Coventry’s draft Climate Change Strategy

Enhance biodiversity and urban ecosystems

9.1 England’s ‘State of Nature’ Report (2019) is revealing some dramatic changes in the levels of abundance of species with 45% of species affected (when in 1970 it was 23%) with a widespread loss and degradation of habitats. Of the 7,615 species found in England 13% are threatened with extinction. The problem for those involved in wildlife conservation in Coventry is that we do not know anywhere near enough about the species living within Coventry and surrounds their habitats or their conservation status. The Habitat Biodiversity Audit has surveyed habitats across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull but this concentrates on the most important sites across the sub region and now there is a need to focus on Coventry and develop a comprehensive strategy to enhance biodiversity and the appreciation of habitats and natural places across the City.

9.2 The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) agreed a set of goals to halt the extinction of threatened species and reverse nature loss with the effective recovery and conservation of habitats by 2030. These habitats provide vital ecosystem services that help to protect the planet. In addition to climate change the destruction of habitat for developments, pollution, exploitation of natural habitats for food all contributes to the loss of biodiversity. COP15 has set a target of addressing these pressures and conserving and managing 30% of land, inland waters, coasts and oceans by 2030.

9.3 Capitalising on the UK Environment Act’s (2021) introduction of a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain in UK planning applications will help to resource actions to enhance the conservation of habitats and the value of the ecosystem services they provide.

9.4 The Wildlife Trust has played a very important role in promoting biodiversity across the City with ‘Living Landscapes’ projects like the Sowe Valley Project investing millions to enhance areas for public amenity and wildlife and now a multimillion pound project with commitments from the Wildlife Trust, Severn Trent Water, the Environment Agency and City Council to open up parts of the River Sherbourne for wildlife and the public to enjoy. The Trust also played an active role in the development of community engagement activities in the City of Culture’s environmental theme.

9.5 Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 Local Authorities had a duty placed upon them to consider the conservation of biodiversity when carrying out their functions. The conservation of biodiversity has been addressed with a Biodiversity Action Plan produced by a Local Nature Partnership which covered Warwickshire and Solihull as well as Coventry. The Strategic vison that was developed in 2013 is now in need of a major review for a number of reasons including changes in legislation which has created new opportunities for securing funding for practical action to promote biodiversity. Now the ‘The Environment Act’ has received Royal Assent It was agreed that the City needs to ensure it identifies its priority designated areas for wildlife conservation and to prioritise those areas where Biodiversity Net gain can be applied which will as a minimum provide a 10% net gain in biodiversity for a series of locations secured by formal obligations and covenants for locations within the City or owned by the City Council for a minimum of 30 years onwards.

9.6 In addition to developing species conservation strategies and protected sites strategies the City’s Partnership will also need to work with Warwickshire County Council and or the WMCA in the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy ensuring that locations in Coventry are identified for the benefit of not only wildlife but also our citizens with benefits to health and mental wellbeing.

9.7 The nature conservation policies in the Local Plan will need to be reviewed with the possibilities of providing supplementary guidance for developers with respect to protecting existing sites of conservation value and ensuring there is a minimum of a 10% improvement in abundance and diversity of wildlife in relation to the whole of the site as it was prior to the development. In addition to ensuring there is a commitment from developers for wildlife conservation improvements, that existing sites of nature conservation value are protected and built into the design of the development. There will also need to be a commitment to monitoring the effectiveness of any mitigation methods such as the translocation of species to inform corrective measures and future recommended practices.

9.8 The management of parks, gardens and open spaces are a vital resource, Coventry has five of its 24 City Parks which have achieved Green Flag Award status I.e., Allesley Park, Caludon Castle Park, Coombe Abbey Park, Longford Park and War Memorial Park for the City Council and also Coventry University Campus and the Coventry Canal. The development of Friends of Parks Groups is an important contributor to the success of parks as well are conservation volunteers, tree wardens and allotment holders all of whom given the right advice, training and support can help to promote biodiversity as well as build pride in the quality and beauty of our open green spaces across the City.

9.9 There is a need to review the way areas of open space are managed and maintained across the City in order to maximise wildlife with the need for specialist skills training for staff and volunteers to improve the standards for conservation management which are beneficial for wildlife.

9.10 Already roadside verges are being seeded with wildflower or pollinator friendly plants to attract more wildlife as well as add colour to the urban landscape. there are opportunities to green more areas and to encourage local residents to attract wildlife into gardens with initiatives like the ‘Bee Line’ project supported by the City of Culture Trust , Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Coventry City Council , The Canals and Rivers Trust and the Historic Coventry Trust working with schools and communities across the City to create new pollinator pathways across the City. Miniforests supported by Severn Trent and Earthwatch are being planted in schools as part of the carbon offsetting commitments for the Commonwealth Games. there is also an opportunity for rewilding areas such as near Brandon March

9.11 Coventry’s Urban Forestry Strategy 2019 –2029 recognises the importance of urban trees and forests in serving an ecosystem function for the City helping to cool the City down, clean the air and, contamination in soils, reduce the risk of flooding, improve water quality and enhance the urban visual landscape. We must not forget that trees are also vital wildlife habitats. The city has over 200,000 trees (44,000 CCC Trees) in open spaces, 17 woodlands and 18% canopy cover. The City is planning on planting a tree for every Coventry citizen amounting to 360,000 trees by 2031.

9.12 It is important to note that there are clear links between the proposed work of the other thematic Pathway Groups such as Adaptation and Resilience, Person Centred Equitable and Low Emissions etc all of which can also contribute to enhancing biodiversity and natural habitats across the City whether it’s a Sustainable Urban drainage scheme providing a wetland habitat, a cycle route with a wildlife corridor or a project where local residents grow food on an allotment in a wildlife friendly way etc.

Establishing plans, data monitoring and analysis

• NB1 Establish a group to bring together a variety of partners creating a ‘Biodiversity Action Plan’ (BAP) including a regular ‘State of Nature Report’ and contribute to the regional Nature Recovery Strategy for the WMCA area.
• NB2 To develop a database of the City’s land assets and their potential nature conservation value on the Council’s GIS System including conservation management and species data records.

Habitat creation and enhancement

• NB3 To identify opportunities for habitat creation in areas within parks and areas of open space which can be managed for nature conservation purposes and to use these venues as an opportunity to engage with the public and promote habitat creation in private gardens etc.
• NB4 In conjunction with the identified work on the Biodiversity Action Plan to work with internal and external stakeholders to identify small areas of land of current low biodiversity and develop targeted interventions to create biodiversity rich areas
• NB5 To establish partnership projects to enhance areas of biodiversity value e.g. the £2m Sherbourne Valley Project to restore the river for wildlife with the creation of new wetlands and to reconnect local communities with the river
• NB6 To work with neighbouring local authorities on the development of a major high profile rewilding project in the City and surrounds e.g. Brandon Marsh which could become a major visitor attraction and create a unique experience for the citizens of Coventry especially those who do not have the opportunity to visit areas of outstanding natural beauty or major wildlife conservation areas.
• NB7 To consider the importance of being sensitive to the needs of wildlife when introducing flood prevention and Sustainable Urban drainage or landscaping of urban spaces and to approach such schemes in a more holistic way from a biodiversity perspective.

Maintenance of sites

• NB8 To establish options and implement a solution to upskill existing staff and volunteers including the development of training programmes which enhance their capacity and ability to undertake conservation management work for respective habitats in parks and areas of open space on the land within the City whether they are public or privately owned.
• NB9 To identify areas within parks and open spaces for which conservation management techniques could be applied to and encourage community engagement in practical wildlife conservation activities

Engaging volunteers and public

• NB10 To engage senior managers across the local authority in considering how their specific actions and means of delivering services can impact upon biodiversity with considerations of opportunities for the future.
• NB11 To develop educational interpretative materials to encourage positive action for the benefit pf wildlife.
• NB12 To encourage and stimulate opportunities for communities to plant trees, the right tree in the right place linked to the GIS survey of vacant land with the target of 36,000 trees by 2031.

Education and awareness

• NB13 To contribute to the WMCA Regional Local Nature Recovery Plan promoting linkages between sites and wildlife corridors and improving access to green spaces for the general public which are within walking distance to nearby communities with accompanying interpretative information notice boards, the website and social media etc
• NB14 Promote family and public awareness events and initiatives which attract greater interest in wildlife conservation and promote positive actions such as promoting measures to attract wildlife to private gardens e.g. Coombe Abbey events, Bee Line, dawn chorus walks, bat nights, WATCH Groups etc to attract greater awareness and interest in wildlife conservation and the importance of promoting biodiversity.
• NB15 Work with schools on the development of wildlife conservation areas to be used in cross curricular teaching and to promote greater awareness appreciation and understanding of the importance of promoting biodiversity.