HL Deb 25 November 2002 vol 641 cc24-5WA
Baroness Hilton of Eggardon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why a habitat action plan (HAP) for ponds is not being prepared since ponds meet the criteria for priority habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. [HL126]

Lord Whitty

The views of the country biodiversity groups for England, Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive on the production of new HAPs for ponds of high ecological quality and other habitat types were presented to the standing committee of the UK Biodiversity Partnership in September 2002. The committee accepted the scientific case for them as priority habitats but agreed to postpone the addition of any new HAPs under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan until a full review of existing plans has been carried out in 2005.

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they intend to ensure that the conservation of small water bodies is adequately addressed in the forthcoming Biodiversity Strategy for England. [HL127]

Lord Whitty

The Government's Biodiversity Strategy for England was published on 24 October and is in the Libraries of both Houses. The strategy sets out a range of measures which will benefit water and wetland biodiversity as a whole, including that of small water bodies.

With specific regard to the conservation of small water bodies, the strategy makes a commitment to promote pond conservation measures through agri-environment schemes and by increasing recognition of local biodiversity action plans in the land use planning system through the proposed revision of Planning Policy Guidance 9. It makes a further commitment to consider preparation of habitat action plans for ponds and other water and wetland habitat types following the review of existing habitat action plans in 2005.