Biodiversity means the variety of life on Earth; the number of species of plants and animals, the genetic diversity within and between them and the communities or habitats (ecosystems) of which they are part. The diversity of life on Earth is important because all life depends on complex relationships between species. Loss of biodiversity means a reduction in species, often directly through natural or man-made changes or loss of habitats. The greatest biodiversity is usually found within habitats where conditions have remained relatively stable over a long period of time. Despite policies to conserve wildlife there have been huge declines in many species and loss of important habitats, and this is an ongoing issue, but there is growing public awareness and most wildlife is valued, if not fully understood! Biodiversity is important to many people and for this reason there is all kinds of legislation in place to protect and conserve biodiversity.
The aims and objectives of the Plan are to seek to identify the key habitats present in the Parish, attempt to identify those species present in and around them, assess those species’ status (e.g. common, scarce, threatened etc.) and then set out ways to preserve and enhance this biodiversity where possible. As well as being specific to the Parish our local plan should also relate to and complement the County and National BAPs.
Further details are accessible below with each opening in a new page:
A 304kb County Council Factsheet about Roadside Nature Reserve 209 in Tiggins Lane available here
A 518kb County Council Factsheet about Roadside Nature Reserve 187 in Carlton Road available here
A 518kb County Council Factsheet about Roadside Nature Reserve 102 in Fordley Road available here
A 392kb copy of Suffolk’s BAP Priority Species List from June 2016 available here
A 17kb copy of KcC’s BAP Species List from January 2018 available here
Draft Kelsale Biodiversity Action Plan
