Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of all living things, from common species to those critically endangered. Biodiversity is a key aspect of sustainability and is vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems. It also supports the health and wellbeing of communities, bringing economic benefits and providing essential environmental services such as pollination, soil formation, flood management and carbon absorption.
Local biodiversity is under pressure due to things like habitat loss, invasive species and a changing climate. We carry out a range of activities to protect and enhance Nottinghamshire’s biodiversity, including by working in partnership with other organisations. Our work includes:
- managing our Green Spaces and Local Nature Reserves.
- making sure that biodiversity is properly considered in the planning applications that we determine, including through Biodiversity Net Gain.
- acting as the responsible authority for producing and delivering the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham.
- hosting the Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group and Greenwood Community Forest.
- working in partnership with other organisations to deliver projects and develop new initiatives.
Biodiversity Duty Report
As a local authority, we have a legal responsibility to conserve and enhance biodiversity through the functions that we perform, known as the ‘biodiversity duty’. This duty comes from national legislation, the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, and requires us to consider what actions we can take to support biodiversity and to review these actions at least every five years.
We are also required to publish a report outlining the activities we’ve carried out to comply with the duty. Our Biodiversity Duty Report covers the period 1 January 2024 to 1 January 2026 and has been prepared in line with national guidance.
