Biodiversity Working Group

Chair: Nicola Hutchinson, Plantlife
Vice Chair: Nigel Bourn, Butterfly Conservation
Secretary: Kirsten Knap

The Biodiversity Working Group aims to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by working to improve the UK BAP process and seeks to ensure that the England Biodiversity Strategy is fully implemented. The group leads Link’s Post-2010 Campaign that strives to push biodiversity up the political agenda and give it the rightful recognition at the highest level.

QUARTERLY UPDATE: October to December 2009

This quarter Link and a number of Link members attended the UK Biodiversity Partnership Conference, entitled the Value of Biodiversity. The conference included presentations on valuing biodiversity, a summary of Country Updates and an excellent talk by Pavan Sukdev who updated attendees on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study.

In October Link attended the UK Biodiversity Partnership Standing Committee meeting, during which discussions were held on plans for reporting on priority species and habitats.

In November Link met with Natural England to discuss the workings of the England Biodiversity Strategy (EBS) framework, in particular, the role of Lead Partners, measuring success and developing targets.

Other external meetings attended by Link this quarter included two England Biodiversity Group (EBG) meetings and the Lowland Farmland, Upland and Woodland Biodiversity Integration Group (BIG) meetings. The Biodiversity Working Group also held two internal meetings, where items discussed included conservation credits, the EBS Framework and their 2010 work programme.

We are pleased to announce that at Link’s AGM on 8 December Nicola Hutchinson (PL) and Nigel Bourn (BC) were elected as Chair and Vice Chair respectively of the Biodiversity Working Group for 2010.