DEFRA has recently published a new set of guidance for providing and protecting habitat for wild birds. This is aimed at competent authorities and provides them with advice and information sources on habitat creation and management to support wild bird populations. The guidance also includes some example projects to consider when protecting bird populations.
The guidance states that competent authorities must take steps to preserve, maintain and re-establish habitat appropriate for birds so that populations to maintain their numbers in the areas where they naturally live. A list of tools and information sources for identifying the habitat types and bird species that might be present are also provided.
Working through the planning system is one of the ways in which the guidance states that these levels of protection can be accomplished. This can be achieved by having more consideration for bird populations when deciding on planning applications; and also taking conservation into account when formulating strategic plans.
With this in mind, LPAs may give greater consideration to the effects that development proposals have on habitats likely to supports birds. The guidance states that planning authorities can work with local nature partnerships and impose legal agreements or planning conditions to create and enhance bird habitats. Recommendations that details on how these have been complied with should be kept for future reference are also included.
The guidance is broken down into specific information for a range of habitat types with outlined methods and examples for each. Urban habitats are included in this list and the guidance provides example ways of enhancing this type of habitat through the use of tree protection orders, reducing fragmentation and including bird friendly features in new building designs.
The guidance was published on the 25th February 2016 and can be read in full at:
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