Public sector

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC, 2006) creates a duty for every organization within the public sector to have due regard for biodiversity.  A full list of more than 900 public bodies affected by the duty is available from the Civil Service website.  The list ranges from British Waterways Board to the NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, Parish Councils and Tate Modern. 

The NERC Act aims to raise the profile of biodiversity by engaging bodies across the public sector, and for the first time giving it legislative backing.  It also aims to clarify existing requirements with regard to biodiversity and embed biodiversity in the decision-making process.  Two sets of guidance are currently being prepared by Defra to support implementation of the duty – one aimed at local authorities and another more generic guidance document aimed at public bodies.  These guides will be available early in 2007, and links will be available here as soon as they become available. 

The Wiltshire, Swindon and Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Partnerships are working together to host a Biodiversity Conference in order to increase awareness about this biodiversity duty to public bodies, and provide guidance about how they can fulfil this duty. This conference is being held on 27th June 2007.  If you would like more information about the duty or this conference, please contact us using the email box below.

Would you like to put your name down for this conference, or want more information? Send us your message here...