Biodiversity

Local Biodiversity Action Plan

Biodiversity is the whole variety of life on earth from soil bacteria through to the great whales.

The biodiversity of the Borders is characterised by important wetland, grassland, heathland and woodland habitats on land and a magnificent coastal and marine habitat.

The land of the Borders is contained within a horseshoe rim of hills formed by older rocks that ring a central plain of younger rocks, and is defined by the catchment of the River Tweed and its tributaries.

There are habitats of international importance such as the River Tweed , fens in central Borders and the Berwickshire Coast.

The Scottish Borders Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) provides a framework for delivery of biodiversity, linking the national priorities of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, Scottish Biodiversity Strategy with our own regional and local priorities. The original plan was published in 2001.

The vision of the plan is that the biodiversity of the Scottish Borders is to be maintained and enhanced through the sustainable use of local natural resources and the conservation of the Scottish Borders way of life, recognising that the Border's countryside, coast and sea shall continue to be managed by people.

This depends on striking a sustained balance between the conservation of our natural heritage resources and those activities that may impact on them such as farming, forestry, fishing, recreation and development. 

LBAP Annual Forum

As part of its biodiversity duty the Council co-ordinates the LBAP partnership working with a partnership of over twenty organisations which meet annually at an LBAP Annual Forum.

To guide delivery of the LBAP, more detailed Habitat Action Plans have been produced which have a main objective to create linked integrated habitats in a network across the Borders.

This will not only benefit biodiversity but will help deliver a range of benefits for the communities of the Borders by providing services such as flood protection, managing carbon and improving water quality.

The next phase of the LBAP implementation will focus on developing an ecosystem approach to help ensure functioning woodland, wetland, grassland, heathland , marine and other ecosystems develop.

This will provide ecosystem services including biodiversity to benefit the communities of the Borders and providing opportunities for those communities to enjoy the biodiversity and help take part in making it happen.