Biodiversity

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The integrity of biodiversity is one measure of whether we are living sustainably. Biodiversity is important for our sense of wellbeing; it is a resource for recreation, tourism, artistic inspiration and education; it provides revenue and employment through goods and services; it regulates our climate; it provides clean water, air, food, fuel and medicines and is useful for monitoring the condition of the wider environment.

Part H of the Framework was published in August 2003 and sets out how the Government Estate will contribute to UK biodiversity policy and commitments.

Part H commits Departments to:

• Identify significant sites for biodiversity;
• Conduct audits of these sites;
• Develop management plans for important habitats and species; and
• Avoid impacts and take measures to enhance biodiversity.

The Government Estate accounts for more than one per cent of the UK's total land mass. Of this, MoD and HO are responsible for over 90 per cent. While the extensive land holdings of the MoD and HO Estates are likely to have more potential impacts on biodiversity than other Departments, even urban offices can contribute to UK biodiversity goals. The biodiversity related impacts common to most Departments include those from land management, new build, major refurbishment of offices and supply chain issues.

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Comprehensive Methods for Identifying Impacts on Biodiversity (Target H1)

By October 2003, all Departments were required to have in place comprehensive methods for identifying significant impacts for biodiversity as part of their environmental management systems or otherwise have integrated this into the management of their estate.

In 2002-03 five Departments had methods in place to identify significant biodiversity impacts and a further ten had plans to develop methods in the near future. This has improved in 2003-04 so that twelve Departments now have comprehensive methods for identifying significant impacts on biodiversity. A further five Departments (CO, HMT, DTI, ECGD and DfES) had reported that this target is not applicable to them due to the nature of their estates.

Of the remaining three Departments C&E planned to meet this target by October 2004 and the DoH by the end of 2004. LOD states that it plans to consider biodiversity as part of its procurement process for any new site.

Figure 19 outlines Departmental progress with developing comprehensive methods for identifying impacts on biodiversity.

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Figure 19: Progress with developing comprehensive methods for identifying impacts on biodiversity

Note: ? - data not provided; n/a - target not applicable due to nature of Department estate.

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Audits (Target H2)

Where Departments had identified significant impacts for biodiversity, they are required to:

• Conduct audits of their estate to identify nationally and locally important habitats and species and where necessary conduct site-based surveys; and
• Assess the impact of activities on biodiversity at each site.

These undertakings should be achieved for 40 per cent of sites identified as being significant for biodiversity by October 2004 and 80 per cent of sites identified by October 2006.

As can be seen in Figure 20 below, seven Departments had identified a total of 180 sites with significant impacts for biodiversity in their responses to the 2003-04 questionnaire. Of these, only DCMS and DflD had conducted audits of 40 per cent of their own sites at the time of reporting. Of the 180 sites identified in this year's survey, only 29 had been audited, amounting to 16 per cent of all sites identified as having a significant impact for biodiversity. This figure however, does not take into account the relative sizes of estates already audited.

While DfT had not provided information for 2003-04, MoD have identified and surveyed all nationally important sites and locally important sites are being identified as part of the roll out of EMS and Integrated Rural Management Plans. DfT had reported that eleven per cent were covered by March 2003. Taking into account the relatively large Estate holdings of the MoD, the overall amount of audited estate land will be significantly higher.

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Figure 20: Number of audits carried out on sites with a significant impact for biodiversity

Note: ? - data not provided.

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Biodiversity Action Plans (Target H3)

Target H3 requires Departments who own or manage sites identified as significant for biodiversity to develop management plans/actions for nationally and locally important habitats and species. This target also requires them to identify opportunities for biodiversity enhancement on other areas of land through their delivery plans:

• For the 40 per cent of sites identified in H2 by October 2005; and
• For the 80 per cent of sites identified in H2 by October 2007 (given the large scale of the MoD Estate this deadline is extended to October 2008).

Figure 21 provides a summary of the progress of the nine relevant departments (including MoD and DfT). DCMS and DfID had met both the 2005 and 2007 deadlines already. Defra identified opportunities for biodiversity enhancement at each of its significant sites but had not yet developed management plans. HO had met the 2005 target to identify opportunities for enhancement and had already developed management plans for 15 per cent of significant sites. ODPM had not yet made progress against this target. DfT and MoD had not supplied performance data for 2003-04.

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Figure 21: Progress regarding management of significant sites for biodiversity

Note: ? - data not provided.

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Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (Target H4)

Target H4 requires Departments that own Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) to ensure that at least 68 per cent of such sites achieve a favourable or unfavourable recovering condition status by 2006, increasing to 95 per cent by 2010.

Six Departments (DCMS, DfT, DWP, HO, MoD and Defra) own and manage a total of 251 SSSIs. DWP, HO and DCMS had already exceeded the 2006 target.

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Figure 22: Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 2003-04

Note: ? - data not provided. n/a - not applicable

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Contract Clauses (Target H5)

Target H5 requires all Departments from October 2003 to include clauses to minimise, and where possible, avoid impacts and take measure to enhance biodiversity in:

• New grounds / building maintenance contracts; and
• New build, refurbishment or leasing contracts.

Ten Departments had initiated new grounds / building maintenance contracts since October 2003 and all had included biodiversity clauses.

Eight Departments reported that they had initiated new build, refurbishment or leasing contracts and that a biodiversity clause has been included. Two additional Departments (C&E and IR) reported that their PFI contractor is responsible for new builds and it would be their responsibility when dealing with any subcontractors.

Figure 23 outlines biodiversity accounted for in new contract clauses 2003-04.

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Figure 23: Biodiversity accounted for in new contract clauses, 2003-04

Notes: n/a - no new contract clauses initiated.

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MoD and Biodiversity

The 2002-03 SDiG Report outlined the MoD's Estate Strategy "In Trust and On Trust" (2000) which covers nature conservation, cultural heritage, landscape protection, public access and relationships with tenants and local communities. Further examples of the work that MoD is doing in relation to biodiversity include:

RAF Woodvale has participated in the Sefton Coastal Forest Plan (a 20 year plan to preserve areas of specific woodlands).

RAF Innsworth has funded a number of projects such as: the creation of a wildlife pond; the installation of Barn Owl nesting boxes; and the restoration of the station's southern boundary to improve the local watercourse by clearing the undergrowth, repairing the banks and pollarding overgrown trees.

RAF Cranwell Conservation Group, supported by the local project officer for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), has produced a Site Conservation Management Plan, which has identified areas for the promotion and enhancement of conservation that are compatible with operational requirements. In particular the station has created a nature reserve, consisting of a young meadow and a nature trail already used by school children as part of their studies.

The Royal Navy (RN) were awarded first place in the public sector category of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Awards in June 2004 for their overall performance in all areas of sustainable development. As a result of this award an application on behalf of the RN has been made for the 2004 National Green Apple Environmental Awards.

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HM Prisons (Home Office)

The Prison Service is implementing a Prison Service Biodiversity Action Plan (PSBAP) across its whole estate, as a commitment to the national biodiversity FSDGE target. The PSBAP is being implemented in three stages; the first, Stage One, looks at all the designated sites such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and National Nature Reserves. Three of these sites already have local BAPs implemented and the remaining three Stage One sites will have local BAPs implemented by December 2004.

Stage Two will look at all sites which carry a local designation, such as Sites of Nature Conservation Interest, or show local biodiversity significance. At present six Stage Two sites are being piloted out of the 62 sites identified, three of these will have local BAPs by December 2004 and the remaining three are on target for implementation by February 2005. Stage Three will concentrate on all urban and inner-city prisons, which covers some 40-50 sites.

All the Prison Service's Stage One site BAPs will be linked into the county BAP system, supporting the UK BAP. Those significant Stage Two sites with BAPs will also link into the county BAP system.

As part of the reporting and monitoring of the Prison Service's actions and targets for biodiversity, the Prison Service will utilise the new Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) which will improve integration and communication between local and national action plans.

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Departmental Data

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Report 2004

• Foreword
• Introduction & scope
• Overarching commitments
• Travel
• Water services
• Waste
• Energy
• Procurement
• Estates management & construction
• Biodiversity
• Social impacts
• Glossary & abbreviations