UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP)
The UK Biodiversity Action Plan, published in 1994, was the UK Government’s response to signing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
The plan set out a programme for conserving the UK’s biodiversity. It also led to the production of 436 action plans between 1995 and 1999 to help many of the UK’s most threatened species and habitats to recover. Details of these plans can be found at the UK Biodiversity Action Plan
website.
A review of the UK BAP priority list in 2007 led to the identification of 1,150 species and 65 habitats that meet the BAP criteria at UK level.
Assessment of progress with implementation of the UK BAP currently takes place every three years. Data from the latest reporting round in 2008 will be used with other indicators to show how the UK has progressed towards the CBD 2010 target to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss.
For up-to-date information on progress of local and national plans, visit the Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) website.
A common UK approach
After the UK BAP was published in 1994 many new drivers for conservation action have been recognised. For example, the need to tackle the impact of climate change, the 2010 target to halt the loss of biodiversity and the findings of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005).
This assessment has helped us to understand how ecosystems and human well being affect each other. It has also highlighted the need to take action to reverse ecosystem degradation by addressing the key drivers and valuing ecosystem services.
In 2007, the UK government together with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations adopted a new shared vision for biodiversity conservation, ‘Conserving Biodiversity – the UK Approach’. Its purpose is to set out the vision and approach to conserving biodiversity within the UK’s devolved framework.
Conserving Biodiversity - The UK Approach [PDF]
This strategic document sets out the future priorities for the UK and provides for a more holistic ecosystem approach to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Work to embed consideration of biodiversity and ecosystem services includes:
the biodiversity and environment strategies of each of the four countries of the UK and
the statutory conservation bodies as the main delivery agents.
This will be in addition to work on the conservation of priority habitats and species, and protected areas.
The framework complements One future – different paths, the UK’s framework for sustainable development, which recognises the importance of living within environmental limits in order to conserve biodiversity.
Links to the country strategies:
England: Working with the Grain of Nature
Scotland: Scotland's Biodiversity: it's in your hands
Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy
Wales: Environment Strategy for Wales
Related articles
UK list of priority habitats and species
Integrating the needs of England's priority species into habitat management
