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Introduction
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Moor Hen |
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The MOD has a legal and moral duty, and strong, long-standing commitments, to have regard to biodiversity wherever it occurs. Biodiversity is the variety of life, the genes, species, habitats and ecosystems provide us with services that determine our quality of life, such as food, clothing and construction materials, clean air and water, soil retention, flood control, as well as opportunities for education, recreation and inspiration. The Defence Estate, due to its size, distribution and function, contains some of the most important areas for biodiversity in the UK, and supports significant populations of many rare and threatened species. This is reflected in the number of international, national and local wildlife designations that have been notified on MOD land.
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Limestone Pavement, Warcop, Cumbria |
Over 4000 UK species have been identified as Species of Conservation Concern because they are globally threatened, are declining in the UK, or are only found in the UK. Of these, 568 species have been identified in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) as Priority Species because they are globally threatened, or have declined in the UK by more than 50% since 1975. The UK BAP also identifies 47 Priority Habitats which are rare, declining, primarily found only in the UK, or important in providing habitat for other species.
The contribution that the MOD can make to the implementation of the individual UK Biodiversity Action Plan can be divided into two categories:
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Cockleshell Bank, Foulness, Essex |
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The MOD's commitment to conserve biodiversity, where practicable and in accordance with the primary requirement of land for military training, is set out in the Strategy for the Defence Estate, and the brochures 'Respecting the Environment' and 'Defending Biodiversity'.
Biodiversity conservation is primarily implemented at the site level, through Conservation Management Plans, Integrated Land Management Plans and, from 2003, Integrated Rural Management Plans linked to the MOD Environmental Management System. As well as ensuring that biodiversity is considered in the day-to-day management of the estate, the Secretary of State's Policy Statement on the Environment commits the MOD to 'carry out environmental policy appraisals of all new or revised policies and equipment acquisition programmes and environmental impact assessments of all new projects and training activities'.
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Fish Pond |
The MOD works closely with the national nature conservation agencies, planning authorities, local records centres, non-governmental organisations, professional ecologists and amateur naturalists. At the local level the MOD Conservation Groups aim to bring all relevant parties together to ensure that we have the best possible advice on conservation management. At the national level, the DE Conservation Office is the focal point for MOD biodiversity policy and information, and co-ordinates the network of MOD Conservation Groups.
The MOD will continue its commitment, wherever practicable, to conserve and enhance biodiversity and support the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It will attempt to meet the obligations of the official actions placed upon it, as written in the individual species and habitat action plans, within the constraints of both the operational needs and the financial restrictions of managing its estate. In addition, where practicable, it will contribute to other relevant BAPs through the work of the MOD Conservation Groups, dissemination of information to appropriate bodies, development of management plans under the MOD Environmental Management System.
