The Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership’s
Community Biodiversity Awards:
Description, Objectives and Nomination Procedures
THE COMMUNITY BIODIVERSITY AWARDS
“Biodiversity – The Variety of Life”
1)Award Objectives
The Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership’s Community Biodiversity Awards recognise the efforts of local groups and individuals in achieving improvements for the wildlife of Norfolk, and reward excellence in this area. The specific objectives of the awards are to:
- Identify and promote the best community biodiversity projects in Norfolk;
- Raise awareness of the benefits of undertaking community biodiversity projects;
- Raise awareness of the advice and funding available in Norfolk to undertake community biodiversity projects.
2) Award Categories
There are five award categories:
Group Award
This award seeks to recognise the biodiversity achievements of a community, parish council, conservation organisation or local community group, which has improveditslocal area for conservation and biodiversity value.
Site Award
This award seeks to draw attention to a site, with public or community access, which has been improved, restored or turned into an area of conservation/biodiversity value.
Species Conservation Award
This award recognises the efforts of an individual or group to promote the conservation of a particular species (or group of species).
Education Award
This award recognises efforts to link biodiversity and education, and can be presented to a school, group or individual.
Individual Award
This award recognises the efforts of an individual who has worked to improve the biodiversity value of his or her local area or has made an outstanding contribution to conservation in the county.
3) Nomination Procedures and Assessment Criteria
Nominations for the five categories will be requested from each BAP Topic Group. Each nomination must be supported by a completed nomination form (attached).
The nominations will be reviewed by an Assessment Panel composed of: the Chair of the Biodiversity Partnership Steering Group; the Chair of the Communities and Nature Topic Group; the Biodiversity Co-ordinator; and an elected member of the Communities and Nature Topic Group (to be rotated on an annual basis). The Panel may decide to appoint additional members and to create specialist advisory committees, as appropriate, to assist with the review process.
The nominations for the group, site, species conservation and education awards will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Extent of biodiversity enhancement (particularly in relation to BAP habitats and species);
- Degree of community involvement;
- Evidence of long-term sustainability (For example, has a management plan been developed? Are there strategies in place to support management activities in the future?);
- Contribution to the development of an ecological network (eg, proximity to a site of known biodiversity value);
- Quality of interpretation;
- Public accessibility.
The nominations for the individual award will be assessed against the following criteria:
- The extent to which an individual has served as a conservation leader in his or her
community, inspiring and motivating others to take action;
- The extent to which an individual has generated new knowledge and understanding of the county’s biodiversity
The final recommendations of the Assessment Panel will be forwarded to the Biodiversity Partnership Steering Group for endorsement.
4) Prizes
Each award winner will receive a framed certificate, which will be presented at a simple awards ceremony. There are no cash prizes associated with the awards.
5) Promotion
The winning schemes under each category will be promoted by the Communities and Nature Topic Group through a variety of media. A press release announcing the award winners will be released prior to the awards ceremony.
6) Timing
Nominations will be invited each year during the winter period (December to February), with a view to presenting the awards to the winners in the autumn. Nominations should be sent to the Communities and Nature Topic Group by 2nd April 2012
NORFOLK BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP
COMMUNITY BIODIVERSITY AWARDS: NOMINATION FORM
Name of project or individual being nominated (who must give approval for the entry to be made)
Award category for which the nomination is being made (group, site, species, education or individual)
Address of project
Postcode
Telephone
Description of the project/ Justification for nomination (Please explain the way in which the project meets the following Community Biodiversity Award criteria. NB: Only sections 7 and 8 need to be completed for nominations for the “Individual” category.)
1) Extent of Biodiversity Enhancement (esp. BAP habitats and species)
2) Degree of Community Involvement
3) Evidence of Long-Term Sustainability
4) Contribution to Ecological Networks
5) Availability/ Quality of Interpretation Materials
6) Public Access
FOR “INDIVIDUAL” CATEGORY NOMINATIONS ONLY
7) Extent to which the individual has served as a conservation leader in his or her community.
8) Extent which the individual has generated new knowledge and understanding about the county’s biodiversity
Additional supporting information (Please feel free to attach up to three photos of the project, if available)
Name of person submitting the nomination
Address
Postcode
Telephone
I confirm that the nominated project/ individual has been informed of their nomination and is happy to be considered for a Community Biodiversity Award.
Thank you very much for your nomination. Please return the completed form by 2nd April 2012to:
Paul Holley
Natural Areas Officer and Chair, Communities and Nature BAP Topic Group
Norwich City Council
Community Services
City Hall
NORWICH
NR2 1NH
Tel: 01603-212343
Email: