About Bristol's ecological emergency, the One City Ecological Emergency Strategy, our Ecological Emergency Action Plan and our Enhanced Biodiversity Duty Report.
One City partners declared an ecological emergency in response to the decline in wildlife in Bristol.
One City Ecological Emergency Strategy
Bristol's Ecological Emergency strategy is the city's shared plan to restore nature. One City partners declared an ecological emergency in response to Bristol's declining wildlife.
In September 2020, a task group of Bristol's One City Environmental Board developed an ecological emergency strategy for the city (PDF). This is a coordinated plan to address the loss of nature.
It sets out clear direction in line with our One City Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals to support nature recovery by 2030.
The strategy's 4 goals are:
- for 30 per cent of land in Bristol to be managed for the benefit of wildlife
- to reduce the use of pesticides in Bristol by at least 50 per cent
- for all waterways to have excellent water quality which supports healthy wildlife
- to reduce consumption of products that undermine the health of wildlife and ecosystems around the world
Bristol City Council's Ecological Emergency Action Plan
In response to the One City Ecological Emergency strategy, we produced our own pdf Ecological Emergency Action Plan.(6.33 MB)
This action plan sets out a council-wide programme of activities to deliver the ambitions of the One City Ecological Emergency Strategy. It also supports relevant aspects of the One City Climate Strategy.
It sets out what we are aiming to do and how we intend to do it.
Its purpose is to:
- integrate best ecological practice into each area of the council's activity, allowing us to lead the city by example
- demonstrate our commitment to the One City Ecological Emergency Strategy alongside the One City Climate Strategy and its objectives
- support and influence action by partners and through partnerships
- support and enable action by citizens
- develop evidence and knowledge to support decision making and innovation in addressing nature-related issues
The first iteration of the action ran from 2021 to 2025, with 27 actions complete across the themes. In early 2026 an update was published with actions taking us to 2028.
Read the pdf Ecological Emergency Action Plan 2026 to 2028(6.33 MB) .
Find out how we're going to use pdf nature recovery to reverse the decline in wildlife by creating new spaces where nature can recover and thrive in our city(780 KB) .
Read more about what we're doing to manage our parks and green spaces to benefit nature.
Find out about the pdf eDNA fish survey of the Floating Harbour and River Avon(771 KB) .
Our work across the strategy goals
These plans and policies bring together the work we're doing to support the strategy's goals. They includes projects that help nature recover, improve how we manage green spaces, and reduce the use of pesticides across the city.
Nature recovery and green spaces
Our work to protect, restore and connect habitats across the city.
Reducing pesticide use
Our work to reduce pesticide use and promote alternative approaches to weed management.
Biodiversity duty reporting
The Enhanced Biodiversity Duty was introduced under the Environment Act (2021). It requires all public authorities in England to consider how they can actively conserve and enhance biodiversity.
Our latest pdf Biodiversity Duty Report 2020 to 2025(2.88 MB) sets out how we have met the requirements of the Enhanced Biodiversity Duty during the period 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2025.
We'll continue to publish Biodiversity Duty Reports every five years to demonstrate our progress in conserving and enhancing biodiversity.
Get involved and support nature
For other ways to support nature locally and get involved, visit: