Maximising the benefits of site Biodiversity Action Plans

THIS free interactive training day at the Attenborough Nature Centre in Nottinghamshire on Tuesday 26 September 2006 complements and forms a continuation of the introductory seminar on company Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) and Wetland Habitat Action Plans held in September 2005, which focused on why biodiversity is important and the issues involved in establishing company BAPs.

Focusing on the challenges of creating and maintaining an effective site-based BAP, which is a vital element of delivering the commitments made in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2005 between the Quarry Products Association, SAMSA and English Nature, this latest event will be of interest to all those with responsibility for biodiversity management (including quarry managers), restoration planning, ecology, forestry, landscaping, and management of designated sites, such as SSSIs.

Attendees will gain an insight into the nature of a site BAP and the issues surrounding its implementation, delivery on the ground and the realization of the benefits, as well as an understanding of how the momentum can be maintained and how the BAP can continue to deliver value to the company and other stakeholders. The content will address not only the management restored areas of sites, but also unworked/never to be worked and working areas.

Key learning outcomes will include: how to establish usable, useful indicators, including identifying what indicators need to be established early on and how to monitor and measure progress; to understand ways in which the BAP can contribute to other strategies and engage other stakeholders; awareness of sources of information including details of web sites, publications, organizations etc and what they can offer.