action Plan, based on the County BAP. This will be the means by which the Council can fulfil its own biodiversity obligations. Specific sites in the Borough, detailed below, are protected for their biodiversity and have also been targeted for the rehabilitation and re-creation of habitats, where it is feasible.

Biodiversity is not our gift to destroy but a responsibility to look after for future generations.