NERC Act, biodiversity duty and you Nick White

Why Care About Biodiversity?

An Unvalued and Threatened Asset

NERC Duty Re-Cap Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 Duty on ALL public bodies to: ‘have a duty to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity in the exercise their functions’ NERC applied to England & Wales. Separate legislation in Scotland Defra commitment to review the Duty – completed 2010

What Areas Does NERC Cover? The Duty covers virtually every aspect of activities undertaken (including) –Procurement –Grounds and facilities management and maintenance –Staff –Customers/suppliers –Communications –Organisational policies and procedures –etc

NERC and Universities 2010 NERC Duty review main findings –19% of universities contacted responded to survey –Of those 61% aware of Duty –All (100%) believed Duty was relevant to them Actions undertaken by Universities –52% set aside time for staff to undertake vol activities –43% issued internal guidance on biodiversity –48% held public consultation/events on biodiversity –61% had biodiversity strategy/policy –51% had corporate objectives/action plan –70% had incorporated into other policies –61% incorporated into land management policies –78% into grounds maintenance contracts

Drivers for Action Identified by Universities Beyond the Duty itself the following drivers for biodiversity action were identified: –Staff and students – e.g. Establishment of environmental volunteering groups and academic staff projects –Participation in EcoCampus scheme –Recognition that biodiversity rich estate can help attract students and attract and retain staff –Perceived ‘Moral Duty’ to do something Guidance Universities were using –Defra NERC Duty guidance (39%) –UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) –Biodiversity on Campus – An EAUC Practical Guide

University Case Study 1 Loughborough University – external awareness raising establishing a number of campus walks to help students and the local community experience nature on the campus; •establishing a conservation action group to undertake practical conservation work – provides students with environmental education and exposure to conservation issues; •woodland conservation days to get students into the woodlands on campus to undertake habitat works the ‘Trees for Loughborough’ scheme, which is a carbon- offsetting scheme that takes into account biodiversity issues, as well as promoting action on climate change.

University Case Study 2 Warwick University – Integrating Biodiversity Into Environmental Policies • “seek to integrate a consideration of environmental issues into all relevant aspects of the university’s teaching and research activities; •in conjunction with local, national and other agencies, promote and raise awareness of good environmental management policies and practices among staff, students and other stakeholders across the university; • promote a purchasing policy which favours those products and services which cause the least harm to the environment; • develop and maintain the grounds and buildings of the university in an environmentally sensitive way, seeking to protect and enhance natural habitats and biodiversity.”

University Case Study 3 London Metropolitan University – Greening the Grey Has only one courtyard space and initial view was there was little it could do to benefit biodiversity. BUT – it became a member of a local environment group and realised that it could do the following: –Putting ‘green roofs’ on new buildings –Replanting their courtyard space with native plants –Use of planters and containers to increase the amount of ‘green’ across their estate –Nesting and roosting opportunities

Other Actions Universities Have Undertaken creation of a biodiversity working group or equivalent adoption of biodiversity as a key performance measure; sustainable development strategy incl biodiversity or BAP Participation in the EcoCampus scheme; liaison with grounds and environmental academic staff to identify potential projects production of a public realm design guide incl biodiversity Undertake management of the university estate or campus for the benefit of biodiversity biodiversity surveys on the university estate* Biodiversity and BREEAM assessment credits; production of habitat management plans for university- owned land; Link with local environmental groups, BAP partnerships.

Enough From Me....Your Turn Thinking about your own role and also the type and nature of your institution I’d like you to come up with 2 actions for Biodiversity. 1.An immediate quick-win YOU can implement 2.Something more ambitious requiring collaboration and/or advice In particular are there ways that biodiversity can help to address other current/anticipated challenges your institution faces?

Final Thoughts Landscape-scale thinking ‘Bigger, better and more joined-up’ Sir john Lawton Ecosystem services and the role of biodiversity in enhancing these e.g. –Air quality –Flooding –Health –Carbon etc The role and potential universities can play

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