Welcome to the West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership Newsletter.

In this message:

	Climate Change Adaptation – Remains a Key Challenge for Partnership
	Regional Spatial Strategy Review
	Spotlight on . . . Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust
	Making a swift exit?
	Better consideration of biodiversity & geodiversity in planning applications in Staffordshire?
	Bright news for drab moth
	IALEUK 2009 Conference
	Grey squirrel wreaks havoc on timber industry
	A duty for biodiversity

Climate Change Adaptation – Remains a Key Challenge for Partnership

'Coping with the impacts of Climate Change', one of the 5 key challenges set out in the Regional Biodiversity Strategy, is recognised as a key driver for the work of the Partnership. To help promote the West Midlands Climate Change Adaption Principles the Partnership published an advice note for local autorities on adaptation for biodiveristy last year.  We are also working with the newly formed Regional Climate Change Adaption Partnership to help deliver the Regional Climate Change Action Plan.  (Photo of Flooding in Burton-on-Trent)

The Government Office identifies 3 key climate change adaptation issues for this region:

• Flooding - increased risk from river and surface water flooding
• Biodiversity - increased pressure on the natural environment
• Water scarcity - through decreased rainfall and higher temperatures.

The new UK Climate Projections 2009 (UKCP09) have recently been published and describe how the climate of the UK might change.
The projections are now available (click here) and are provided as aggregated results for administrative regions including the West Midlands.
The Key findings for the West Midlands to 2080s based on the medium emissions scenario are that:

• the central estimate of increase in winter mean temperature is 2.9ºC; it is very unlikely to be less than 1.6ºC and is very unlikely to be more than 4.4ºC.
• the central estimate of increase in summer mean temperature is 3.7ºC; it is very unlikely to be less than 2ºC and is very unlikely to be more than 6.1ºC.
• the central estimate of change in winter mean precipitation is 18%; it is very unlikely to be less than 3% and is very unlikely to be more than 39%.
• the central estimate of change in summer mean precipitation is –20%; it is very unlikely to be less than –43% and is very unlikely to be more than 6%

These new projections highlight the urgency that is required for us all to act now to reduce our carbon emmissions and to implement adaptation measures.

Regional Spatial Strategy Review

Phase 3 of the RSS review has formally commenced and runs to August 14th.   This will review of the Quality of the Environment section including the review of the Biodiversiy Policy and the Regional Habitat Targets. For further information please see the  WMRA web site.

The biodiversity partnership has been working hard to ensure that the habitat targets take account of the need to increase the extent of semi-natural habitats across the region to help wildlife cope with the impacts due to changing climate.  We have also been seeking to ensure that revision includes the WMBP Regional Biodiversity Vision and Opportunity Map to replace the current BEAs.  Further information on the development of the targets can be found on the partnership's web site

Spotlight on . . . Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust

The Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust has been awarded £442,000 from the Access to Nature programme, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and administered by Natural England , towards the Black Country Living Landscape Community Involvement Programme.  This innovative three-year project will help the people and communities of the Black Country to forge new links with their local wildlife sites, enabling them to discover and care for their local Nature Reserves and other natural green spaces.  By promoting access, understanding, involvement and volunteering the project will achieve lasting change by engaging local people with the transformation of the Black Country's natural environment. 

Making a swift exit?

The RSPB has discovered that the swift is in serious trouble - numbers have declined by 47% in the last ten years, and the summer migrant has been added to the amber list of conservation concern for the first time.  A major cause of this decline is believed to be the loss of nest sites through building improvement or demolition; swifts nest almost exclusively on buildings.  The RSPB has launched a nationwide search to identify where swifts are still seen and could be nesting.  Once the charity has discovered more about where swifts are found, it will focus its conservation efforts in areas where they are commonly seen and work with the building industry to help birds in buildings.  (Photo by David Tipling RSPB)

Better consideration of biodiversity & geodiversity in planning applications in Staffordshire?

In March 2008 Staffordshire County Council and the five District Councils adopted a Planning Application Validation Checklist for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation in Staffordshire, based on a template developed by the Association of Local Government Ecologists and the Royal Town Planning Institute.  A year on, the Staffordshire local authorities are looking for feedback regarding the use and effectiveness of the Checklist. 

Bright news for drab moth

Numbers of the rare drab looper moth have increased at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust's Monkwood Reserve.  The small buff-coloured BAP species has a restricted distribution and the rise in numbers of this isolated community is good news.  Drab loopers are associated with coppiced ancient woodland and recent management work at the Reserve has replicated this, opening out the rides and increasing the amount of wood spurge - perfect for drab loopers and other butterflies and moths.  Hopefully numbers in this vulnerable colony will continue to rise. (Photo by Dave Grundy, DGCountryside)

IALEUK 2009 Conference

The UK chapter of the International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) is holding its 16th Annual Conference on 1st-3rd September 2009 at the University of Edinburgh.  The theme of the conference is 'Ecological Networks: Science and Practice', with workshops on 'Spatial Data and Decision Support Systems', 'Engagement Methods and Advocacy Tools', and 'SNH Land Use Decision Support Tool'.  The deadline for registrations is 25th August 2009. 

Grey squirrel wreaks havoc on timber industry

The Country Land & Business Association, backed by Prince Charles, is calling for a cull of grey squirrels and deer in order to protect the region's woodlands and save the timber industry.  CLA West Midlands said the invasive greys are shredding the bark from native woodland and weakening the trees, and that makes it harder to grow good quality timber.  In a hard-hitting report, 'Seeing the Wood for the Trees: CLA Forestry and Woodland Vision and Policy', the CLA warned that the timber industry, which is worth around £2 billion every year and employs tens of thousands of people, could die out completely because of the problem. 

A duty for biodiversity

Natural England, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Countryside Council for Wales and the COHAB Initiative are jointly hosting a course focused on the biodiversity duty, aimed at interested local authority or LBAP partnership members, from 12th-14th October.  Places can be booked by contacting the venue, the Plas Tan y Bwlch Environmental Studies Centre in Gwynedd, North Wales.