MESH UK Workshop 19 October 2006 Introduction Dr Paul Gilliland Marine Policy Adviser and MESH Partner Lead Natural England

MESH Partners

Overview Context  Habitat mapping in general  Policy interest and commitments The Project  Development, aims, objectives  Structure and deliverables  Relationship to other projects The Workshop  Aim and objectives  Audience  Structure

What are ‘habitat maps’ A ‘habitat’ means the physical and biological environment that supports a particular ecological community. It is described in terms of both physical and biological characteristics. Surrogate information and data. Maps show the distribution of habitats as defined by a classification system

Why habitat mapping? Why MESH? Multiple pressures and uses on marine environment

Why MESH..? Effective management of the marine environment requires information on the spatial distribution and the quality of seabed habitats. Legally permitted activities in the Irish Sea

Why habitat mapping? Why MESH? Multiple pressures and uses on marine environment Ecosystem management needs spatial data on habitats and species Underpin marine spatial planning Context for environmental assessment International obligations to protect seabed habitats

Why MESH: problems preventing progress Available data were not readily accessible Data were not collected to internationally agreed standards Lack of international and national seabed maps in a common language Un-coordinated effort in seabed mapping initiatives

Policy interest Safeguarding our Seas  Build on existing mapping  Publicly accessible integrated mapping Defra ‘Evidence and Innovation Strategy ’ Marine Bill  Value of habitat and ‘landscape’ maps  MESH and UKSeaMap

What is MESH? Development of a framework for Mapping European Seabed Habitats

MESH and UKSeaMap MESH  INTERREG area  From landscapes to biotopes  Range of UK and other partners UKSeaMap  UK waters  Landscapes only  Defra/SE/CCW/DTI DCLG/CE/RSPB WWF/NE/(JNCC) Funding MethodsOutputs

Number of Partners by country

MESH Project: facts & figures Twelve partners from five countries Partner legal status  National Public Body6  Research Institution4  University1  Private Enterprise1 Budget: € 8,125,575 Duration: four years (May ‘03 – April ’07)

MESH - Goal To establish a framework for mapping the marine habitats of north-west Europe through the development of internationally agreed protocols and guidelines for seabed habitat mapping and the generation of the first compiled marine habitat maps for the north-west Europe Interreg III B area.

MESH Actions Collate and harmonise existing habitat maps Develop standards and protocols Field studies Develop predictive mapping tools Case studies on uses for maps Communication and dissemination

MESH deliverables Harmonised habitat map of seabed habitats for north-west  Accompanying ‘confidence maps’  Evaluation of EUNIS for habitat mapping A metadata catalogue of mapping studies for north-west Europe A website that includes an interactive webGIS Guidance on habitat mapping based on a set of internationally agreed protocols and standards  New mapping studies to test protocols and models

Review of standards and protocols

MESH deliverables (cont.) Models for the prediction of habitat types Published case studies on the practical application of habitat maps National networks of habitat mapping stakeholders  A stakeholder database Follow on strategy ..continued collation and improvement of habitat mapping at the national and international scale Physical data Sample data ‘Modelling’ to infer habitat distribution Predicted habitat distribution map

Links to other work Contribute to strategic programmes, eg  Marine Data & Information Partnership  Marine Monitoring & Assessment Facilitate delivery of initiatives, eg  Habitats Directive FCS, SEA/REA, OSPAR MPAs Complement or link to other projects, eg  BALANCE, CHaRM, HabMap

UK seabed mapping New survey, eg UK National Seabed Survey developing proposal Overall package  Collate and present existing data  Interpret as far as possible Underpinning  Data management  Standards and protocols  Utility of mapping

Workshop – 1 Views on MESH and specific outputs  Understanding of the project  Demonstrate utility of outputs and habitat maps  Case studies Audience  advisers, decisions makers, industry, managers, planners, policy makers

Workshop – 2 Structure  > 50% discussion  Different forms of feedback  Web demonstration and posters  Mix of target audience and MESH speakers MESH partners  webGIS  Modelling - UKSeaMap  Guidance document  Follow on strategy

Workshop – 3 User perspective  Scale  Different uses  Organisations Delegates input Outputs ………………….Outcomes?