The Durham Biodiversity Partnership was established in 1996 and is made up of all the organisations and individuals who are helping to achieve the goals of the Durham BAP, including conservation organisations, businesses, ecologists, planners, developers, schools, highways engineers, individuals and many more. The Partnership oversees the ongoing development, implementation and monitoring of the Durham Biodiversity Action Plan.

Our partners are an essential component of achieving the aims of the Durham Biodiversity Partnership. If you are interested in becoming a partner of the Durham Biodiversity Action Plan and guiding the work of the Project, please contact the Durham Biodiversity Partnership Implementation Officer to discuss the options.

Steering Group

The partnership and the work of the Biodiversity Implementation Officer is guided by a steering group comprising of individuals from the main organisations involved in implementing and funding the Durham Biodiversity Action Plan. The group meets a minimum of three times per year to discuss the activities that have taken place and determine the future direction and focus of the Durham Biodiversity Partnership.

•  Darlington Borough Council
•  Durham County Council
•  Durham Wildlife Trust
•  Environment Agency
•  Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
•  Forestry Commission
•  Gateshead Council
•  Natural England
•  North East Biodiveristy Forum
•  Northumbrian Water
•  South Tyneside Council
•  Sunderland City Council

Sub-groups

Several sub-groups have been developed to co-ordinate the delivery of the habitat and species action plans. These groups review existing plans, generate ideas for projects, help ensure that targets are being met and report activity onto the Biological Action Reporting System (BARS). The partnership has the following sub-groups:

Wider Partnership

The wider partnership is made up of organisations who are contributing towards to delivering targets and actions in the BAP and those organisations and individuals who are not actively involved but want to keep informed of biodiversity conservation in Durham . It is envisioned that this group will meet annually, to involve all members of the partnership in the work of the BAP.

Other partners include:

•  British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
•  Butterfly Conservation
•  Chester-le-Street Federation of Wildlife Groups
•  Durham Badger Group
•  Durham Bat Group
•  Durham Bird Club
•  Durham Police
•  Durham Heritage Coast Project
•  Durham Upland Bird Study Group
•  Langdon Beck Youth Hostel
•  National Trust
•  North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
•  RSPB
•  Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
•  Woodland Trust