Winchester City Council has today published a new Biodiversity Action Plan which sets out the council’s strategy and ambitions to protect, enhance, and restore key biodiversity across the district. This plan is a vital part of the council’s wider Carbon Neutrality Action Plan.
The plan focuses on the council’s own operations and identifies over 60 biodiversity actions that will be delivered in 2021 alone. The council has an important role to play in helping to reverse the loss at a local level. Each action set out in the plan supports at least one of the 22 key species or 4 key habitats identified within its scope including species-rich grassland, and declining species like hedgehogs and swifts.
The council will engage the local community in biodiversity action so that everyone can play their part in helping to protect the area’s local habitats and species.
Councillor Lynda Murphy, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency at Winchester City Council, said: ““I am delighted to officially launch the Winchester City Council Biodiversity Action Plan 2021. Our planet is currently facing an Ecological emergency – here in Winchester, our district is losing biodiversity at an alarming rate.
We must all act now to reverse this decline. Our plan makes it clear what the city council will do to help turn the tide of biodiversity loss. I am optimistic and excited not only about the great work we have planned, but also what we will be able to achieve working with others to benefit both wildlife and people”.
To find out more visit https://www.winchester.gov.uk/climate-change-and-energy/climate-emergency-what-we-are-doing-now/biodiversity
