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Biodiversity

An important part of this years scheme for our entry in the Britain in Bloom competition - Biodiversity encompasses all living things; the diversity of species, the variation of genes that enables organisms to evolve and adapt and the diverse, fragile ecosystems within which organisms interact. Currently, it is estimated that more than 10,000 species become extinct worldwide each year and this figure is rising. The central cause of this extinction is human beings. (California Academy of Sciences, Biodiversity Resource Centre. www.calacademy.org 2002).

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan lists over 600 species that are ‘at risk’ and have shown a rapid decline in recent years. Many of these species have not been recorded at all in the last 10 years and may be extinct. Until the 1970s the most recent mammalian extinction in the UK was that of the wolf, during the 18th century. However, in 1971 the mouse eared bat became extinct and there have been alarming declines in the numbers of many other species since.

The factors that combine to put biodiversity at risk are as complex as biodiversity itself. The problem of identifying the threat is exacerbated by the lack of adequate survey data. Those surveys that do exist are relatively recent and have been put in place after the decline of a species has been noted. In short, species are becoming extinct faster than they can be recorded. It is estimated that the house sparrow has declined by 50% over the past 25 years; having always been considered common, very little was done to survey its habits and habitats. Now the house sparrow is an 'at risk' species, afforded the same conservation status as species such as the osprey and corncrake. It can, however, be stated with some confidence that the following factors are significant in the decline of UK biodiversity:

Agricultural intensification, with fields ploughed and sown immediately after cropping, has reduced the amount of seed-rich stubble during the winter months thus causing loss of habitats. Grubbing out of an estimated 230,000 miles of native hedgerows since the 1960s and annual flail cutting of those that remain, has led to massive loss of habitat and the removal of food sources. Ploughing out of headlands and mowing of field margins, ditches and rough grass again depletes habitats and food sources. The tidying up of buildings and houses and the conversion of barns into accommodation, has led to the loss of crevices and openings into roof spaces. These would have been used as nesting, roosting and overwintering sites for wildlife. The depletion of specific ecosystems such as wildflower meadows, unimproved grassland, woodland, wetland, heath and salt marsh has led to habitat loss. An unnatural culture of tidiness in the countryside, on road verges and in parks and open spaces means habitats are being altered.

Liaising closely with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust during the past couple of years, work has been carried out to create conservation corridors within the City Centre and to enhance the biodiversity of existing habitats, taking a cross-cutting approach to this important area, integrating positive measure at sites across the City.