The world is changing, and we need to change with it. The impacts of climate change are already being felt all over the world. In the last few years, here in Cornwall, we have experienced unprecedented weather with back-to-back named storms, heatwaves, flash floods and unseasonable weather. This more extreme weather poses a challenge to how we travel and feed ourselves and also impacts on keeping Cornwall safe for future generations.
In light of this Zennor Parish Council has declared a Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Emergency. Cornwall Council has asked all Parish and Town Councils in Cornwall to adopt a Biodiversity Action Plan by December 2023. We have worked hard to produce a plan that we and our residents can enact to facilitate meaningful biodiversity net gain and connectivity of Nature Hot Spots in the Parish.
Our first steps are to phase out the use of herbicides on any land we manage; evaluate contracts with regard to the environment; and procure ecologically sound equipment and materials. Cllr Jon Brookes is organising a Clean Waters Monitoring Project in the Parish.
We would like to encourage members of our community to get involved, if you would be interested in joining Zennor Nature Action Group led by the Parish Council please email the clerk clerk@zennor-pc.gov.uk.
It is important that we work as a community to ensure that a meaningful and effective Biodiversity Action Plan is woven in with the needs of people in the Parish. We need a team of residents who are willing to work alongside the Parish Council to form a Nature Action Group and make the Biodiversity Action a reality for our Parish.
- We have set up a Zennor Nature Action Group webpage and social media platforms
- We will facilitate the use of a meeting place
- We will hold ‘ring fenced’ funds for Zennor Nature Action Group
- We will provide information and advice about projects and funding
- We will provide a Councillor/s to act as direct liaison with the Parish Council
Zennor Parish Council are committed to working with residents to make a positive difference.
The Parish Council has a statutory responsibility to conserve biodiversity in the Parish detailed in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 which can be seen here:
Resources
Environmental Guidance for Local Councils
Neighbourhood Planning in a Climate Emergency
Carbon Neutral Cornwall Ideas Bank
Cornwall Council, Carbon Neutral
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Read the Carbon Neutral Cornwall Call to Action
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