Ecology

Category Background

To ensure that the ecological value of the site is conserved and enhanced maintaining biodiversity and protecting existing natural habitats which can contribute to and enhance the amenity of the area.

Natural England determine that: The natural environment is a provider of a wide range of environmental services, including clean water and air, healthy food, recreation and inspiration. However, in many areas the natural environment is in poor condition, reducing the quality of these environmental services. Ensuring that future generations can enjoy England’s rich geology, landscapes and biodiversity means that we must significantly improve the protection and management of what we have today. Improving the condition of the natural environment is required to ensure that everyone benefits from the services it provides.

RSS Policy EM1 Integrated Land Management – Biodiversity

Plans and strategies should seek to deliver a ‘step-change’ increase in the region’s biodiversity resources, by delivering the regional biodiversity targets for maintaining, restoring and expanding priority habitats, and delivering the habitat and species targets of the Local Biodiversity Action Plans138. This should be done by protecting, expanding and linking areas for wildlife within and between the locations of highest biodiversity resources, and encouraging the protection, conservation and improvement of the ecological fabric elsewhere.

Regional Forestry Framework

This Framework recognises that trees and woodlands should not impact on the region’s best and most versatile agricultural land, or on the other valuable and sensitive habitats in our region that also need protection and management. Instead, it proposes that careful management and appropriate planting can produce mutually beneficial biodiversity, landscape and economic benefits.