The marsh fritillary is featured in many conservation plans

The accusation comes in Wales Biodiversity Week - the annual opportunity to celebrate the richness of the country's plant and animal life.

Conservationists are convinced that important habitats are being put at risk.

Biodiversity - coined from the phrase "biological diversity", which refers to the variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region - has become a buzz word in conservation circles.

Denbighshire has become the latest county to publish its Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP)- a document identifying the most important flora and fauna in the area and how they can be protected - but not all 24 local authorities have fulfilled their obligation to do the same.

And a third of Welsh councils do not have a full-time member of staff managing their LBAPs.

Rory Francis of Coed Cadw - the Woodland Trust in Wales - said despite a lot of discussion about biodiversity, not enough was actually being done.

Rory Francis : action is needed

"The authorities have to produce a plan, but strangely enough, they do not have to implement it," he said.

"It all depends on funds being available, and on partners being there to help share the burden, and so the fact that they have got a biodiversity action plan does not, in itself, mean anything.

"Potentially it can help, but what is needed is concerted action."

But the councils claim that the criticism is unfair.

Dr Kevin Bishop, head of environment for the Welsh Local Government Association, said finance was a major stumbling block.

"It is always a balancing act, but the issue is how we can get away with looking at biodiversity as just another call on resources," he said.

Tree sparrows have declined in numbers

"The issue is actually how you change mind sets, moving away from a situation where traditionally we have always seen the economy as versus the environment, to a situation where the two are mutually supportive.

"We want everyone to recognise, if you like, the wider benefits of biodiversity. It is not something for scientific purposes - it is something that actually contributes to our well-being, our quality of life."

The idea of LBAPs goes back a decade. In 1993, the UK government consulted with more than 300 organisations and held a two-day seminar to debate the key issues raised at the Biodiversity Convention.