Outline of
the Living Shetland Project Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP)
Brief
Summary
The Living Shetland Project aims
to engage communities in developing priorities for safeguarding local
biodiversity and utilising this biodiversity to contribute to the
socio-economic well-being of Shetland. The main objectives of the Project
are to:
-
Encourage local communities to
work in partnership with relevant agencies and organisations to evaluate
the biodiversity of their areas, so as to agree priorities.
-
Develop habitat, species,
sectoral and area-based local biodiversity plans with targets and
proposal for action; and identify educational, economic and community
development benefits.
-
Promote the concept of
biodiversity as a key component of sustainable development in Shetland
-
Raise awareness through
education and training of the need and responsibilities for biodiversity
conservation and enhancement at a local level.
The Living Shetland Projects
will:
-
raise awareness of the
environment and wildlife;
-
raise awareness of the issues
affecting the environment in a national and local context;
-
raise awareness of the
importance of environmentally sustainability as a contribution to rural
sustainability;
-
increase community involvement
in environmental management;
-
increase community liaison with
decision-makers;
-
enhance partnerships in public
and private sectors;
-
increase appreciation of the
local landscape;
-
increase community confidence
and capacity;
-
increase income into the local
community through other activities associated with biodiversity
-
and increase tourism,
marketability, public and private sector investment.
Living Shetland Project Outline,
by steering group
The Steering Group perceives the
principal functions of an LBAP to be:
-
to promote effective local
working partnerships to facilitate the LBAP process
-
to engage the community in the
process so that it delivers what the community wants. Without community
ownership the steering group feels this important initiative will fail.
-
to contribute to sustainable
development within Shetland
-
to explore possible mechanisms
for utilising biodiversity initiatives to contribute to the economic and
social well-being of Shetland
-
to raise awareness through
education and training, of the need and responsibilities for
biodiversity conservation and enhancement in a local context
-
to identify locally agreed
targets for species and habitats and translate them into effective
action at the local level
-
to translate national targets
for species and habitats, as specified in the UK Action Plan into
effective local action where appropriate
-
to explore the possibilities
for funding local biodiversity projects and provide a basis for
monitoring progress in local biodiversity conservation.
The LBAP process forms an
essential part of Shetland’s Local Agenda 21 by converting the broad
desire for sustainable development into specific actions aimed at
protecting certain species and habitats, whilst also providing economic,
social and wider cultural benefits.
Ultimately, the Steering Group’s
strategy is to:
-
conserve biodiversity through
community involvement and action driving the process and setting
objectives
-
offer guidance when required
and ensure funding from the partners to enable the employment of
appropriate project staff.
Benefits
An LBAP will highlight the
contribution of local wildlife to Shetland’s heritage and culture and help
in marketing Shetland’s character; this is certainly relevant to tourism
but, in a broader sense, holds opportunities for other marketing
activities, most obviously in the food sector. Some likely benefits are
that it would:
-
help relevant organisations
agree costed Action Plans so as to increase opportunities to exploit
available funding for biodiversity initiatives.
-
help relevant organisations
create a platform for influencing national policy so that Shetland’s
interests are taken fully into account.
-
create a forum so that all
interested parties/individuals feel they have an opportunity to
influence biodiversity issues both at a community level and at a
Shetland-wide level.
-
utilise Shetland’s clean,
productive environment and its rich biodiversity to help focus on
relevant initiatives e.g. heritage tourism and to position local
products to take maximum advantage of environmentally-friendly labelling
so as to maximise their potential to contribute to the economy and
social fabric of Shetland.
-
form an essential part of the
Local Agenda 21 process by converting a desire for sustainable
development into specific actions and by providing indicators of the
health of the environment. This may also contribute to arguments for
local control of resources (e.g. fishing)
-
illustrate the importance of
biodiversity conservation not only for the economic and social
well-being of Shetland but also for the quality of life for its
residents.
Contact: Living Shetland Project, c/o SCFWAG, Agricultural
Marts, Staney Hill, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0QW Tel. (01595)
690832
Nature in Shetland
