A Biodiversity Monitoring Framework for Devon

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A Biodiversity Monitoring Framework for Devon
Work Programmes for BIRG discussion 31/07/08 Ray
Perrins
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1 Assessment of loss from BAP inventories
BAP habitat inventories compiled by DBRC between
2001-04 Monitoring these inventories can only
detect loss Each habitat has unique statistical
characteristics Degree of change varies between
habitats Therefore need separate sampling
programme for each habitat Over 20 BAP habitats
in Devon Selected 7 BAP habitats for a 7 year
reporting cycle
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1 Assessment of loss from BAP inventories
Criteria for selection Of special importance
to Devon Relatively high proportion in County
Wildlife Sites Defined with high accuracy on
aerial photos Wide distribution in
Devon Habitats Lowland mixed deciduous
woodland Purple moor grass and rush
pasture Lowland meadow Lowland
Heathland Upland oak wood Coastal
saltmarsh Sabellaria reefs
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2 Assessment of loss and gain from developments
DBRC to work with local planning
authorities Track actual outcomes (negative
impact, positive mitigation) of a sample of
applications assessed using BioPlan BioPlan is
semi-automated tool developed by SERC Filters all
planning applications against LRC data Made
available from April 2008 Screens all 10,000
applications per year Small subset (150-250) may
impact BAP habitats Recommend random sample of
50 to measure outcomes Liaison between LA
ecologists and planning staff Delay of 2-3
years, assessment via aerial photo some survey
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3 Assessment of gain from BAP initiatives

• BAP reporting should be done through BARS
• Previous discussions to link BARS with GIS (SERC,
  ERCCIS, NE)
• Some work on BARS reporting necessary for project
  to proceed
• IF site specific actions are captured through
  BARS and link made
• to GIS by NE then DBRC can track changes
• Identify intention to create/restore BAP habitat
• Confirm works undertaken
• Assess successful establishment of habitat
• Aerial photos and some survey

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4 Assessment of gain from management schemes
Includes Environmental Stewardship and Woodland
Grants Natural England and Forestry Commission
competent bodies DBRC to liaise with NE and FC
to develop a monitoring system for recording
habitat gain Should include a GIS layer with
three stages as BAP monitoring 1) Identify
intention to create/restore BAP habitat 2)
Confirm works undertaken 3) Assess successful
establishment of habitat Potential overlap with
previous work programme
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5 Assessment of spontaneous BAP habitat gain
Due to private initiative and natural
change Needed to avoid negative bias in overall
monitoring Habitat specific basis for 7
identified BAP habitats Habitat Suitability
Indices predicts where important species may be
undetected Create habitat masks using physical
information eg soil types Adaptive
sampling Random sampling for assessment of
habitat
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6 Local Wildlife Site monitoring
Previous programmes will generate some LWS
monitoring Targeting of field survey using
requirements of NI197 Could use Integrated
Habitat System (IHS), developed by SERC Excludes
advice to landowners/managers
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7 Assessment of changes in biodiversity site
designation
Not considered as a meaningful indicator Due to
changes in procedure or evaluation NOT changes in
biodiversity value But is part of a nationally
defined indicator and low cost Entirely
desk-based Via communication with NE (SSSIs) and
DBRC (CWS) and GIS Would also be helpful to
track reasons for changes