The priority area approach

Biodiversity Action Plans have traditionally focussed on conservation of individual species and habitats. In recent years the importance of conserving habitat at a much larger spatial scale has started to become more widely recognised. Nationally the England Biodiversity Group has identified a series of Integrated Biodiversity Delivery Areas (IBDAs), two of which cover parts of Wiltshire: the Big Chalk and the Head of the Thames. These are large areas across which there are opportunities for habitat improvements and linking together of fragmented areas of habitat to help wildlife move across the landscape, a factor that is becoming particularly important as our climate changes.

Within Wiltshire additional landscape scale areas for delivery have been developed at a smaller spatial scale than the IBDAs. As well as existing landscape scale projects that are in place in the county, run by specific organisations, ten Biodiversity Delivery Areas (or BDAs) have also been identified by the BAP Partnership. The partners involved are currently working out the best way to take these BDAs forward. A map is shown below and you can find out more information about those BDAs that have been progressed by clicking on the links on the left.