As the council tackles biodiversity loss, Rachael Rowe looks at Dorset’s declaration and the steps it is taking to protect wildlife
The dearth of insects, particularly butterflies, has been noticeable this year – but not just because the summer has been a damp squib with unusually wet weather. Historically, Dorset has been full of wildlife, its countless hedgerows teeming with life. But are some species disappearing before our eyes?
Following concerns about the global decline in flora and fauna, on 18th July, Dorset Council formally declared a Nature Emergency, indicating that it would prioritise the environment and biodiversity.
What is a Nature Emergency?
Dorset is not the only council to make this formal declaration – several other local authorities are similarly concerned about the dangers to biodiversity.
In the report presented to the council, the declaration recognises that there is a nature emergency:
a. That nature is in long term decline and urgent action must be taken to reverse this, that the UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries – in the bottom 10% globally and the worst in the G7 – and with only about half its biodiversity left that it is far below the global average;
b. That a thriving natural environment underpins a healthy, prosperous society, that it benefits our physical and mental health, feeds us, cleans our air, moderates urban heat, alleviates flooding, absorbs carbon, makes counties like Dorset beautiful and that its survival and diversity is essential to human life;
c. That the nature crisis and the climate emergency are intrinsically linked and that the impacts of the climate crisis drive nature’s decline, while restoring nature can help to tackle the climate crisis.
Dorset Council’s emerging nature recovery strategy will be strengthened, following the declaration. New Council leader Nick Ireland explains the priorities: ‘We’ll be embedding nature’s recovery at the heart of all strategic plans – including the forthcoming Dorset Local Plan – as well as into policy areas and decision-making processes.
‘We intend to further support and facilitate the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Dorset, working with farmers, landowners, businesses, organisations and NGOs so that there are agreed priorities, opportunities and reportable actions to recover nature across the county. We will also set clear strategic and measurable goals for nature’s recovery by 2030, and its contribution towards mitigating carbon emissions and increasing our resilience to climate change.’
How big is the problem?
The county’s wildlife has been diligently monitored for some time, including by the Dorset Environmental Records Centre and various volunteer groups and charities, and their data shows that biodiversity is declining in Dorset in line with the global reports.
Dorset Wildlife Trust chief executive Brian Bleese says: ‘We’re hugely encouraged that Dorset Council has declared a nature emergency. Most people realise that we are facing a huge global crisis. Locally, we’ve faced serious problems with water pollution. And even in Dorset, rural as it is, one in 40 of all species is no longer in the county, and that includes 20 species of bee.’
The Dorset Rare Plant Register shows there are 17 species that have not been seen in the county since 2000, including orange foxtails and the short-water starwort. Starworts improve water quality, absorbing nutrients and naturally maintaining clean ponds – their disappearance has a follow-on impact on many other species. Variation in species is essential to create healthy ecosystems. Recent work by the Dorset Environmental Records Centre also highlights potential opportunities, such as the 18 farms owned by Dorset Council working to increase biodiversity.
When did you last see a dormouse?
The decline of species such as field voles and dormice from rural areas is recorded in the Dorset Mammal Atlas series of maps. Last year the Mammal Society estimated there to be about 900,000 dormice in England and Wales – down from around 2.5 million in 2000. Mild winters and deer grazing hold some of the responsibility for disturbing their natural habitats, but the complete absence of dormice in parts of Dorset is a signal of a broader, more serious issue, as important species quietly vanish.
‘Some of this is about shifting baselines,’ said Brian. ‘Our “baseline” is how we saw nature when we were younger – over generations that baseline shifts. We all remember how much more wildlife there was when we were young – but our grandparents would remember much more.’
Where to start?
One of the challenges in Dorset is to balance the nature emergency with other government directives such as an urgent requirement to build more homes – and the new government’s changes to the planning system are likely to exacerbate this situation. Under the Environment Act 2021, all planning permissions granted in England (with a few exemptions) now must deliver at least 10 per cent biodiversity net gain (BNG). There may be opportunities for the public to challenge developers more on protecting biodiversity, beyond the usual token drainage pond on a new-build estate – they could, for example, install living walls (walls covered with plants that grow vertically), bee bricks, bird boxes and green roofs.
There are other areas where the local authority can make a difference to biodiversity.
Glyphosate – why risk it? Although Dorset Council has minimised the use of glyphosate weedkillers, they are still in use. In a letter to the council before the July meeting, campaigner and TV naturalist Chris Packham urged councillors to ban the use of the controversial chemical:
“I applaud that Dorset Council has a motion to declare a nature emergency … but to continue using glyphosate across Dorset’s urban areas is simply mind-boggling.
“We know glyphosate-based products have the potential to cause significant damage to human health and to the environment – why take that risk? In a biodiversity crisis we need leaders – this is a huge opportunity for the council to lead, and demonstrate that emergency situations require ambitious, bold action.”
Several towns, including Glastonbury, have signed up to being pesticide-free on council land, so there is a precedent. How quickly can Dorset prioritise substituting glyphosates for other, more wildlife-friendly, products?
‘Dorset Council’s existing use of glyphosate is minimal,’ says Nick Ireland. ‘However, that doesn’t mean that as a responsible authority, we shouldn’t seek to reduce or even eliminate its application. Our current deployment of the herbicide is essentially in spraying sealed surfaces (pavements and kerbs) plus the very focused use on certain invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed and others to protect Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
‘We are working to reduce the use through various means such as removing soil and detritus from sealed surfaces, combined with ensuring that when pavements and footpaths are replaced, the new surface is designed to be as weed resistant as possible.
‘Many other authorities in the UK have banned the use of glyphosate only to have to retract to various extents. We won’t issue a ban now because for us it simply is not practical. Please be assured that Dorset Council is dedicated to tackling both the climate and nature emergencies.’
Funding is a significant challenge and local councils currently face enormous financial constraints. This has led to concerns among residents that Dorset Council’s nature emergency declaration, while well-intentioned, may lack the necessary resources to be effective in execution.
‘Dorset Council has taken decisive action by declaring a nature emergency,’ says Nick. ‘We are placing nature’s recovery at the core of strategic plans, policies and decision-making processes. Going forward, all budgetary decisions will now take into account the impact on nature recovery.’
Protecting nature is critical for the future of the planet, for food security and to ensure healthy and sustainable ecosystems for wildlife. And it’s not solely the council’s responsibility – everyone has a small part to play to protect nature and make a difference, whether it is planting some bee-friendly flowers, putting up a nesting box in the garden, or becoming a hedgehog-friendly village. Brian Bleese is a big fan of this collective community approach to small actions: ‘Even in your own small garden, encouraging wildlife can create an essential corridor for nature.’
