Biodiversity

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Biodiversity

‘Biodiversity is all living things from the tiny garden ant to the giant redwood tree. You will find biodiversity everywhere, in window boxes and wild woods, roadsides and rain forests, snow fields and shore’. (The UK Biodiversity Steering Group Report 1995).

Dartmoor’s biodiversity is a tremendous natural asset. It helps give the National Park its distinct character, supports farming, forestry, tourism and other businesses; and provides visitors and local people alike with opportunities for spiritual refreshment and healthy exercise.

photo haymeadow

Dartmoor’s habitats and species are internationally important. Around a third of the National Park (mostly blanket bog, moorland and woodland) is designated as a Natura 2000 site under the European Habitats Directive 1994 (external link, opens new window) and Dartmoor is the only place in Britain where you can find a number of rare species. The sheer variety of Dartmoor’s wildlife owes much to its unique climate and underlying topography combined with remoteness and traditional farming practices. You can find out more about the special qualities of Dartmoor’s wildlife by reading our factsheets on wildlife and habitats, ‘The Nature of Dartmoor: a Biodiversity Profile’, and the Wildlife Information in this section.

photo launch of the Biodiversity Action Plan

However, biodiversity is vulnerable even on Dartmoor, and for this reason, the Dartmoor National Park Authority produced a Biodiversity Action Plan in 2001 with partner organisations. The Habitat and Species Action Plans within this document were reviewed and updated in 2007. This sets out a common vision for Dartmoor’s biodiversity, with objectives and targets to achieve this vision and includes action plans setting out who does what and when.The Action for Wildlife partnership was set up to deliver projects within this plan. This Plan is monitored and reviewed by the Dartmoor Biodiversity Steering Group and every year a newsletter is produced to update people on progress.