Biodiversity Action Plan
Each Drainage Board has conducted a biodiversity audit of its district and identified those habitats and species that would benefit from particular management or actions. Using this information, the Boards have developed a Biodiversity Action Plan.
The Plan identifies objectives for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity within the Drainage Districts, and goes on to describe targets and actions that will hopefully deliver these objectives. The intention is to integrate, as appropriate, biodiversity into the Board’s activities, such as annual maintenance programmes and capital works projects.
The action plan will help to safeguard the biodiversity of the Drainage Districts now and for future generations. In particular, it is hoped that implementing the plan will contribute to the achievement of local and national targets for UK BAP priority species and habitats.
Species and habitats which are not listed in the UK BAP but may be locally significant for a variety of reasons have also been considered.
The Biodiversity Action Plan can be downloaded below:
Download: Biodiversity Action Plan (Adobe PDF – 1.08 MB) https://witham.lincolnturnkeywebsites.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IDB_BAP_Guidance_2020.pdf
Biodiversity 2020 – Witham and Humber IDBs are currently awaiting guidance from Natural England and ADA on ‘Biodiversity 2020’ and will update their Biodiversity Action Plan as appropriate
Invasive, Non-Native Species
The current status of individual invasive species in Lincolnshire is not well understood, as species are generally only recorded on a site specific basis. As a part of our environmental obligations, we record the presence of invasive species within our drains, and report this annually to the GLNP in an effort to improve understanding.
Invasive species which have the potential to cause problems within our internal drainage district include Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam. The main issue with these species from an operational perspective is the disruption to routine maintenance in terms of restriction of access to banks.
From a conservation perspective, invasive species can cause a reduction in diversity and habitat quality, as they often out-compete native flora. Japanese Knotweed in particular spreads very easily-particularly in riparian areas where high water flows can disperse fragments of the plant downstream, where new colonies can form.
It is therefore very difficult and expensive to control and eradicate. Further problems occur during the winter months when the species isn’t present, as it leaves areas of exposed ground, therefore increasing the risk of erosion.
For more information about invasive species in the UK, please click on the link below:
Invasive, Non-Native Species Secretariat *trying to get a copy of this
To download the Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership’s invasive species identification guides, please click here *trying to get a copy of this
