Introduction
In accordance with the duty imposed on Town and Parish Councils by Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, updated by Section 102 of the Environment Act 2021, Slimbridge Parish Council will in exercising all its functions have regard to the purpose of conserving biodiversity. This duty also means that town and parish councils can spend funds in conserving biodiversity.
According to Defra (Biodiversity 2020), biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth. It includes all species of animals and plants – everything that is alive on our planet. Biodiversity is important for its own sake and has its own intrinsic value. A number of studies have shown this value also goes further. It is the building block of our ‘ecosystems’. These provide us with a wide range of goods and services that support our economic and social wellbeing. These include essentials such as food, fresh water and clean air, but also less obvious services such as protection from natural disasters, regulation of our climate, and purification of our water or pollination of our crops. Biodiversity also provides important cultural services, enriching our lives.
On 6th November 2023 Slimbridge Parish Council adopted an initial outline working policy to draw up their Biodiversity policies. Over the coming months a more detailed plan will emerge.