Southwark Council has committed to meeting enhanced biodiversity targets, approving its first statutory Biodiversity Duty report for submission to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The report, prepared in collaboration with Land Use Consultants Ltd (LUC), details the council's policies, objectives, and actions taken to conserve and enhance biodiversity within the borough.
Key initiatives highlighted include habitat creation in parks, ensuring biodiversity net gain in new developments, and engaging the community through various projects. The report also outlines plans for future actions and monitoring progress towards achieving the borough's biodiversity goals.
Southwark Council has a long-standing commitment to protecting and enhancing its natural environment, with a successful track record in initiatives such as planting meadows, woodlands, and hedgerows, creating ponds, and reducing pesticide use. The council's Nature Action Plan 2020 outlines a strategic vision for biodiversity, building on nearly two decades of previous strategies.
The strengthened Biodiversity Duty, introduced by the Environment Act 2021, places a statutory obligation on local authorities to consider and act upon measures to conserve and enhance biodiversity. Southwark's report details its policies, objectives, and actions taken since January 2024, as well as its plans for the next reporting period.
