Climate Change
Our progress - Biodiversity
Biodiversity is a measure of the range of living organisms within a habitat.
Most habitats support stable numbers of species. The numbers do increase or decrease naturally, but the impact that humans are having on these habitats is a much greater cause for concern than natural fluctuation. Biodiversity is being reduced by:
- Global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect from the use of fossil fuels.
- Cutting down trees - deforestation - for timber or to create farmland leading to habitat loss.
- Building bigger towns and cities with more roads - urban development.
- Pollution and waste destroying habitats, disrupts food chains and kills species.
- Over-exploitation, fishing and hunting causes species to decline.
Welwyn Hatfield has a rich and diverse tree heritage, with more than 30,000 individual trees, along with various woodland areas, open spaces, allotment sites, micro-orchards and several sites of special scientific interest (SSSI). We also have precious chalk streams (Lea and Mimram) that run through our borough, and officers and volunteers work hard to maintain, manage and protect all these natural invaluable resource.
Improving biodiversity is one of our corporate objectives, as we recognise the importance of our natural environment and the services it provides.