GEODIVERSITY
Geodiversity Action Plans

Geodiversity Action Plans (GAPs) provide a new and effective route to achieving geoconservation. Importantly they involve a wide range of groups, organisations and individuals in agreeing priorities and actions for geodiversity.

GAPs are, in part, developed from the model of Biodiversity Action Plans. GAPs establish an on-going process that sets clear aims and objectives, with measurable targets, for local geoconservation.

Typically GAPs are defined by an administrative area, such as a county or National Park, or by company holdings. They are produced by a partnership of groups from the community, conservation, government, industry and education sectors. This partnership, in wide consultation, agrees the GAP objectives and carries out the plan. GAP objectives should be measurable and reviewed on a regular basis.

GAPs include objectives to:
· audit the geodiversity resource and available information and skills
· conserve, enhance and manage geodiversity
· promote geodiversity, making it relevant to people
· influence local planning policy to protect geodiversity

Capita Symonds are currently undertaking a Minerals Industry Sustainable Technology (MIST) funded Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund project “The development of geodiversity action plans for aggregates companies: a pilot study.” The main output from this research will be a peer-reviewed Guide to Good Practice on all of the stages involved in the preparation of company GAPs. This will cover initial geodiversity audits and the identification of conservation objectives linked to quarrying operations, the prioritisation of objectives and the development of a realistic, company-wide action plan integrated with wider business objectives.

For more information you can download English Nature’s Local Geodiversity Action Plan (LGAP) leaflet from this website or visit the LGAP website
http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/geological/lgap