A Biodiversity Monitoring Framework for Devon Work Programmes for BIRG discussion 31/07/08 Ray Perrins

BAP habitat inventories compiled by DBRC between 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 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

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 ( ) 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

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 1)Identify intention to create/restore BAP habitat 2)Confirm works undertaken 3)Assess successful establishment of habitat Aerial photos and some survey

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

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

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

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