A new dawn for biodiversity partnership working

A rich wildlife supports our tourism industry, pollinates many of our agricultural and horticultural crops and helps control pests and maintains soil fertility

Scotland’s leading environmental organisations are lending their backing as a North East Scotland biodiversity partnership finds a home with Scotland’s new research institute.

The North East Scotland Local Biodiversity Action Plan (NES LBAP), which includes members from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray councils, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, was previously been hosted by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (MLURI). Following a historic move, the MLURI has united with SCRI (Scottish Crop Research Institute) to form The James Hutton Institute, and has brought the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership with it.

This move heralds a new dawn for the NES LBAP in a year which sees the partnership in excellent shape to help protect and strengthen biodiversity across the province. With a new co-ordinator in post and financial backing from Scottish Natural Heritage, the partnership looks forward to a very exciting future.

Speaking on behalf of the partners, LBAP Coordinator Rose Toney says, "The protection and enhancement of biodiversity is too big an issue for one organisation to tackle.”

“A rich wildlife supports our tourism industry, pollinates many of our agricultural and horticultural crops and helps control pests and maintains soil fertility and the aims of the NES LBAP fit neatly into the visions of The James Hutton Institute in making contributions to key issues such as food security and environmental protection. We look forward to continued collaboration to meet multiple demands facing the land and our natural resources.”

Notes to Editors
North East Scotland LBAP takes action to conserve important species and habitats for our benefit and for future generations.

The LBAP covers North East Scotland (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray) and is a partnership of local authorities, environmental, forestry, farming, land and education agencies, businesses and individuals.

The partnership was formed in 1996 by a statutory and voluntary agencies and individuals with a common interest in conserving biodiversity.

The aim of the partnership is to protect and enhance the local biodiversity by developing and implementing a Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP).