Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council

BIODIVERSITY AT THE HEART OF THE CITYRESOLVED – That Council agreed the amendment as the substantive motion asfollows.Council notes the 2019 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity andEcosystem Services (IPBES) report warned that “Nature is declining globallyat rates unprecedented in human history – and the rate of species extinctionsis accelerating” although “it is not too late to make a difference, but only if westart now at every level from local to global” (Appendix 1). Natural History Museum analysis shows that the UK, with an average of only53% of its biodiversity left - is in the bottom 10% of the world’s countries.“The Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions transformed the UK landscape.The result of this combined immense destructive forces meant the UK hasbeen among the most nature-depleted countries on Earth for a long time”(Appendix 2). As one of the world’s great industrial cities, Newcastle has experienced areduction in its biodiversity for hundreds of years. It is now time for us tobecome one of the world’s great biodiverse cities, creating an environmentthat benefits our residents (Appendix 3) and supports the struggle to save ournatural world. enhancing the local environment, including biodiversity, is crucial to creatinga sustainable future for our city.Council resolves to declare a biodiversity emergency and ask Cabinet to take uplocal measures to prevent the loss of and to enhance biodiversity by: using our planning powers and policies to improve biodiversity in the city developing a plan to phase out the use of weedkillers by Newcastle CityCouncil within 5 years by working with local communities to developappropriate alternative management systems for their neighbourhoods. protecting and restoring the city’s parks and green spaces, including theTown Moor, to maximise their contribution to biodiversity in the city by: working with Urban Green to revise the standard allotment contract andupdate the cultivation guidance to promote biodiversity). committing to ensure that, where practical, of the two trees planted to replacea tree felled for disease-prevention purposes, at least one of replacements isplanted in the immediate vicinity of the original tree. refraining from using any fake grass in permanent landscaping (outside ofallweather sports pitches). wherever possible, integrating planted sustainable drainage swales into allmajor highways projects. exploring ways of integrating wildlife-friendly planting into low trafficneighbourhood measures. protecting wildlife by enforcing the use of low noise fireworks for all events onCouncil land. providing an alternative to balloon and lantern releases (which are alreadyprohibited on council land) by introducing a meadow where residents canplant seeds and flowers in memory of loved ones or to mark significantevents. exploring the potential for a natural burial ground for the city. promoting biodiversity measures that residents can take in their own homes campaigning for UK Government action on biodiversity by supporting thecrossparty Nature and Climate Declaration (Appendix 4). campaigning for international action on biodiversity by signing the EdinburghDeclaration on post-2020 global biodiversity framework (Appendix 5). requiring the Cabinet Member for Connected City to return to Council within 6months to update on progress on the measures outlined in Point 2.

— Full Council (Source)