Biodiversity
Biological diversity or ‘Biodiversity’ refers to the variety of life on Earth. It includes the wide range of habitats like rivers, moors and grassland which support different wildlife and have a role in the natural processes that affect us. Biodiversity is the Earth’s life support system, providing essential services ranging from clean water and air, crop pollination and products such as coal and timber, through to the potential to help in flood mitigation and alleviating the effects of climate change.
Biodiversity impacts on all our lives. Likewise, we impact on biodiversity and, in many cases, our actions can have negative implications for the life around us.

Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs)
In 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity was signed by 159 governments at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It called for the creation and enforcement of national strategies and action plans to conserve, protect and enhance biological diversity. In response to this, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan was developed in 1994 setting national priorities and targets. Action was also taken at a local level with the creation of Local Biodiversity Plans.

Sheffield Local Biodiversity Action Plan
Sheffield’s Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) is the city’s main mechanism for protecting important wildlife species and habitats and contributing to national targets. The Sheffield LBAP was first produced in 2002 by the Sheffield Biodiversity Steering Group - a partnership between Sheffield Wildlife Trust, Sheffield City Council, Natural England, Sorby Natural History Society and other partners.
The Sheffield LBAP is in the process of being updated and is due to be fully completed in 2012. At this stage, the LBAP consists of 9 habitat action plans with specific aims and targets for habitats of importance to the area, 10 species action plans for those species of particular local importance and two specific action plans, the Green Roof Habitat Action Plan and the River Don and Sheffield & SY Navigation Canals Spatial Action Plan. Further details can be found on the Sheffield City Council website. 

Rotherham Local Biodiversity Action Plan
Rotherham’s LBAP was completed in 2004 by the Rotherham Biodiversity Forum - a partnership including representatives from local community groups, local and regional environmental organisations, landowners, managers and statutory organisations.
The Rotherham LBAP consists of 11 habitat action plans and 5 species action plans. Further details can be found on the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council website.

South Yorkshire Biodiversity Action
Sheffield Wildlife Trust also works to benefit biodiversity in the wider region. We are a member of the Yorkshire and Humber Biodiversity Forum and are the lead partner in the Coalfield Heathlands Project and the South Yorkshire Ponds Project.
We also host the South Yorkshire Biodiversity Coordinator who works with and supports partners to raise awareness and deliver projects that benefit biodiversity across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. The South Yorkshire Biodiversity Coordinator works closely with other sub-regional coordinators in the Yorkshire and Humber region to share information, support region-wide partnerships and provide a voice for the South Yorkshire Biodiversity Forum at a regional level.
For more information contact Ed Santry, South Yorkshire Biodiversity Coordinator, on 0114 263 4335 or at e.santry@wildsheffield.com

Recent News

NEW! Sheffield Green Roof Habitat Action Plan

Sheffield Wildlife Trust, as a partner of the Sheffield Local Biodiversity Action Partnership, has written a Habitat Action Plan for Sheffield’s Green Roofs as part of the new Sheffield Local Biodiversity Action Plan. The idea of the plan is to increase the biodiversity value of green roofs in Sheffield – one of the leading cities in the UK for green roofs. The plan was written with input from the Sheffield-based Green Roof Centre, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield City Council. It consists of information on local biodiversity that green roofs could support, an action plan to ensure the HAP is used and a scoring table to be used by green roof designers to help them maximise the biodiversity potential of the roofs. The plan can be used by anyone involved in the design and installation of green roofs and we would love to hear from you if you use the plan.

The Green Roof Habitat Action Plan can be downloaded here and the scoring system here