Biodiversity

In line with the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, we published our own plan in 2000. Through this plan, we committed to:

• neither to cause nor to contribute to, through action or inaction, the extinction of any native living species in our district
• not restrict variation within species
• not destroy nor cause a net loss of area of any irreplaceable natural habitat

We will also enhance wherever possible:

• the populations of native species in the district
• the variation within species
• the area and quality of natural habitats in the district

On a wider scale, we will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity on the planet by:

• conserving and enhancing biodiversity in the district
• making sure that our actions have no negative effect, but preferably a positive effect on biodiversity outside the district
• contributing to sustainable development
• contributing to the targets of the Biodiversity Action Plan for Sussex 
• contributing to the targets of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan

In March 2021 the Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw was passed which banned trawling from occurring on the nearshore seabed off the cost of Sussex. The Kelp Restoration project was then created in collaboration with local and national organisations. We are taking a keen interest in this project and are actively involved with supporting this.

We have recently developed a 10-year tree planting strategy with an aim to plant roughly 30,000 whips and 500 standard saplings on council owned land in the next 10 years. These trees will not only provide offsetting opportunities but will also help protect, improve and maintain biodiversity within the district and provide vital habitat for a number of species.  

To help biodiversity thrive on our land wildflower meadows and areas of long grass have been established throughout the district. These areas provide essential sources of food and a safe habitat for a large number of birds, insects and small mammals. We will continue to actively add wildflower meadows throughout areas of green space, with an aim to increase the amount of area covered by 10% each year.

We are an active member of the Sussex Nature Partnership. This is a joint venture between all the councils in East and West Sussex with an aim to provide a coordinated source of information, knowledge-sharing and expertise around nature recovery, nature based solutions and biodiversity net gain.

We have recently produced a climate change strategy to help streamline our approach to reaching our 2030 carbon neutral goal. Biodiversity will play a key role in achieving this.