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How might remote sensing support biodiversity monitoring?
In October 2023, the NEP worked alongside the OxCam Pan Regional Partnership and Satellite Applications Catapult based at Westcott, to convene partners and experts, many from the Buckinghamshire and MK area, to explore the nature of the biodiversity and monitoring problems that satellite and drone technologies could assist with. SPARK ran the session, which resulted in 4 proposals, that complemented each other and could work as a system. Read the ideas and the report here 05122023_OxCam_Report v3
We are now working to support a project bid that will build on the proposals – further details to follow
On 20th November 2023 we held our inaugural NEP Partnership Forum event in Aylesbury. The theme of the event was “Jointly Tackling the Climate and Nature Emergency”. The event was very well attended, with over 70 delegates representing a variety of different groups and organisations.
The NEP outlined how our working groups are contributing to this theme, and we also heard from a broader set of local organisations from different sectors on the work they are also doing to tackle the nature and climate crises, and the challenges affecting us all. It was a great opportunity to identify areas for further collaboration across Bucks and MK.
Feedback from the event was very positive, with people relishing the opportunity to come together with other organisations to share ideas and collaborate. The presentations from the event can be found here: NEP Partnership Forum Nov 23
We hope to hold our next partnership forum towards the end of 2024, more details to follow over the coming months.
Thank you to MK Community Foundation, Rothschild Foundation and Heart of Bucks for presenting at our “Meet the Funder” webinar series, which was organised in conjunction with The Clare Foundation. The presentations can be found here;
MKCF Meet the Funder Presentation
The NEP is working on a major initiative to design and implement a biodiversity accounting scheme to strive towards ensuring net gains in biodiversity are achieved as a result of the unprecedented scale of development expected in our area in the coming years. We are working with Warwickshire County Council, which already operates a successful biodiversity accounting scheme, to design a scheme for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, alongside a metric for accounting for changes in biodiversity as a result of development, based on the national Defra metric and expected updates.
For more information, please see the Biodiversity Accounting project page. Updates will be provided as they become available and we will keep you informed on major developments via our newsletter.
The Oxford to Cambridge Growth Arc mapping project, completed in collaboration with neighbouring Local Nature Partnerships and other partner organisations, is now available to download from our website via this link. The map and accompanying document has been distributed to MPs across the Arc, as well as to the Arc Environment Board.
The NEP actively engages on local planning issues as well as regional, national and infrastructure planning issues that affect Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. In addition to bespoke responses to all of our Local Authority partners as they advance through the Local Plan process, we have formally responded to Network Rail’s East-West Rail Consultation, the consultation on the new National Planning Policy Framework, Heathrow Airport Expansion Consultation, DCLG consultation proposals, and the Draft New London Plan, among others. The NEP will continue to respond to relevant consultations and work with our Local Authority Partners to encourage alignment to the NEP’s strategic aims for the environment of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.
If you have a relevant opportunity or event you would like Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes NEP to publicise on this site, please contact us.