Council considers 'ecological emergency'

Council chiefs are being asked to declare an ‘ecological emergency’ in County Durham as part of plans to do more to stop the decline of wildlife and natural habitats.

In 2019, Durham County Council declared a climate emergency and prepared an emergency response plan to drive down carbon emissions commitment – and is now exploring whether to take a similar approach to biodiversity.

Habitats in the area range from upland moors to the Heritage Coastline and a report to go before Cabinet next week shows overwhelming evidence of a global and national decline in habitats and species.

While the local data is less extensive, it strongly mirrors national and global trends relating to the condition of sites of special scientific interest, local wildlife sites, habitats and a range of species from fish, birds, mammals and insects.

Councillors are being asked to consider the declaration of an ecological emergency and establish an initial action plan to improve habitats and wildlife – especially on council land.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, the council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “We have already, in this new budget, built in significant resources to ramp up our work to improve the natural environment. It is clear that action needs to be taken to do more to halt the decline in natural habitat, biodiversity and species for the benefit of future generations.

“We already have 31 designated local nature reserves and 61 sites identified as important for local wildlife but recognise that our plans need to go beyond the managed sites.”