How to use the guidelines?
These guidelines draw from local government experiences and examples, in a range of geographical and politico-administrative contexts. They are designed to assist local government practitioners and policy- makers in managing biodiversity and are flexible to the level of resources and experience available. They should be of as much use to technically-advanced local governments wishing to hone their existing plans, as they should be to relative newcomers wishing to initiate strategic biodiversity planning. Actionable suggestions are posited to guide and inspire users, but will not be equally relevant or feasible in every local government.
Users should therefore exercise some discretion in identifying the most appropriate suggestions for meeting their respective needs. In all cases, users are encouraged to be ambitious whilst prioritizing what is realistic and achievable. Capacity, in particular, will determine what is possible but even a single individual with scarce resources can make a catalytic start. Section 1 provides a background to local biodiversity management issues and introduces the concept of a Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (LBSAP) and the rationale for developing one. Section 2 provides practical suggestions on how to begin compiling an LBSAP, from assempling a team to conducting a biodiversity assessment, and explores the concept of biodiversity mainstreaming. Section 3 identifies the standard information that an LBSAP should contain and suggests how to construct a vision, guiding principles, goals, targets and actions. It examines a number of extracts taken from existing LBSAPs of leading local governments. To further inspire the design of actions proposed in an LBSAP, section 4 outlines the various tools and approaches that can be applied at the local level to effectively manage and mainstream biodiversity. Finally, section 5 provides a short conclusion.
