Biodiversity is short for biological diversity. It refers to the variety of life on earth, from the largest species of mammals and biggest of trees, down to the most microscopic of bacteria. Humans are just one part of this range of complex relationships, which includes everything from our rarest plants and animals to those common to our local environment.
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The Biodiversity Strategy explains the importance of biodiversity and describes how Kirklees Council and its partners will meet the objectives set out in the Biodiversity Action Plan.
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The Kirklees Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) identifies the local habitats and species of principal importance (also known as priority habitats and species). These are the species and habitats taken from the UK National Biodiversity Action Plan that occur in Kirklees or those that are of sub-regional importance. These habitats and species have individual action plans that enable us to prioritise biodiversity work in the district. Please click on the links below to access each action plan.
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Kirklees has a varied natural environment, ranging from the remote Pennine uplands of the west, to the intensively farmed agricultural land to the south-east. The urban settlements thread through this landscape, each with their own identity. As with local communities, a "one-size fits all" approach to management for biodiversity is inappropriate and for this reason a 'Biodiversity Opportunity Zones and Ecological Networks Map' has been developed for the district. This identifies the overarching habitat zones across the district.
- Biodiversity Opportunity Zones map (PDF)
- Biodiversity Opportunity Zones map - Background (PDF)
- Biodiversity Opportunities Zones - Habitats and species tables (PDF)
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The council regularly reports on the Kirklees BAP to the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan reporting system (BARS) on the status of local BAP habitats and species. BARS can be accessed at https://www.ukbap-reporting.org.uk.
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The Environment Unit has the role of secretariat co-ordinating the Biodiversity Action Plan for Kirklees. The role of the Kirklees Biodiversity Partnership involves:
- Regular Meetings,
- Supporting others in delivering the BAP,
- Collecting information about species and habitats distribution,
- Updating the Biodiversity Action Plan and sharing it with key organisations and agencies,
- Using computer-based mapping to record all priority habitats and actively managed sites,
- Producing guidance on how to manage priority habitats,
- Raising awareness of biodiversity throughout Kirklees district.
The partnership includes: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, National Trust, RSPB, Environment Alliance, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Denby Dale Parish Environment Trust, the Farmers and Wildlife Advisory Group, the Environment Agency and many community based groups across Kirklees.
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Kirklees Council Environment Unit
Strategic Investment Service
1st Floor Civic Centre 3
Market Street
Huddersfield
HD1 2JR
01484 221555
jeff.keenlyside@kirklees.gov.uk
Strategic Investment Service
1st Floor Civic Centre 3
Market Street
Huddersfield
HD1 2JR
01484 221555
john.atkinson@kirklees.gov.uk
Streetscene
Flint Street
Huddersfield
HD1 6LG
01484 234073
simon.pedley@kirklees.gov.uk
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