The Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan
The Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is a plan of action for threatened or characteristic habitats and species in our area. It is carried out by the Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership, which is a partnership of local organisations and people working together to benefit our wildlife. From here, you can find out about biodiversity in the Tees Valley: what it is; why it's important and what's being done to help conserve species and habitats in the area.
There are loads of great wildlife projects happening, and lots of opportunities to get involved. There are sections with information and ways to get involved for everyone, whether you are conservation professional, community group, schools, business, farmer, angler, gardener or simply a local resident with an interest in the wealth of wildlife in the Tees Valley. Contact the biodiversity coordinator at: santrobus@teeswildlife.org
News
Tees Valley Biodiversity on line
A one-stop shop of information resources, guidance and news for biodiversity partners, local and public authorities, community groups, industry and business, schools and colleges. Click here for link.
What is biodiversity?
Why is biodiversity important
The Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership
Habitat and Species Action Plans
The word ‘biodiversity’ comes from the term ‘biological diversity’ and simply means all living plants and animals on earth and the natural systems that they support. This includes everything from plankton to puffins, weasels to willows and back gardens to rain forest.
Biodiversity is the thing that feeds us, gives us the air that we breathe, provides the natural resources that we use, shapes our world and our society. Biodiversity is to humanity what the sea is to the fishes - it is the thing that supports and sustains us.
The variety of life on Earth is astonishing. So far about 1.5 million species of plant, animal, fungus, alga and bacteria have been described. However, it is thought that there maybe as many as 100 million species still to be found and identified
Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity influences all aspects of the quality of our lives. From it we obtain our food, fuel, medicines, cosmetics and construction materials. Shorelines, floodplains and wetlands help alleviate the effects of storms and floods and act as natural filters for pollutants, improving water quality. Biodiversity also provides and enhances the places where we live, relax and exercise, in both the countryside and the city.
Photo © Kenny Crooks
The Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan
The Tees Valley is a vibrant place to live and work. Conserving and enhancing our natural wealth of wildlife resources is vital if we are to retain our quality of life and future economic prosperity.
Biodiversity conservation is not only about those habitats found on nature reserves, or which is rare. It is concerned with the whole range of habitats, both urban and rural, which make our world a diverse and a varied place to live.
The Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) covers the county formerly known as Cleveland that are now Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.
The Tees Valley BAP is our response to the national biodiversity planning process. The Tees Valley BAP was produced in 1999 and consists of a series of Species and Habitat Action Plans setting out current status, targets for protection and enhancement and actions to be taken by each partner organisation.
This document takes the objectives and targets of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and translates and amplifies them into a Tees Valley context. Focusing on the most significant elements of the Tees Valley’s environment, it sets out the actions needed to achieve those objectives and targets.
Biodiversity Action Plans are living documents, regularly reviewed and updated, with targets changed and new ones added in response to the reality of changing conditions on the ground.
Photo © Debbie Scott
Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership
The Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership embraces a wide range of organisations - local authorities, statutory conservation agencies, voluntary bodies, representatives of landowners and others - all working together for nature conservation. The group has a steeing group and three action groups that work to implement the Tees Valley BAP
Biodiversity partner organisations
Successful implementation of the Tees Valley BAP can only be achieved with the active participation of our partners. The collaboration and support of these partners enables us to undertake the important work of protecting species and habitats throughout the Tees valley. We recognise and appreciate the considerable efforts of our partners in the cause of protecting and enhancing biodiversity and look forward to welcoming new partners in the future.
Current and previous partners of the Tees Valley Biodiversity Project include the following organisations:
Steering group
The steering group is made up of representaives of the partnership. The role of the steering group is to promote and implement biodiversity measures in the Tees Valley and to steer the work of the Biodiversity Co-ordinator. The meetings are held at least three times a year and chaired by the Tees Valley Strategy Unit.
2.2.3 Biodiversity Action Groups
In the Tees Valley BAP partnership there are three action groups,
Rural Action Group
Urban Action Group
Wetland and Coastal Action Group
The three groups work to ensure that the Tees Valley BAP is translated into practical action. Each group meets regulary to plan, set targets and monitor progress of work to conserving habitats and species. The groups are also a valuable networking forum where were partners share knowledge, experience, and examples of best practice.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Other surveys
Become a volunteer with the Wildlife Trust