Nature map
The regional Nature Map illustrates the larger 'Strategic Nature Areas' of the South West that have a high value for biodiversity and potential habitat restoration. The first version was published by the Partnership in the SW Biodiversity Implementation Plan (July 2004). This map presents a clear strategic picture of our region's biodiversity for organisations operating at a regional scale such as the Regional Assembly, Regional Development Agency and Government Office. Click here for more detail about the Nature Map and here for how it was originally produced using priority habitat mapping.

The Partnership is now working with the local Biodiversity Action Partnerships to develop the Nature Map further. Click here for a flowchart that illustrates this process. A series of seven meetings have been held, each based on a county, to develop the Nature Map at a more local scale. These meetings were held under the aegis of the local BAP partnership for each county, and run by the SWRBP in association with the Wildlife Trusts, who brought their Rebuilding Biodiversity methodology to the table to provide a framework for this next stage. Click here to download a copy of the full brief (Local work on the Nature Map) detailing the purpose of this development. Rebuilding Biodiversity offers a technique for defining the size, number and location of SNAs at a landscape scale.

Click here to download a copy of Rebuilding Biodiversity - New Landscapes for Wildlife and People, Autumn 2004. Developed by the South West Wildlife Trusts for use by the South West Regional Biodiversity Partnership, this document introduces the Rebuilding Biodiversity methodology, explains its key concepts and sets out the practical approach to its application in the context of South West England.

Input and discussion with local experts with knowledge of habitats and biodiversity priorities in their counties was essential to make this process work. The SNAs have been further refined as a result of consultation and this map is being updated accordingly. The SWRBP is working with SW Regional Assembly to include the Nature Map in the Regional Spatial Strategy. For details on the interpretative text to accompany the Nature Map in the RSS please visit the consultation page.

Many SNAs have been identified on the Nature Map. Prioritisation is needed to highlight the SNAs which represent the best options for investment of resources for biodiversity conservation over the coming years. This is based on consideration of their capacity to yield high conservation benefits and the degree of urgency for action.

A second series of county meetings was held to prioritise the SNAs using local experts and an agreed process. Click for details on the prioritisation process & spreadsheet. The results of these meetings are being collated and will be circulated shortly for consultation. If you feel you can positively contribute to this process and would like to be consulted on the Nature Map, please contact your local BAP co-ordinator, or Heather Sohl.

Once the prioritisation of SNAs is agreed, a framework for evaluating and developing projects within each SNA will be used by local biodiversity action partnerships to identify future action.

Regional Biodiversity Monitoring
The SW Monitoring Group of the Biodiversity Partnership is working to develop biodiversity indicators for the South West Region. As well as representatives from partnership members, the group consists of representatives of the SWBIP sector working groups who will develop and report on indicators for objectives within their sector of the SWBIP. Click here to see the minutes of the last meeting of the Monitoring group. Click here to see the recommendations from the Monitoring group to the sector groups on the identification of indicators. If you would like to get involved in the Monitoring Group please contact Heather Sohl.

Regional Biodiversity Targets
Regional biodiversity targets developed by the SW Regional Biodiversity Partnership are included in Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) 10 (2001). The Partnership is, however, currently undertaking a review of these targets. As part of this review a report on progress towards SW regional targets was prepared in 2003. Click here to download this report. The SWRBP are feeding into the review of UKBAP targets. Guidance on this can be downloaded here.

Regional Spatial Strategy
The SWRBP are working with the SW Regional Assembly on the biodiversity content of the developing Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). This is a new kind of plan up to the year 2026. It will set a regional framework about ‘where things go’, what the scale of development should be, and the links between broad issues like healthcare, education and crime, as well as basic infrastructure such as transport.

Discussions with SWRA and input to the process have mainly been through the SWBIP working group for Towns, Cities and Development (TC&D) and the development of the Nature Map. The SWRBP hope the Nature Map will be included in the RSS to illustrate the larger areas of the South West that have a high value for biodiversity and potential habitat restoration. For more information from SWRA on the RSS development and consultation click here. For minutes of the last TC&D meeting click here and for information on the consultation on the latest draft of the Environment Policy click here.