Public Consultation on the Draft Strategy

What does the Local Habitat Map show

The Local Habitat Map for Derbyshire is divided into two key components:

1. Existing Areas of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (APIB)

This mapping shows those areas that are already recognised for their importance for biodiversity. It includes designated sites and areas of irreplaceable habitat:

• Designated Sites – These include Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), National Nature Reserves (NNR), Local Nature Reserves (LNR), and Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), all safeguarded for their existing ecological or geological importance.
• Irreplaceable Habitat – These habitats within Derbyshire include Blanket Bog, Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland, Ancient Replanted Woodland, Lowland Fen, and Limestone Pavement.

2. Areas that Could Become of particular importance (ACB)

This mapping shows the areas that have been identified for habitat creation, enhancement, or management. These areas have developed through data analysis and modelling, and ongoing stakeholder engagement. They have developed in response to the Lawton principles of “more, bigger, better, and more connected habitats”. Therefore, they show areas where existing habitat could be extended through habitat creation (bigger), locations where existing core sites should be buffered to help protect against the impacts of surrounding land use pressures (better), and land that should be targeted for habitat creation (more), or to connect areas of existing value and develop larger habitat networks (more connected).

This mapping also includes nature networks within the urban environment and identifies green spaces and other green infrastructure that could be protected and enhanced for nature recovery or for other ecosystem services such as those associated with climate change mitigation, natural flood management, or health and wellbeing. Species Priority data has also been mapped where possible.

The key habitat networks that could become of importance for biodiversity have been mapped under several habitat themes:

• Upland Moorland and Lowland Heath
• Woodland and Trees
• Rivers, river corridors and other watercourses
• Grassland
• Wetlands
• Urban Environment and Infrastructure

Under each habitat theme, those measures (actions) that will achieve a particular priority (outcome) have been mapped. There are other measures that are more generic that cannot be mapped to these priority areas (ACBs) but are either relevant to the county as a whole or particular National Character Areas as described within the spatial description forming part of the written strategy.