Biodiversity News . . .

• Hampshire County Council has signed the Countdown 2010 initiative to halt the loss of biodiversity.  

• Hampshire County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan is featured as a model for other local authorities to follow in recent Government guidance on implementing the new biodiversity duty.

• On 26th June 2006 Hampshire County Council signed the Countdown 2010 initiative to halt the loss of biodiversity.  Check the latest progress one year on.

• More than 21,000 children from across Hampshire discover nature in their school grounds during Hampshire Schools Nature Watch 2007.

• Visitors to the County Council's Sir Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey can see the wild side of the Gardens with a new leaflet on Nature and Biodiversity

• The State of Hampshire's Biodiversity was launched at the recent conference Biodiversity in Hampshire : Achieving a Sustainable Future. The report assesses the changes, losses and gains for wildlife in the county over the past 10 years. It also identifies the current influences affecting the health of our habitats and species.

• Hampshire School Nature Watch 2006 has been a resounding success. Nearly 200 Hampshire Schools (more than 15,000 pupils aged 8 to 9) enjoyed a day in June, taking a closer look at their school grounds to find wild plants, animals and habitats. Results of 2006 survey now available.
  
  

• Hampshire County Council have become the first local authority in England to join the Countdown 2010 partnership. This international initiative is raising awareness of the need to stop or greatly reduce the loss of biodiversity by the year 2010.
  
  

• Hampshire County Council's Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan has been commended to Members of Parliament on 14th June 2006 as a model plan for all local authorities to follow. Local authorities have a statuatory duty to conserve biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.