New plan to help Highland Wildlife

A new plan to help wildlife was launched on Saturday (13 March) at the Highland Biodiversity Forum in Inverness.  The Highland Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was drawn up by The Highland Council on behalf of the Highland Biodiversity Partnership.

Highland Biodiversity Forum Chairperson Councillor Audrey Sinclair said: “The Plan lists the key issues that have been brought to our attention since the Partnership started in 2005: states what we have done to address them, and proposes a range of future actions or projects that we’d like to undertake in the next three years.

“We have made progress on nine of the ten strategic issues that were identified in the 2006 Highland BAP.  This new plan proposes 24 new projects, each with simple, measurable targets and an identifiable lead partner.

“2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, and we are looking forward to holding and taking part in a number of events over the year to celebrate and raise awareness of the fantastic wildlife we have here in Highland.

“We are of course bound by limits on the budget and resources that our partners can muster in these difficult times, but nonetheless we are confident that we can achieve a lot by working together and planning ahead.”

The Plan can be viewed by visiting www.highlandbiodiversity.com and clicking on the Highland Biodiversity Partnership tab.  Paper copies are available from Biodiversity Officers Jonathan Willet and Janet Bromham, tel 01463 702274 e-mail janet.bromham@highland.gov.uk.

Notes for Editors:

The Highland Biodiversity Partnership is made up of representatives of around 30 local groups and organisations committed to understanding, safeguarding, restoring and celebrating biodiversity within Highland.  Its purpose is to provide guidance and support to the existing network of Local Biodiversity Groups, and to make progress on the main issues facing wildlife in the Highlands.  It is this last point that will be addresses through the Highland Biodiversity Action Plan.