Biodiversity Duty Report
Under the Environment Act 2021, all local authorities must consider how they can conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. This is known as the ‘biodiversity duty’. This was strengthened under the Environment Act 2021 and subsequently amending Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006.
As part of this all Local Authorities must publish a report, by March 2026 showing the actions they have undertaken to conserve and enhance nature and their future actions towards this duty. A new report must be published at a minimum every five years.
The report must include:
- A summary of the actions taken to comply with the biodiversity duty
- Plans to comply with the biodiversity duty in the next reporting period
- Any other information considered appropriate
Walsall Council believes the biodiversity holds a role within the Council’s strategic framework including the existing and emerging Local Plan, the Climate Change Strategy, the “We are Walsall 2040” plan and Our Council Plan 2025 -2029 and to comply with the requirement has:
- Considered what can be undertaken to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
- Agreed policies and specific objectives based on this consideration.
- Acted to deliver the policies and achieve these objectives.
Our detailed response to the Biodiversity Duty requirement is found within the Biodiversity Duty Report document: