THE DARTMOOR Biodiversity Action Plan, intended to protect wildlife and habitats over 10 years, will be launched on February 12 by Environment Minister Michael Meacher.

The plan has been around two years in the making and has involved around 60 organisations.

The lead has been taken by the Dartmoor National Park Authority, which has consulted with a wide range of interested parties, from the National Farmers Union to the Country Landowners' Association to English Nature and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Sue Goodfellow, head of ecology and wildlife conservation at the DNPA, said the plan did not call for drastic changes in the way the moor was managed but sought to co-ordinate and focus current efforts.

'A lot of species are under threat, but there are a lot of initiatives which will help,' she said.

'We need a change of emphasis, to give more regard to wildlife and habitats.'

The plan has been drawn up by the Dartmoor Biodiversity Steering Group, which will be broadened to become the Dartmoor Biodiversity Partnership.

It will allocate tasks to the participating organisations, which will report to the Partnership.

Mr Meacher has agreed to launch the plan during his visit to the national park to mark its fiftieth anniversary.

He will go first to its headquarters at Parke, Bovey Tracey, and from there to Brimps Farm, Dartmeet, where the launch will be held.

He will also join in the planting of trees at Brimpts Farm with children from Widecombe primary school.