AN AMBITIOUS plan to protect and enhance biodiversity in the borough is being drawn up as part of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s commitment to tackle the ecological emergency.

It comes as the council marked the second anniversary of its ecological emergency declaration on Saturday, October 14.

Now the council’s cabinet has announced the creation of a new biodiversity strategy as part of its plans to be a leading council in responding to both climate and ecological emergencies.

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The strategy will set out priorities for halting the decline in biodiversity and for restoring nature.

A borough-wide audit of biodiversity will take place to help understand where the council can make a difference and the state of nature in the borough.

Ecological enhancements in the borough will also take place as part of planning permissions and respond to requirements of the Environment Act.

One of the key priorities will be to bring together partners across the borough in a panel, the first steps of which have already taken place at a workshop helping to guide the council’s emerging priorities for biodiversity.

The strategy will be published next spring but work to protect and enhance natural habitats to increase the borough’s biodiversity and capture carbon will continue.

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Cabinet member for climate and ecological emergency Cllr Chris Tomblin said: “As we mark the second anniversary of the ecological emergency declaration, we can celebrate the great work already taking place across our borough through the expertise of own teams and the passion, dedication and hard work of our conservation volunteers.

“But to move forward we need a plan that guides us, sets out our priorities for our land and pushes us to deliver our ambition to be a leading council in responding to both the climate and ecological emergencies.

“We cannot do this on our own and we have been working with partners as we develop this plan. We are also really keen to harness the knowledge and passion of our many conservation experts in the borough through a panel which will help to guide the delivery of our strategy once it is approved.”

For more information visit  basingstoke.gov.uk/ecology.