Foreword

I am pleased to introduce the Neath Port Talbot Council (NPTC) Biodiversity Duty Plan, 2020. This Plan has been produced following a review of the actions in the 2017 plan.

Neath Port Talbot has a diversity of habitats, from the coast, through river valley floors, woodland covered valley sides and onto hilltop moorland. This allows the county to be home to many varieties of species.  It is a special place for biodiversity and I feel privileged to work and live in such an incredible area.

Neath Port Talbot Council has a legal duty to maintain and enhance biodiversity, and in so doing, promote the resilience of ecosystems under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. This plan demonstrates how we fulfil that duty. It will act as a driver for conservation activities throughout Neath Port Talbot.

There is a long tradition of environmental conservation in NPT with many groups involved. While still working with these groups for the benefit of biodiversity, this plan sets out what we, as a Local Authority, are doing to meet this legal duty.

Recently the Welsh Government has introduced a number of new legislative requirements for public bodies and local authorities to comply with. These aim to change the way we plan and deliver services. They put sustainable development principles at the heart of all public bodies’ decision making. The NPTC Corporate Plan, Shaping NPT 2019 -2022, recognises this requirement for change and the preparatory work needed to ensure we discharge our statutory duties. The Biodiversity Duty Plan outlines how we will deliver our statutory duties with regards to biodiversity. It also explains how, through this, we are delivering well-being objectives and the ways of working under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

In this age of a climate and ecological crises, NPTC are committed to protecting and enhancing biodiversity in carrying out all of our functions.

Councillor Annette Wingrave

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development