Biodiversity in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets has launched its local biodiversity action plan, through ‘Tower Habitats’, a community led partnership.

The draft action plan is now ready and will be distributed for consultation. Find out more about the work of the Tower Habitats Partnership, or download a copy of the consultation document.

The partnership is made up of key voluntary, private and public organisations, all working together on initiatives and actions toward improving the biodiversity of the area.

Biodiversity means the "variety of all living things" and includes both plant and animal species and the habitats (places) they live in.

The publication of the action plan is the beginning of an on-going process for preserving the characteristic landscape of the area and protecting, conserving and enhancing wildlife for everyone to enjoy in Tower Hamlets.

The action plan is made up of fourteen habitat action plans and five species action plans.

Tower Hamlets already has important nature areas and ecology centres which are open for everyone to visit. Did you know that Tower Hamlets is considered the most important area in London for the black redstart bird?

Also, in 2002 two species of spiders, previously unrecorded in the UK, were discovered in Mile End Park.

In recent years, concerns about the loss of biodiversity have become paramount. Without this variability in the living world, ecological systems and functions are destined to break down, with detrimental consequences for all forms of life, the impacts of which are impossible to predict.

Consequently, biodiversity is essential to ensure the basic ecological services and resources necessary to sustain the wellbeing of current and future generations (World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1992).

It is vital that biodiversity is protected and recognised as a valued entity. The Earth's biological diversity benefits man through its intrinsic, ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values.

The concept of conducting biodiversity audits arose as a result of the UK Government's political commitment to sustainable development and has been defined in recent years as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

Tower Habitats Partnership Action plan

Download a copy of the action plan:

• Local biodiversity action plan - part 1 (pdf 403k)
• Local biodiversity action plan - part 2 (pdf 983k)
• Local biodiversity action plan - part 3 (pdf 865k)
• Local biodiversity action plan - part 4 (pdf 430k)

For more information please contact:

Sustainability Officer
Environmental Protection
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Mulberry Place (AH)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY

Tel: 020 7364 5008
Fax: 020 7364 6831
environmentalhealth@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Pid No: 596