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Welcome to the West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership Newsletter. In this message:
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Natural England announces new funding for a 'Wetland Vision' 
Some of England's lost or degraded wetlands will be restored, thanks to £4 million funding from Natural England for almost 2,000 hectares of wetland recovery projects over the next two years, including the Midlands Meres & Mosses Revival Project in Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire. As the Wetland Vision project celebrates its first anniversary, this new funding will benefit grazing marshes, raised bogs, reedbeds and fragile fenland. Funding is being given to conservation organisations including The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB , who will work with the Environment Agency and English Heritage to manage the careful process of re-wetting land. The restoration of watery habitats will help a multitude of wildlife including declining bird species such as Snipe and Redshank. Wetlands can also benefit the public by providing a natural water store to help prevent flooding. Spotlight on . . . the Country Land & Business Association The Country Land & Business Association (CLA) is the most extensive landowning and rural business network in England and Wales. A membership organisation, well established as a major rural economy body, the CLA runs a comprehensive programme of events such as business and professional seminars, training courses, advice clinics and social functions, as well as local and national shows including the prestigious CLA Game Fair, and sporting fixtures. The CLA lobbies and campaigns at all levels of Government, as well as providing its members with free specialist advice on matters of law, taxation, environment, planning and rural economy. For more information about the CLA and how to join visit www.cla.org.uk Water Framework Directive in action 
The Water Framework Directive requires the maintenance of healthy fish populations in water bodies. A recent project in Worcestershire has met this aim whilst helping local wildlife as well. The Environment Agency has created a fish refuge on the floodplain of the River Avon near Evesham, and it is now inhabited by an abundance of coarse fish fry. Funded by anglers' rod licence income, the refuge was needed as there had been poor recruitment of juvenile coarse fish in this popular fishing river. It also ensures a continuing food supply for wildlife such as otters and kingfishers. New Woodland Improvement Grant launched 
The Forestry Commission has launched a new Woodland Improvement Grant to help halt the decline in woodland bird populations. Working in partnership with RSPB, ten vulnerable species have been identified by the Forestry Commission for particular attention in the West Midlands area through this grant - these are the Lesser Redpoll, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, Nightingale, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Willow Tit, and Wood Warbler. The grant will be targeted at woodlands where work to encourage early successional scrub or coppice, creation of old growth and dead wood, thinning of woodland boundaries and ride sides, and creation of open water will have a beneficial effect on the identified woodland bird populations. In the West Midlands region, the grant is targeted at County level, where the current distribution range of an individual species is closely associated with the abundance of suitable woodland type or habitat.
International Year of Biodiversity The United Nations has designated 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). In the UK, an informal partnership (IYB-UK) has been formed of many organisations from diverse sectors, who share a common concern to conserve our biodiversity, and who wish to raise awareness and encourage active participation in the issues that affect biodiversity loss. The secretariat is hosted by the Natural History Museum, and is supported by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport . IYB-UK aims to raise awareness of how biodiversity is important for human well-being as well as preserving the quality of the environment; and to point out that globally the current rate of biodiversity loss is severe, by some accounts up to 100 times the natural rate of extinction, and that we need to work together to halt this loss. For more information on events throughout the year visit www.iyb-uk.net Sustainability West Midlands (SWM) has recently entered a new phase, with a fresh direction for its work focusing on providing advice to leaders; developing practical solutions with members; and sharing success through communications. A significant feature of this refresh is the launch of SWM's new website www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk and the publication of the first edition of SWM's monthly newsletter. Click here to download a copy of the newsletter. Peak District BAP Annual Report The Peak District National Park Authority has just published its Biodiversity Action Plan Annual Report 2008-2009. Click here to download a pdf of the document. West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership Meetings Please note the following dates
*Please note that the Full Partnership Meeting orginially planned for the 24th November as been replaced by the Seminare on the 25th. For further details please contact Jeff Edwards (jeff.edwards@naturalengland.org.uk)
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