Pwyllgor yr Amgylchedd, Cynllunio a Thrafnidiaeth

Environment, Planning and Transport Committee

Bae Caerdydd / Cardiff Bay

Caerdydd / Cardiff CF99 1NA

Dear Colleague,1 July 2002

REVIEW OF LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION

ironment, Planning and Transport Committee of the National Assembly for Wales is interested in hearing your views on action needed at the national and local levels to support and enhance biodiversity in Wales.Terms of referenceTo review current progress and ensure that Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) are in place for all areas of Wales, and identify further action needed at the national and local levels to support LBAP implementation through partnerships.Consultation themesWe are interested in views on the following themes: (i) Progress

• Reports from LBAP partnerships outlining progress in drawing up and implementing LBAPs

(ii) Best practice

• Suggestions from LBAP partners and others of best practice that could be applied across Wales

(iii) Key issues

• Barriers to progress in drawing up and implementing LBAPs, with specific reference to:
  • Effectiveness of LBAP partnerships and the role of partners in the various stages of developing and implementing LBAPs
  • Co-ordination between local and national levels (both organisations and plans), in particular in agreeing targets and priorities for action
  • Resources available to support LBAP preparation and implementation
  • Guidance available to LBAP partners and others
  • Arrangements for involving diverse groups within local communities
  • Access to biodiversity information
  • Access to expertise
  • Arrangements for monitoring and reporting

(iv) Action

• Action needed at local and national levels to support LBAP partnerships

RespondingYour response, in either English, Welsh or bilingually, should be sent to us by Friday 20 September 2002. In your response please:

• Include your name and address, and where relevant who you represent;
• Order your comments under the same headings as the consultation themes;
• Include a summary of your comments if they are more than three pages long;
• State if you do not wish your response to be published. (We may publish consultation responses received electronically on our website, and place hard copies of those received by post in our library, unless consultees specifically request confidentiality. All responses will be included in any statistical or other summary of the results.)

Please send your response by e-mail to environment.plan@wales.gsi.gov.uk or by post to:Environment, Planning and Transport CommitteeNational Assembly for WalesCardiffCF99 1NAFurther informationInformation about the review is available on our website www.wales.gov.uk under Presiding Office/Assembly Committees/Environment, Planning and Transport Committee/Policy Reviews. If you have any queries or would like to discuss your response prior to sending it to us, please contact the Committee Clerk, Siwan Davies on 029 2089 8501 or by email: siwan.davies@wales.gsi.gov.ukNext stepsAll responses received by the deadline will be analysed and a summary placed before the Committee at the first meeting in the autumn term. Evidence sessions with local and national groups and fact finding visits will take place early in the term, with analysis of key issues and consideration of draft recommendations towards the end of term.I look forward to hearing from you.Yours faithfully, Dr Richard Edwards AMChair, Environment, Planning and Transport Committee