The UK Biodiversity Action Plan

The International Convention on Biodiversity was signed at the 1992 Earth Summit. As a signatory, the UK was required to produce a national biodiversity action plan. This was published in 1994, with the overall aim being to: ‘Conserve and enhance biological diversity within the UK and to contribute to the conservation of global biodiversity through all appropriate mechanisms.’ The objectives are:

1. To conserve and where practicable to enhance:
   
   • the population and natural ranges of native species;
   
   
   • natural and semi-natural wildlife habitats;
   
   
   • ecosystems that are characteristic of local areas.
     
2. To increase public awareness of, and involvement in, conserving biodiversity.
   
3. To contribute to the conservation of biodiversity on a European and global scale.

Sources:

1. Convention on Biological Diversity, http://www.biodiv.org/default.aspx
2. UK Government (1994), Biodiversity - The UK action plan, HMSO