nerc act, biodiversity duty and you nick white. why care about biodiversity?
TRANSCRIPT
NERC Act, biodiversity duty and you
Nick White
Why Care About Biodiversity?
An Unvalued and Threatened Asset
NERC Duty Re-Cap
• Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
• Duty on ALL public bodies to: ‘have a duty to have regard tothe conservation of biodiversity in the exercise their functions’
• NERC applied to England & Wales. Separate legislation in Scotland
• Defra commitment to review the Duty – completed 2010
What Areas Does NERC Cover?
• The Duty covers virtually every aspect of activities undertaken (including)– Procurement– Grounds and facilities
management and maintenance
– Staff– Customers/suppliers– Communications– Organisational policies
and procedures– etc
NERC and Universities
• 2010 NERC Duty review main findings– 19% of universities contacted responded to survey– Of those 61% aware of Duty– All (100%) believed Duty was relevant to them
• Actions undertaken by Universities– 52% set aside time for staff to undertake vol activities– 43% issued internal guidance on biodiversity– 48% held public consultation/events on biodiversity– 61% had biodiversity strategy/policy– 51% had corporate objectives/action plan– 70% had incorporated into other policies– 61% incorporated into land management policies– 78% into grounds maintenance contracts
Drivers for Action Identified by Universities
• Beyond the Duty itself the following drivers for biodiversity action were identified:– Staff and students – e.g. Establishment of environmental
volunteering groups and academic staff projects– Participation in EcoCampus scheme– Recognition that biodiversity rich estate can help attract
students and attract and retain staff– Perceived ‘Moral Duty’ to do something
• Guidance Universities were using– Defra NERC Duty guidance (39%)– UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)– Biodiversity on Campus – An EAUC Practical Guide
University Case Study 1
Loughborough University – external awareness raising
• establishing a number of campus walks to help students and the local community experience nature on the campus;
• establishing a conservation action group to undertake �practical conservation work – provides students with environmental education and exposure to conservation issues;
• woodland conservation days to get students into the �woodlands on campus to undertake habitat works
• the ‘Trees for Loughborough’ scheme, which is a carbon-offsetting scheme that takes into account biodiversity issues, as well as promoting action on climate change.
University Case Study 2
Warwick University – Integrating Biodiversity IntoEnvironmental Policies• � “seek to integrate a consideration of environmental issues
into all relevant aspects of the university’s teaching and research activities;
• �in conjunction with local, national and other agencies, promote and raise awareness of good environmental management policies and practices among staff, students and other stakeholders across the university;
• � promote a purchasing policy which favours those products and services which cause the least harm to the environment;
• � develop and maintain the grounds and buildings of the university in an environmentally sensitive way, seeking to protect and enhance natural habitats and biodiversity.”
University Case Study 3
London Metropolitan University – Greening the Grey• Has only one courtyard space and initial view was there
was little it could do to benefit biodiversity. • BUT – it became a member of a local environment group
and realised that it could do the following:– Putting ‘green roofs’ on new buildings– Replanting their courtyard space with native plants– Use of planters and containers to increase the amount of
‘green’ across their estate– Nesting and roosting opportunities
Other Actions Universities Have Undertaken• creation of a biodiversity working group or equivalent• adoption of biodiversity as a key performance measure;• sustainable development strategy incl biodiversity or BAP• Participation in the EcoCampus scheme;• liaison with grounds and environmental academic staff to identify
potential projects• production of a public realm design guide incl biodiversity• Undertake management of the university estate or campus for the
benefit of biodiversity• biodiversity surveys on the university estate*• Biodiversity and BREEAM assessment credits;• production of habitat management plans for university-owned land;• Link with local environmental groups, BAP partnerships.
Enough From Me....Your Turn
Thinking about your own role and also the type and nature of your institution I’d like you to come up with 2 actions forBiodiversity.
1. An immediate quick-win YOU can implement
2. Something more ambitious requiring collaboration and/or advice
In particular are there ways that biodiversity can help toaddress other current/anticipated challenges your institutionfaces?
Final Thoughts
• Landscape-scale thinking
‘Bigger, better and more joined-up’ Sir john Lawton
• Ecosystem services and the role of biodiversity in enhancing these e.g.– Air quality– Flooding– Health– Carbon etc
• The role and potential universities can play
