Carmarthenshire focus on biodiversity
Members of Carmarthenshire County Council have been given training on the importance of maintaining the diversity of the natural environment.
Biodiversity is moving up the council’s agenda now that 23 councillors have recently attended training seminars highlighting the projects being carried out under the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP).
The plan seeks to conserve and enhance the species and habitats that exist in the county, and the duties placed on local authorities by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006.
Councillors visited the Morfa Berwick site where the Llanelli Water Vole Action Group has been improving the habitat for this severely threatened species on council-owned land. They also heard about the Afon Tywi, its importance in a European context, and the rarer species it supports.
The Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd Project, part funded by the Lottery, is working with landowners to enhance the landscape of the valley by managing its hedgerows, planting field and parkland trees, and planting orchards, with direct benefits to biodiversity. These are just two examples of projects in the country that help to deliver the LBAP.
Under the NERC Act, local authorities are required to take account of biodiversity in the carrying out of all their functions, and to identify opportunities for conserving and enhancing species and habitats. In practice this will mean carrying out projects on the ground in such a way that will benefit biodiversity.
Councillors were also asked to suggest actions that different council departments could take to help conserve and enhance biodiversity.
The Council’s Biodiversity Champion, Cllr. Henry Clive Scourfield said: “The seminars certainly provided councillors with the opportunity to realise their duties with regard to the NERC Act.
“We live in one of the most beautiful counties in Wales. Without biodiversity conservation, so much will be lost to future generations.
“As county councillors I feel it incumbent on us to ensure and safeguard what nature has blessed us with whether it be the flora or fauna of our countryside.
“I now feel far more confident that Carmarthenshire councillors will consider biodiversity needs in their decision making.”
Biodiversity is moving up the council’s agenda now that 23 councillors have recently attended training seminars highlighting the projects being carried out under the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP).
The plan seeks to conserve and enhance the species and habitats that exist in the county, and the duties placed on local authorities by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006.
Councillors visited the Morfa Berwick site where the Llanelli Water Vole Action Group has been improving the habitat for this severely threatened species on council-owned land. They also heard about the Afon Tywi, its importance in a European context, and the rarer species it supports.
The Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd Project, part funded by the Lottery, is working with landowners to enhance the landscape of the valley by managing its hedgerows, planting field and parkland trees, and planting orchards, with direct benefits to biodiversity. These are just two examples of projects in the country that help to deliver the LBAP.
Under the NERC Act, local authorities are required to take account of biodiversity in the carrying out of all their functions, and to identify opportunities for conserving and enhancing species and habitats. In practice this will mean carrying out projects on the ground in such a way that will benefit biodiversity.
Councillors were also asked to suggest actions that different council departments could take to help conserve and enhance biodiversity.
The Council’s Biodiversity Champion, Cllr. Henry Clive Scourfield said: “The seminars certainly provided councillors with the opportunity to realise their duties with regard to the NERC Act.
“We live in one of the most beautiful counties in Wales. Without biodiversity conservation, so much will be lost to future generations.
“As county councillors I feel it incumbent on us to ensure and safeguard what nature has blessed us with whether it be the flora or fauna of our countryside.
“I now feel far more confident that Carmarthenshire councillors will consider biodiversity needs in their decision making.”
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