NORTHERN IRELAND COUNTRYSIDE SURVEY AND HNV FARMLAND Richard Weyl and Mark Wright Biodiversity Unit Northern Ireland Environment Agency

Northern Ireland Countryside Survey Background Field-based ecological research programme –supported by NIEA (and her predecessors) –carried out by the University of Ulster in 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Science-based record of habitat change information –records the fine scale structure of habitats –can be used to measure environmental policy effectiveness –report on the stock of habitats and more recently ecological condition of habitats. NICS is structured on statistical sampling principles and standardized protocols for habitat field survey.

NICS Methods Field survey is carried out in quarter kilometre grid squares (0.25 km2) throughout NI. –Samples are stratified based on the NI Land Classification and also by linear length of coastline for coastal sample squares (also at 0.5%) Different sample intensities have been used in different years –0.5% in 2007 (288 sample squares). Field mapping is based on a primary habitat classification, defined by vegetation structure and species composition. Areas of primary habitats can be estimated from sample squares by statistical analysis.

Results Only a part of the data has been analysed Publications –NICS 2007: Broad habitat change –NICS 2007: Field boundaries summary –Semi-natural habitat analysis (in house) –NI State of Biodiversity Report 2010 (in prep) Website –

Status of HNV farmland Broad habitats Extent of semi-natural vegetation in 2007 –622,906 ha (44 % of NI land cover). –most abundant neutral grasslands and bogs followed by broad- leaved woodland, wetland and open water. Change in semi-natural vegetation –Overall loss of 26,530 ha (4%) –Large loss of neutral grassland, –Large increase in broad-leaved woodland Change in other land cover types –Decrease in arable and horticulture –Increase in improved grassland and urban Changes are mostly a continuation of those observed between the 1980s and 1998, and reflect changing economic drivers resulting in more intensive farming, farming abandonment and development pressure.

Change in Broad habitat area Broad Habitats Change (ha) Change (ha) (%) Broadleaved/Mixed & Yew Wood * Coniferous Woodland Roads / Tracks & Hard Verge * Arable and Horticulture Improved Grassland Neutral Grassland * Calcareous Grassland Acid Grassland Bracken - dense Heath (Dwarf Shrub) Fen, Marsh & Swamp (Wetland) Bog Standing Open Water (Waterbodies) Rivers & Streams Montane¹< Inland Rock Urban/Built Up Areas * Supralittoral Rock Supralittoral Sediment Total Area

BH02 Coniferous woodland 61,000ha (4%) BH01 Broadleaf woodland 82,000ha (6%) BH11 Fen, marsh, swamp 47,000ha (3%) BH12 Bog 161,000ha (11%) BH05 Improved grassland 573,000ha (41%) BH04 Arable 49,000ha (4%) BH17 Buildings 74,000ha (5%) 3,000ha 2,000ha 9,000ha 20,000ha 5,000ha 1,000ha 6,000ha BH06 Neutral grassland 231,000ha (16%) Transitions between land cover types

Changes within land cover –types and NI priority habitats 31% decrease in fen meadow 30% decrease in species-rich dry grassland 22% decrease in acid grassland 31% increase in upland heathland

Potential for detailed analyses habitat condition Each parcel or polygon sample has associated attribute information which can be used to assess condition –~ 1/3 of the area of species-rich dry grassland has some degree of scattered scrub cover –Mean Sphagnum cover of blanket bog 13%

Application to HNV farmland NICS is sample-based, independent, can be used to measure stock, condition and change over time in geographic areas, needs sufficient sample size Case study – Northern Ireland ESAs –Rye grass ↓1.3% inside ESA; ↑4.4% outside ESA; –Other agricultural grassland ↑4.4% inside ESA; ↓17.5% outside ESA –Species-rich dry grassland ↑7% inside ESA; ↓42% outside ESA –Fen meadow ↓19% inside ESA; ↓27% outside ESA

SUMMARY NICS has great potential to contribute to monitoring HNV farmland Needs better and more secure resourcing Needs to be shared between across Government Departments

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