Dorset’s 12 nature recovery priorities are shaped by the views of local people and organisations involved in the local nature recovery strategy advisory groups and engagement events.
What are nature recovery priorities
Nature recovery priorities are the high-level outcomes the strategy is seeking to achieve. Together these priorities focus on achieving a network of nature-rich habitats across Dorset, that help biodiversity and mean the whole ecosystem is functioning, resilient and able to deliver wider environmental benefits.The priorities are of equal importance and are not listed in any specific order. The numbers are provided solely for ease of reference.
What are potential activities
Potential activities are the practical actions that will help achieve the different priories over the next 10 years. Defra calls these potential measures.Potential activities are listed under each priority, with a guide to which sector the activity might be most relevant to, but this is just guidance and does not exclude others from getting involved in an activity. Some activities appear under more than one priority because the same activity will help achieve multiple nature recovery priorities.
Most activities relate to habitats, species or sustainable land management. These activities are practical on the ground actions that will help improve and expand existing habitats, create new habitat, and improve connectivity. Other activities relate to the wider enabling actions needed to support the practical activities on the ground.
The potential activities are not exhaustive as there are many small activities involved in habitat management and restoring ecosystem function.
These activities are not prescriptive but serve as a guide to consider as part of a project or land management planning. The exact mix of activities will depend on what works best for the individual site and people involved in helping nature recover.
Using the written and mapped activities together
The Local Habitat Map shows the potential activities in the locations where they can have most benefit for nature recovery and/or provide wider environmental benefits.The potential activities listed under each priority provide more detail than shown on the Local Habitat Map. For, example, where the map shows ‘create or enhance grassland’ as the potential activity, this may involve several activities listed under the grassland priority. It is therefore essential that the Local Habitat Map and written part of the strategy are used together.
The strategy and mapped activities provide the starting place, additional expert land management and ecological advice will often support deliver of practical activities on site.