Progress on city's Biodiversity action

A report showing the progress made in Dundee’s Biodiversity Action Plan’s second year will be put before councillors next week.

The update follows on from the Action Plan which was launched in early 2020 and details how the council & partners work together to protect, enhance and raise awareness of biodiversity in the city until 2030.

Significant developments have been highlighted in the report which details the continued work that took place despite the Covid-19 challenges in 2021.

Highlights included:

• Dundee City Council benefited from £109,000 of funding for the newly established Nature Restoration Fund which has led to a number of specific environmental improvements within the city’s parks and greenspaces;
• Further external funding has helped enhance access to greenspaces through the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People programme and enabled woodland improvements at Balgay Hill through Scottish Forestry funding;
• Additional Scottish Government funding has enabled the creation of a two-year Community Environment Officer post to raise awareness and promote actions in Dundee’s parks and greenspaces which contribute to the city’s Climate Action Plan, particularly the role that they have in climate resilience and adaptation;
• All seven greenspace sites were assessed last year and retained their Green Flag status;
• Broughty Ferry Beach was once again successful in receiving a Keep Scotland Beautiful ‘Scotland’s Beach Award’ as well as receiving an ‘excellent’ standard of bathing water by SEPA;
• The online public consultation on biodiversity and naturalised grasslands showed that around 75% of respondents were in favour of creating these areas and enhancing wildflowers throughout the city.

Neighbourhood Services Convener Councillor Heather Anderson said: “Council staff working with partners have done incredibly well to progress many of the actions outlined in the update report.

“Over the last year, Covid-19 has presented many operational challenges for staff, however I want to praise them for their flexibility and the variety of ways of working they’ve shown to support and improve the biodiversity within our city during this time.

“We have seen that people continue to make good use of their local greenspaces, increasingly recognising their importance for connecting with nature and for the physical and mental health benefits they can bring.

“As Dundee continues with its plans for a Green Recovery, investment has been made into projects which aim to improve biodiversity and people’s access and engagement with their greenspaces.

“This annual report shows some of the great work that’s taken place despite the very challenging circumstances.

“It has been very encouraging to hear about the good work being done in the city, as well as the engagement from members of the community joining us in our community events to carry out biodiversity enhancing action.”

The report will go to Neighbourhood Services Committee on Monday 13th June 2022.

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