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Home Page > Environment > Countryside & Wildlife > Wildlife > Biodiversity and the Law > Biodiversity Conservation Duty

Biodiversity Duty

Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC Act), 2006, Section 40 places a statutory duty on all public bodies to 'have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of their functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity’.   Conserving biodiversity includes restoring or enhancing a population or habitat.

As a public body Neath Port Talbot CBC is endeavouring to ensure that this duty is applied appropriately throughout its functions.  Examples include:

1. Biodiversity Audit / survey of Council owned land is underway.  This will identify sites that support interesting wildlife, plants or habitats.  In addition, opportunities for biodiversity enhancement of sites is also being looked at to contribute towards improving Neath Port Talbot's biodiversity.  Management plans for such sites are to be produced and implemented.
2. Through the planning process, development sites are required to comply with biodiversity legislation, include mitigation or compensation for any loss of biodiversity and enhance biodiversity where possible.  For example, nesting boxes for birds are often conditioned to be erected, which may go towards reversing the decline of House Sparrows.

The Biodiversity Unit provide advice and guidance on how council departments can comply with this duty.  For further information on this duty please contact the  Biodiversity Unit

For further information and an overview of other biodiversity law please follow this link.

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