What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the full variety of life on Earth. It is all the species of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. All these animals, plants and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life.
Why is biodiversity important?
We rely on these natural systems to provide us with everything we need – oxygen, clean water, food, medicine, shelter, and protection from the impact of climate change, like extreme weather events.
The biodiversity of Redcar and Cleveland is a tremendous asset. It gives the area its special character, supports farming, tourism and other economic opportunities and provides a wonderful environment for peoples’ mental and physical wellbeing.
Why do we need a biodiversity strategy?
The natural world is in decline and the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries on Earth.
We need to act now to protect, conserve and enhance our natural environment and halt nature loss.
By tackling the biodiversity and climate emergencies, we will help nature recover and, at the same time, secure health and economic benefits from an enhanced natural environment, for wildlife, for people and for our economy.
At the UN Biodiversity Conference in 2022, the UK government formally made a commitment to protect and conserve a minimum of 30% of land and sea for biodiversity by 2030, this is known as 30 by 30. This commitment forms part of the biodiversity duty within the Environment Act 2021, which requires public bodies to consider how they can support biodiversity. The Council is committed to supporting nature recovery and our corporate plan has made looking after our environment a priority. Our biodiversity strategy, climate change strategy and countryside strategy set out our vision for tackling the biodiversity and climate emergencies and supporting nature recovery.
Our biodiversity action plan will build on steps that we have already taken and set out the actions we will take to support nature recovery.
You can find our biodiversity strategy available to download and view below:
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Document
What are we doing to support biodiversity?
We’ve already taken steps to halt decline and support recovery, including:
- Restoring and supporting natural processes in our woodlands and open spaces
- Reducing the use of chemicals for vegetation management
- Working with partners to develop projects that support nature recovery and secure investment in our natural environment
- An annual tree planting programme
- Planting spring bulbs
- Considering how we can better manage our open spaces to support nature
- Supporting No Mow May
Tees Valley Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) were introduced in the Environment Act 2021 to
- Support efforts to recover nature across England;
- Help planning authorities incorporate nature recovery objectives;
- Support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain; and
- Help deliver the government’s national environment targets.
Redcar and Cleveland is part of the Tees Valley Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Tees Valley Combined Authority has been appointed as the Responsible Authority for preparing and publishing a LNRS for the Tees Valley and will work with other organisations and partners in the area to agree priorities for nature recovery in the region.
The supporting authorities in Tees Valley are:
- Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council;
- Darlington Borough Council;
- Hartlepool Borough Council;
- Middlesbrough Borough Council;
- Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council;
- North York Moors National Park Authority; and
- Natural England.
For further information please see the Tees Valley Local Nature Recovery Strategy and