Manifesto for wildlife

The London Wildlife Trust wants the newly elected Mayor of London to:

1. Develop clear and tangible links between climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development.

2. Create the world’s first ‘Climate Change Park’ in London.

3. Extend the ‘Green Grid’ concept across London, and strengthen London’s green belt to meet biodiversity, sustainability and access objectives.

4. Support the London Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). For example, by leading on the development of delivery mechanisms for the BAP, and integrating it with other relevant strategies and frameworks.

5. Commit to providing resources and a delivery mechanism for the Mayor’s Biodiversity Strategy.

6. Commit to the protection of all ‘Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation’.

7. Commit to a ‘Green’ Olympics by working with partners to set clear objectives for biodiversity, sustainable transport, building, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. And ensure that the Olympic legacy includes significant and sustainable targets for biodiversity conservation.

8. Demonstrate support for the protection and enhancement of ‘private gardens’, which collectively make up the majority of London’s resource of green spaces. For example, by supporting the removal of ‘private gardens’ from the brownfield site planning designation and by supporting a wildlife gardening campaign.

9. Demonstrate a commitment to the ‘NERC’ Act duty to conserve biodiversity objectives, and encourage all the GLA family, along with other London agencies and institutions, to excel in this respect.

10. Encourage environmental education for school children, for example by providing funding and other support for inner city schools to visit their local wildlife sites.

London Wildlife Trust
January 2008