ENVIRONMENT Minister Michael Meacher was in West Devon on Monday to launch an action plan to protect 32 wildlife species and 22 habitats over the next 10 years.
The ceremony took place at at Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet.
Mr Meacher said the Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan contained detailed objectives which had to be delivered.
The plan has been around two years in the making and involved around 60 organisations. The lead has been taken by the Dartmoor National Park Authority, managed by Sue Goodfellow, its head of ecology and wildlife conservation and chairman of the biodiversity steering group.
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Wartime letters inspire Okehampton writer's novelThe plan states who will do what and when and is designed to be a blueprint for all those people who want to make a contribution to protecting Dartmoor's wildlife.
Mr Meacher launched the plan during a visit to the national park to mark its 50th anniversary. 'National Parks remain, I think, the jewel of the crown of our national heritage,' he said. 'This will make a big contribution to Dartmoor's biodiversity.'
He also announced a grant to the DNPA of £28,000 towards repairing rights of way on the moor, which have suffered erosion through flooding this winter.