Wiltshire's biodiversity

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Wiltshire is a wonderful county for wildlife - important habitats, rare and protected species and a wide diversity of animals and plants. This ‘Biodiversity’ is a consequence of the county’s varied land form, geology, soils, habitats and built structures, which in turn have been influenced by farmers, estate owners, conservationists, developers and others.

The importance of Wiltshire’s biodiversity is recognised in that numerous areas of the county are covered by international, national and local nature conservation designations.

Wiltshire Council works to conserve and enhance Wiltshire’s biodiversity through its implementation of the Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP); through its Biodiversity Improvement Grant scheme; by making financial contributions and dedicating staff time to a wide range of Environmental partnership projects and organisations; and in placing biodiversity at the heart of its activities and decision making.

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity encompasses the whole variety of life on Earth. It includes all species of plants and animals, their genetic variation, and the complex of ecosystems of which they are part.
Biodiversity is at the heart of Wiltshire Council's aim for a more sustainable future. We have a duty to ensure that a diverse and thriving natural environment is maintained for the economic, social and spiritual health and wellbeing of this and future generations.

The word ‘biodiversity’ gained prominence following the Rio Earth Summit when more than 150 States, including the UK, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity aimed at conserving the global diversity of habitats and species.The UK was one of the first countries to produce a National Biodiversity Action Plan,, followed by a series of action plans for priority habitats and species.

In order to address the long-term decline in Wiltshire’s biodiversity, common to the whole of the UK, Wiltshire Council together with other partners prepared and published a local BAP specifically for Wiltshire in 2002, which was reviewed, updated and re-published in July 2008. The Wiltshire BAP integrates with the Swindon; and Cotswold Water Park BAPs and the South West Biodiversity Implementation Plan.

• Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan
• Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan
• Swindon Biodiversity Action Plan
• South West Biodiversity Implementation Plan
• Wiltshire Biodiversity Improvement Grant scheme
• Wiltshire Habitats
• Wiltshire Species
• Ecological Planning Service

Last updated: 16 February 2011