Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership

Norfolk County Council plays an important role in caring for Norfolk's biodiversity, we

Host the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership and Norfolk Non-native Species Initiative and support the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (Norfolk's Environmental Records Centre)
Are developing the Norfolk Trails network to encourage people to explore and benefit from their local biodiversity
Manage our own land carefully (such as the County Farms; Burlingham Woods; disused railway lines) to care for its wildlife interest
Are also lead partner for a European project (RINSE) sharing expertise on the management of invasive alien species.

Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership

The Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership (NBP) is at the forefront of efforts to protect and enhance Norfolk's biodiversity.

NBP brings together local authorities, statutory agencies and voluntary groups in pursuit of this shared vision.

NBP also produces species and habitat action plans for the county's most threatened wildlife and through its 'Topic Groups', ensures that biodiversity is integrated into strategies, plans and programmes.

NBP works closely with Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS) and The Norfolk Non-native Species Initiative (NNNSI).

Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service

The Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS) (opens new window) holds environmental data for Norfolk, such as records of the animals and plants found here and information about wildlife and geological sites.

We use this data to provide biodiversity information for a range of people and organisations, such as local authorities, developers, ecological consultants, planners, government agencies, conservation bodies and the general public.

NBIS brings together the efforts of many professionals and expert volunteers (the County Recorders) and fulfils a key role in providing the sound evidence base needed in order to protect and enhance Norfolk's natural environment.

NBIS provides:

A single source of environmental information for Norfolk
Quick and easy access to information for all
Collation of available data for Norfolk
Validation and evaluation of these data
Identification of gaps in knowledge - taxonomic, geographic and temporal
A permanent and secure location for data
Improved flow of data from individual recorders to users at both local and national levels

You can contribute to our knowledge by sending in your sightings of Norfolk wildlife.

Norfolk Non-native Species Initiative (NNNSI)

Invasive non-native species (often referred to as 'aliens') pose a tremendous threat to native biodiversity, causing ecological and economic damage and is one of the principle causes of biodiversity loss comes from invasive non-native species. Globally they are thought to cost £1.4 trillion per year.

The Norfolk Non-native Species Initiative (NNNSI) was set up by the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership to tackle this threat; we are also a Lead Partner in RINSE (Reducing the Impact of Invasive Species in Europe), which will help stem the rise of INS across an area spanning much of southern England, northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

RINSE was supported by funding through the European Union's Interreg Two Seas Programme, and has a total of nine partners all with a keen interest and significant expertise in the control and eradication of INS.

Amongst other activities, RINSE will audit the distribution of INS as well as making predictions about species that could become a threat in the future.

It will also carry out field trials of new methods to control some of the most concerning INS found in the area and will develop new methods to record INS, including a Smartphone App.

Results from field trials will be made widely available to help with future control efforts.