PREFACE

At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 the UK Government committed itself to the conservation of biodiversity. Conservation of biodiversity at the national level requires the implementation of effective actions at a local level throughout the UK. This is being achieved through the preparation of local Biodiversity Action Plans which combine national and local conservation priorities and are being compiled by a wide range of individuals, groups and organisations involved in nature conservation across the country. In Birmingham and the Black Country a Steering Group has been assembled to oversee the process comprising representatives of:

• EcoRecord.
• English Nature.
• Environment Agency.
• Local authorities:
  Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council,
  Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council,
  Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council,
  Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council:
  Birmingham City Council.
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
• University of Wolverhampton.
• Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country.

A wide range of other organisations and individuals have taken part in the Biodiversity Action Plan process. These efforts are acknowledged later in this preface. These lists are believed to be comprehensive but the Steering Group apologises to anyone who has accidentally been left out.

The Birmingham and Black Country Biodiversity Action Plan is made up of a Framework for Action which provides an introduction to the Biodiversity Action Plan followed by the individual Issues, Species and Habitat Action Plans which propose actions with target dates for the conservation of local biodiversity. The Biodiversity Action Plan is intended to inform policy and action by a range of organisations. Carrying out all the actions proposed within the Issues, Species and Habitat Action Plans is, however, beyond the resources of the organisations involved and therefore an important part of the Biodiversity Action Plan process is to establish priorities for action and to secure resources.

Publishing a Biodiversity Action Plan is only a start, to result in real change the proposals must be implemented. The Steering Group will continue to oversee and monitor the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan in partnership with everyone currently involved in the process and those who will become involved in the future.