What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity describes the overall biological variety of an area in reference to:
Ecosystem diversity - the different types of habitats present (for example, woodland, meadow, or river).
Species diversity - the number of different species found in the area.
Species abundance - how many individuals there are of each species.
Species distribution - how those species are spread across the area.
Genetic variation - the differences in genes within populations of the same species.
What's the Problem?
According to the State of Nature Report (2023), there has been an overall 32% decline in species abundance across England since 1970. Whilst there are a variety of reasons for this decline rising temperatures have a major impact.
What is St. Helens Council Doing?
A summary of the environmental action being delivered across St Helens is provided in the 2026 Biodiversity Duty Report. This report is a statutory requirement set by the UK Government and demonstrates how the Council is fulfilling its duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity. Following the publication of the initial 2026 report, it will be reviewed and updated every five years. A copy of St Helens Council's Biodiversity Duty Report can be accessed using the link below.
St. Helens Council Biodiversity Duty Report 2026 (PDF, 1 MB)
