ADA launches updated Biodiversity Action Plan for IDBs

Today (Wednesday 25 November 2020) ADA has launched an updated tool to help internal drainage boards to conserve and enhance biodiversity.

As a modern public authority, each Internal Drainage Board (IDB) is uniquely placed to conserve and improve freshwater and wetland habitats through their water level management activities, and to forge partnerships to ensure sustainable water level management in lowland areas. The new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) template and accompanying guidance provides IDBs with a formal mechanism to demonstrate and record their contribution to biodiversity.

Never has there been greater focus on protecting and enhancing our biodiversity as there is today. Ecosystem services provided to us by a healthy and thriving environment are now well recognised as being key to maintaining our own health and wellbeing and IDBs are the custodians of a huge amount of this natural capital.

All aspects of our daily lives from growing food and water consumption to packaging and transport are being urgently scrutinised to identify ways of improving sustainability and lessening their impacts on our environment. The public services provided by IDBs are no exception and the industry will increasingly be expected to demonstrate more sustainable water level management approaches.

The requirement for IDBs to conserve and enhance biodiversity whilst carrying out their water level management responsibilities has its source in a range of legislation and policy. This requirement will be strengthened by the Environment Bill 2020, which is currently making its way through parliament. IDBs already achieve much for biodiversity conservation through their existing biodiversity action plans. While biodiversity conservation thinking has evolved, and some new approaches are being taken to protect and enhance our nature, the IDB BAP remains the most relevant and suitable tool to be used to help IDBs to meet their statutory conservation duties.

Many IDBs are now looking to set renewed objectives and actions in their BAPs in the coming year. ADA has taken this opportunity, supported by leading industry experts, to review and update the BAP template and guidance to ensure that the most up to date legislation, policy and approaches are included for consideration during the BAP revision process. By setting objectives and targets to conserve and enhance biodiversity, IDBs will be contributing to the Government’s national environmental targets, particularly those set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan.

The publication of the new BAP delivers a key output of an ongoing ADA project, aimed at supporting IDBs to better plan and evidence their efforts on biodiversity, and to better communicate their successes with a wide range of audiences. In 2021 ADA will also be publishing an Environmental Good Governance Guide for IDB Board Members to help those who sit on these Boards to have greater confidence in their role towards the environment. We also are developing a set of National IDB Biometrics that will help ADA to better explain the collective contribution to biodiversity made by IDBs to decision makers and the wider public.

ADA looks forward to learning of, and reporting on, the successful delivery of IDB BAP objectives and highlighting the invaluable contribution that IDBs increasingly make towards national environmental improvement targets.

The new Biodiversity Action Plan Template and ADA’s supporting guidance document are available to download from the ADA website: www.ada.org.uk/environment

ENDS

Notes to Editors

ADA
ADA is the membership organisation for those involved in drainage, water level and flood risk management. Its members include Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs), the Environment Agency, Regional Flood Defence Committees, Local Authorities, Natural Resources Wales, the Northern Ireland Rivers Agency, Consultants, Contractors and Suppliers.

ADA is involved in a wide range of work for and on behalf of its members helping to exchange ideas towards solving common problems and finding new, better ways of working. ADA responds to consultations from the Government, either on behalf of members or assisting with individual member responses. It represents all interests nationally and locally in relation to drainage, water level and flood risk management, for example, in relation to legislation and public inquiries. ADA acts together with other organisations to pursue the Association’s objectives, including linking to Europe through ADA’s membership of EUWMA, the European Union of Water Management Associations.

ADA obtains and shares information on matters of importance and interest to members, and provides advice on technical and administrative problems. ADA is supported by a volunteer network of branches which bring together members for meetings at a regional level. ADA organises exhibitions and meetings for the benefit of members, maintains a website at www.ada.org.uk and publishes the quarterly ADA Gazette.

ADA is a limited company with offices based at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. ADA welcomes enquiries from the press and can be contacted during normal weekday office hours on 02476 992889 or by e-mail at admin@ada.org.uk.

For press enquiries please contact:

Sofi Lloyd FdSc BSc MBPR GradCIEEM
Technical Officer
Association of Drainage Authorities
Rural Innovation Centre, Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LG
Office: 02476 992889
Email: sofi.lloyd@ada.org.uk

Ian Moodie MSci
Technical Manager
Association of Drainage Authorities
Rural Innovation Centre, Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
Office Tel: 02476 992 889
Email: ian.moodie@ada.org.uk

Ryan Dixon
Publications & Communications Officer
Association of Drainage Authorities
Rural Innovation Centre, Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
Office Tel: 02476 992 889
Email: ryan.dixon@ada.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

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