Way back at the tail end of 2016 the Liverpool City Region and West Lancashire approved the creation of an Ecological Network. The information behind this Network was in part backed up by the wildlife recording effort of the many individuals regularly sending in their wildlife sightings to us or otherwise sharing them via the National Biodiversity Network.

This Ecological Network helps to advise the Region on it’s responsibilities in regard to biodiversity. It does this by amalgamating a variety of environmental information on ‘natural assets’ (more recently being termed Natural Capital) so that they can be better identified and better planned for. This included the designation of Nature Improvement Areas or NIA’s which were identified as a means of highlighting both import existing locations and areas which would benefit most from investment.

Ultimately that forward planning that considers biodiversity will result in fewer time-consuming and costly conflicts for developers while protecting and enhancing biodiversity and ensuring that the local authorities fulfill their statutory duty to biodiversity. 

More information on the Liverpool City Region Ecological Network and an interactive map showing it’s ‘Core Biodiversity Areas’ can be found here.