08 - NAAONB Conference 2012 - Gary Smith, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Gary Smith

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Northern Upland Chain Local Nature Partnership

Gary Smith Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

• From the Natural Environment White Paper summer 2011

• High level strategic nature / biodiversity partnerships

• Strengthen joined-up action across agencies and organisations

• Promote new/bigger thinking at landscape scale, on natural boundaries

• Leading to improved nature conservation and enhanced eco-system services

Local Nature Partnerships

• 50(ish) such partnerships expected nationally

• Replaces partnerships on BAPs, Local Sites, etc

• With broader representation

• Not an organisation - a coming together of existing bodies

• No powers or regulatory functions

Local Nature Partnerships

A northern upland chain LNP?

The ‘Northern Upland Chain’

Coherentcharacter

Common set of habitats

Common set of species

Peat in the Northern Uplands

• Upland soils are the largest carbon store in England.

• 300 mt stored in English peatlands, mostly in the uplands.

• Peat bogs sequester (soak up) atmospheric carbon dioxide in perpetuity, when in good condition.

• Many are in poor condition and are currently emitting carbon.

From Mapping values: the Vital nature of our Uplands 2010

Shared land management issues

Similar economic circumstances

• Conserve

• Enhance

• Expand

• Connect

• ‘Collaboration by design, not by accident’

Our expression of Lawton

Engagement

Joint funding bids

Project collaboration

Identifying habitat networks and opportunities

Creating new habitat networks

Expand successful projects

Coordinating surveys and monitoring

Piloting new approaches?

‘Off-setting’ High Nature Value Farming

Sharing data

• Decision from Defra

• Confirm secretariat and budget

• Confirm Board

• Board meeting to plan first year of operation.

• Annual Forum in Autumn

• Action Plan – start to do things together!

Next steps

• 'Ecological coherence’ - a strong driver for collaboration and engagement across boundaries

A recipe for a successful LNP?

• A core of 'doer' organisations through which strategic objectives will be delivered

• Time and energy to make the collaboration work – so there has to be “something in it” for everybody.