Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership

Local Sites  can be known more specifically as Local Wildlife Sites or Local Geological Sites. They are the non-statutory conservation sites and were previously called Sites of Nature Conservation importance (SNCI) in this area.

What are Local Wildlife Sites?

There are around 35,000 non statutory Local Wildlife Sites in England. Local Sites make a vital contribution to delivering both the UK and Local Biodiversity Action Plan targets.

1. Local Sites networks provide a comprehensive rather than representative suite of sites.
2. Local Sites provide wildlife refuges for most of the UK’s fauna and flora and through their connecting and buffering qualities, they complement other site networks.
3. Local Sites represent local character and distinctiveness.
4. Local Sites contribute to the quality of life and the well-being of the community, with many sites providing opportunities for research and education.

How are Local Wildlife Sites identified, selected and managed?

Defra have produced national guidance on the identification, selection and management of Local Sites. The guidance has been produced to ensure that there is a consistent and systematic approach to the selection of Local Sites so that they can be protected and appropriately managed.

For more information on the legislative and policy context of Local Sites, the national framework for establishing and administering the Local Sites System, the role of Local Sites partnerships, the evaluation and selection of Local Sites and the management and resourcing of Local Sites download a copy of the Defra Guidance

Defra (2006) Local Sites, guidance on their identification, selection and management.

Link here to the relevant pages on the Defra website

What protection do Local Wildlife Sites have?

Local Sites do not legal protection but have policy protection through the relevant Local Development Framework (LDF).

Local Wildlife sites review in the Tees Valley

The Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership intends to act as the Local Sites Partnership in the Tees Valley.

The partnership has produced a guidance document for the selection of Local Wildlife Sites in the Tees Valley in response to the Defra (2006) guidance. This guidance is based on local scientifically based knowledge within the partnership. The criteria cover 8 habitat types and 15 species / groups. These criteria will provide information to monitor site condition and set management objectives for sites. It is a working document  and subject to. Further development and review by the Biodiversity Partnership

The Local Wildlife Sites in the Tees Valley are currently being assessed for each local authority. This involves the survey of existing and potential local sites. This data is then used to compare the sites with the Tees Valley selection criteria to produce a list of proposed Local Sites. The Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership will produce a list of Local Wildlife Sites which it will provide to each Local Authority for inclusion in its Local Development

At September 2008, the selection of Local Wildlife Sites in the Tees Valley has achieved the following

1. In Middlesbrough, 30 sites have been surveyed and 15 have been proposed for designation under the criterial.
2. In Redcar and Cleveland a desk review of 67 candidate sites took place, with field surveys completed on 35 sites in 2007. 42 sites will be proposed as Local Wildlife Sites.
3. In Stockton a desk review and surveys have been undertaken on more than 40 candidate sites.
4. In Hartlepool a desk review is currently underway.

Information on the location and wildlife interest of Local Sites will be available on this website once they have formally been declared. In the meantime contact the following contacts in the relevant local authority.

Jeremy Garside of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust produced an update paper on Local Wildlife Sites and the process in the Tees Valley for the Tees Valley Biodiversity partnership Steering Group in October 2008.  This can be downlaoded here

TVBP local sites system paper Oct 08

Here is a copy of the lastest copy of the selection guidelines of Local Wildlife Sites in the Tees Valley

Tees Valley Local Sites selection guidelines V5

Indicator 197 and the Local Wildlife Sites

National Indicator 197 has been develop to record local authority actions for biodiversity. It measures the positive action that has been implemented on the Local Sites in each Local Authority area. All local authorities need to report on all National Indicators, whether or not they have been selected for their Local Area Agreement.

Local Biodiversity Indicator (197) is a national indicator for local authorities.

Indicator 197 is a biodiversity indicator and needs to be integrated with the whole
BAP process. The Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership has an ongoing role in managing Local Sites System and verifying outputs claimed for the indicator.

The indicator will not only assess the performance of local authorities with regards to Local Sites but also their wider performance for biodiversity and in meeting their obligations under the  “Biodiversity duty” (NERC 2006)

More information and guidance is available on the Defra website (do a link to page http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/localgovindicators/ni197.htm)
This link takes you to a defra web page that includes all the pdf documents on NI197 including the technical guidance and the latest methodology for setting baselines on LWS.