Biodiversity news: osprey chicks take to the skies, beavers could be reintroduced to Scotland. Defra Publishes English Biodiversity Strategy report, MONARCH report. CIWEM welcomes new presidential team.
Biodiversity news: osprey chicks take to the skies, beavers could be reintroduced to Scotland. Defra Publishes English Biodiversity Strategy report, MONARCH report. CIWEM welcomes new presidential team.
Biodiversity news: osprey chicks take to the skies, beavers could be reintroduced to Scotland. Defra Publishes English Biodiversity Strategy report, MONARCH report. CIWEM welcomes new presidential team.
2 Biodiversity News October 2007 News updates Second Time Lucky For Beaver Trial Award For Harmondsworth Moor Osprey Chicks Take To The Skies 7 Million To Give Nature A Bigger Helping Hand Montrose Goes Live And Global Its OfficialWe Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside! CIWEM Welcomes New Presidential Team 3 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 News publications Defra Publishes English Biodiversity Strategy Report MONARCH Report CIWEMs Journal Tackles Flood Risk Launch Of Let Our Gardens Live 8 8 8 9 10 Features Ground Beetles And Agricultural Land Change Moorland Is Important Sanctuary For Snipe New Research Aims To Make The Countryside Buzz Nowhere Left To RunHow Development Destroys Hedgehogs AstraZenicaWorking With Biodiversity Pioneering Project Inspires UK-Wide Effort To Save Ratty 11 11 12 13 14
15 16 Local and Regional ConservationThe Common Goal LBAP Seminar September 2007 New Nature Reserve For Maibe Local Business Gives Local Support To Reserve Raising The Roof For Wildlife 17 17 19 19 20 20 Group Updates Back From The Brink Plan To Save Grey Partridge UK BRAG 21 21 22 Plan Updates Ministers Approve Priority Species And Habitats List 23 23 Diary 2007 British Wildlife and Climate Change Adaptive Management and Offshore Energy 24 24 25
Dear Reader, Welcome to the October 2007 edition of Biodiver- sity News; my first as editor. In this issue hyperlinks have again been included to each section, so they can be accessed more easily. There is also a Contents link at the top of each page, which returns the reader to the Inside this issue section. Theres more information on the revised Biodiver- sity Action Plan list and its launch on page 23, and news of the inaugural flights of osprey chicks, the potential re-introduction of beavers to Scotland and details of the new presidential team at The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). In News Publications details are included on the MONARCH report, page 8, and amongst the Group Updates is news of a new wildlife gardening mani- festo, page 10, and information about The UK Bio- diversity Research Advisory Group (UK BRAG). The Features section is packed with articles on the threat land drainage poses to wader birds, ground beetles, information on the SAFFIE project and a report on the national decline of hedgehogs, amongst others. Local and Regional contains information on the British Association for Shooting and Conservations (BASCs) Green Shoots project, whilst details of The Game Conservancy Trusts plans to save the waning populations of the grey partridge can be found in Group Updates. Finally, the Diary section offers an opportunity to expand your knowledge of biodiversity with a series of free lectures on British Wildlife and Climate Change and a conference on Adaptive Manage- ment and Offshore Wind Energy. Thank you to all the authors who contributed arti- cles for this issue. Regards, Tom O'Hanlon UK Biodiversity Policy Unit Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Zone 1/07 Temple Quay House 2 The Square Temple Quay Bristol BS1 6EB biodiversitynews@defra.gsi.gov.uk Inside this issue: Once again we wish to thank Natural England & BTCV for the contribution of the line drawings in this issue. Note: The Views expressed in Biodiversity News are the views of individual contributors and are not necessarily the views of the UKBG or the organisations involved.
3 Biodiversity News October 2007 Second Time Lucky for Beaver Trial? Minister Confirms He Will Consider New Proposal for Scottish Beavers Nearly two years after the first proposal by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) for a trial re-introduction of bea- vers to Scotland was re- jected, two leading Scottish conservation bodies; the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and the Royal Zoologi- cal Society of Scotland (RZSS) welcomed the news that Mike Russell MSP, Environment Minister, is con- sidering returning beavers to Scotland. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotlands Out of Doors pro- gramme, the Minister revealed that he would like to make a decision this year and if at all possible, Id like to make sure it [a trial beaver re-introduction] happens. He continued A lot of European countries have successfully introduced the beaver. It is native to Scotland and there is no reason it [the beaver] shouldnt be herean opportunity exists to bring it back and there are some technical issues in the last application in relation to the European Habitats Di- rective that need to be looked atIm keen to see this happen. SWTs Chief Executive Simon Milne said: This is very encouraging news; the Scottish Wildlife Trust wel- comes Mike Russells positive comments about re- storing beavers to Scotland. The beaver is a keystone species whose re-introduction can bring a wide range of benefits to the countryside including improving the ecology of Scotlands wetland habitats and asso- ciated birds, insects, fish and animals, reducing downstream flooding and improving water quality. We are currently in discussion with other partners to ensure that the support being given by the Scottish Government is harnessed so that this project can be moved forward as quickly as possible. David Windmill, Chief Executive of the RZSS which runs Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park, said: We hope that this re- i ntroducti on can be achieved as soon as possible. Beaver re-introductions in over 20 other European countries have been very successful, bringing both environmental benefits and a boost to tourism in rural areas. A successful trial will create the confi- dence to spread the reintroduction to suitable habitats throughout Scotland. Bringing the beaver back will hopefully encourage the public to take a greater interest in the Scottish environment. Approval for the scientific trial would see beavers living in Scotland for the first time since they were hunted to extinction in the sixteenth century. As part of the European Unions Habitats Directive, the UK government is obligated to consider the res- toration of extinct species. In January 2007, the first indication of the Governments commitment to returning the beaver to Scotland was revealed when its conservation advisors (SNH) launched their strategy for conservation action (Species Action Framework) which included in it the restoration of the beaver to Scotland. As for the site for the pos- sible trial, the Minister in his interview mentioned Argyll as a location but no further details have been given.
For further information, please contact: Clara Govier, Communications Manager, SWT Tel: 0131 312 4747 or email: cgovier@swt.org.uk Maxine Finlay, Press Officer, RZSS Tel: 0131 314 0312 or email: mfinlay@rszz.org.uk Contents
4 Biodiversity News October 2007 British Airways has been awarded The Wildlife Trusts Biodiversity Benchmark for the parkland sur- rounding its Waterside headquarters at Heathrow. The rigorously audited Biodiversity Benchmark has been given to British Airways in recognition of its land management of the Harmondsworth Moor site, a for- mer industrial waste site that has been transformed into a haven for the natural environment and visitors. Harmondsworth Moor features several miles of attractive riverbank, lakes, ponds and acres of grassland and young woodland in which lives a wealth of wildlife. Several rare and endan- gered species have been identified, from in- sects such as stag beetles to river and marshland plants, bats, skylarks and harvest mice. These, and many more plants and animals, are being encouraged to enhance the parklands various habitats through careful management of the area by the Parkland Ranger team provided by contract partner, Glendale Managed Services. The site, which has already achieved ISO14001 and a Green Flag award, was originally awarded the Biodi- versity Benchmark in October 2003 during a pilot phase of the scheme. Since that time the award has undergone an extensive review, making the Require- ments of the scheme significantly harder to achieve. British Airways is just one of four companies so far to have received the new award. The pioneering Biodiversity Benchmark enables organisations across the country to assess the quality of their land management, improve their contribution to the environment and demonstrate their commitment to biodiversity. Similar to other standards for management systems, the Bio- diversity Benchmark is composed of a set of de- tailed requirements which an organisation must be able to meet. Amy Underwood, Biodiversity Benchmark Manager, The Wildlife Trusts, said: Extensive and notable work has been car- ried out at Harmondsworth to ensure the site thrives as a haven for wildlife. To have achieved the Biodiversity Benchmark shows a genuine commitment by British Airways for the long-term protection and enhancement of the site. On receiving the award, Kevin Morris, Manager Environmental Affairs, British Airways, said: "The requirements for the 'new' Biodiversity Bench- mark have been considerably tightened up and it has brought a new focus to everything we do in the Parkland, and our management of it has defi- nitely benefited as a result." More information on the Biodiversity Benchmark, including the Requirements and how to apply, can be found on www.biodiversitybenchmark.org Tay and Tummel, the two newly named osprey chicks at the Scottish Wildlife Trusts (SWT) Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve near Dunkeld took to the skies at 1.00 pm today (Friday 13 July 2007) for their first-ever flight.
At 54 days old, the two remaining chicks from a brood of three, have been growing at speed and their flying skills have been improving on a daily basis with both youngsters practicing flapping their wings and jump- ing in the air over the last week. With a 50-foot drop from the nest should one of the chicks take a tumble, stress levels of staff and volunteers have been rising, as the chicks readied themselves for their potentially life-threatening first flying adventure.
Over the last few weeks significant changes have taken place to the appearance of the osprey chicks as they move ever-closer to adulthood. The chicks have finished their dark reptilian phase and if you visit the webcam you can now see that they are now quite light and speckled, said Andrea Wil- liams, SWTs Perthshire Reserves Ranger. The cam- era used by staff and volunteers 24-hours a day to monitor the birds against any potential harm, is si- multaneously beamed into the visitor centre and Friday 13 th Lucky for Some as Osprey Chicks Take to the Skies Michael Davidson Contents Harmondsworth Moor Receives Award for Biodiversity
5 Biodiversity News October 2007 Biffaward is launching a new drive to encourage more en- vironmental and community groups to apply for funding to help protect and rebuild the UKs biodiversity up to 2.4 million a year will be available over the next three years. Biffaward is a national fund, managed by the Royal So- ciety of Wildlife Trusts, which uses landfill tax credits to support worthwhile community and biodiversity pro- jects. Over the last 10 years, Biffaward has supported more than 1000 projects with 85 million of funding. This includes many biodiversity projects which are al- ready benefiting nature in the UK. However, with the UKs wildlife facing increasing pressure from climate change and habitat loss, Biffaward aims to expand the proportion of funding available to projects designed to benefit UK species and habitats. Martin Bettington, Chairman of Biffaward, said The UKs ecosystems are facing ever greater challenges and we want to encourage more funding applications which are going to help our wildlife. Biffawards support for projects such as The Great Fen and the Lower Lee Ot- ter Project show that funding can play a vital role in restoring habitats and protecting species. However we feel that we are not receiving as many applications from environmental groups as we would like. So over the coming months we will be aiming to increase awareness of the funds available for biodiversity pro- jects and I hope that many more groups will be en- couraged to apply to us in the future. Biffaward can help all kinds of biodiversity projects, great and small with funding available from 5,000 to 500,000. Rebuilding Biodiversity pro- jects which have recently received funding in- clude: 1.32,628 for heathland restoration on Sandy Ridge, Bedfordshire: This project is providing practical habitat restoration needed to return 43 ha of newly acquired land, adjacent to the RSPB's headquarters, to a mixture of woodland and prime heathland, helping to meet priority Biodi- versity Action Plan targets for these habitats and the species that depend on them. 2.389,930 for The Great Fen Project - re- storing a Living Landscape. In order to help wildlife adapt to the effects of climate change, The Wildlife Trusts have embarked upon a strat- egy for large-scale habitat restoration. In the front line of this campaign is The Great Fen Pro- ject which aims to restore over 3,000 hectares of all but vanished wildlife habitat. Biffaward has provided funding to improve the conditions within the Holme Fen National Nature Reserve, create up to 26.5 acres of wet grassland, and restore up to 3km of ditches for conservation benefit. It has also paid for the development of a unique vehicle, the fen harvester, which enables a much more environmentally friendly system of managing fen vegetation. 3.41,918 for the Lower Lee Otter Project heralds the return of one of Britains favourite species to the capital. This project is helping the European otter re-colonise the Lower Lee Valley, live onto SWTs website at www.swt.org.uk. Tay is the boss in the nest and is the one who seems to want to try everything first so he was the one that took the plunge first, Williams continued; but brimming with sibling rivalry, Tummel was hot on his heels and soon gave her brother some lessons in aeronautical skills. Its brilliant to watch and thanks to CCTV its like watching your own soap op- era unfold before your eyes it is so addictive and we have people saying that they cant stop watching the osprey family on the webcam.
Loch of the Lowes has witnessed the birth of 69 chicks since 1969, with 49 chicks produced by the current female. After the sadness of recent losses at Loch Garten, staff and volunteers are relieved that Tay and Tummel have survived to fledge. But once the pair has mastered flying, fishing is the next skill on the mission to become independent of mum and dad. Then, much to joy of volunteers and staff, tinged with a wee bit of sadness, the youngsters will take on the hardest journey of their short lives; a 3,000 mile journey back to Africa. The question al- ways remains, will they ever return to their first home in Perthshire and will a maturing mum be back again next year to raise her 50 th chick? Well know in March 2008. For further information, please contact: Clara Govier, Communications Manager, SWT Tel: 0131 312 4747 or email: cgovier@swt.org.uk Michael Davidson Contents 7 Million to Give Nature a Bigger Helping Hand
6 Biodiversity News October 2007 but sometimes can be overshadowed by other more well known tourist areas. The wildlife here is di- verse and interesting yet you do not have to be a wildlife enthusiast to enjoy the scenic panorama of the Montrose Basin towards the beautiful Angus Glens now on offer on www.swt.org.uk and at www.angusahead.com The webcam at Montrose Basin will be on site for three years and is fully supported by funding from the Angus Ahead campaign. For those who think once seen there is little reason to return, the cam- era has several viewing options to ensure the view changes online. If this camera is anything like the live footage available on SWTs website of the os- preys at Loch of the Lowes, it will be only a short time before this feature becomes top of the clicks! otters. Biffaward can help to rebuild biodiversity by funding species recovery projects as well as habitat management, preservation and restoration. From halls, museums and play areas to ponds and nature reserves, Biffaward is able to award funding to help transform plans into reality for full details of the funding available and how to apply visit www.biffaward.org Biffa provides a range of public sector, commer- cial and industrial waste collection services as well as the management of 33 operational landfill sites across the UK. The multi-million pound a year Biffaward fund has been set up, using tax charged on waste taken into landfill sites, to help finance environ- mental projects near Biffa sites. Visitors to the Scottish Wildlife Tr us t s ( SWT) webs i t e at www.swt.org.uk are now able to enjoy views of Montrose Basin and its wildlife 24-hours a day for the first time thanks to funding from Angus Ahead and Angus Council. A live webcam link on the site allows visitors to see views of the estuary and some of the wildlife hotspots for free as part of a campaign to encourage web surfers to delve deeper and see what Angus has to offer. From garden birds at the feeding stations to mud liv- ing with eider ducks, grey herons, oystercatchers and goosanders, Caroline Hendry, Visitor Centre Manager at Montrose Basin hopes that this initiative will help virtual visitors realise the benefits of the area and visit in person. Angus has so much to offer Montrose Goes Live and Global! close to London. Local people are being supported in implementing essential habitat improvement ini- tiatives that provide otters with feeding sites, ref- uge areas and safe access routes through the busy valley. 4.295,668 for the Calke Abbey National Na- ture Reserve Biodiversity Development Project, Derbyshire. In September 2004, 79 ha of Calke Ab- beys wood pasture of ancient oaks was designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR); Biffaward funding is bringing about many community benefits as well as habitat improvements for species such as the Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, the threat- ened native White-clawed Crayfish, rare insects and fungi. Gillian French, Assistant Fund Manager for Bif- faward at The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts says Biffaward is well-known for funding environ- mental and community projects throughout the UK but less familiar is the scope of work that can be undertaken to help our native species. Already there are projects underway helping protect prior- ity species such as water voles, brown hares and Woodwalton Fen Thomas Sisman Contents Its Official We Do Like to be Beside the Seaside! Whether its somewhere to enjoy the holidays or a resource for the food we eat, the results of a re- cent survey by The Wildlife Trusts show just how much we have come to depend on our marine environment. More than 1,200 people from across the UK took part in the telephone survey commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts to examine public attitudes to our seas. Opinions were sought from all over Scotland. When asked to choose from a list of six options*, a day at the seaside topped the poll as peoples favourite leisure activity and over three quarters had spent time at the coast in the past year. 93% felt the sea is important for fish and other wildlife, and 94% rated the health and well-being of marine wildlife as important. More than two-thirds felt that there are fewer fish in the sea than 20 years ago. 87% felt that restrictions on commercial activity such as industrial fishing or dredging should be in place where sea life was under threat. They believed
7 Biodiversity News October 2007 A new Presidential team at the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is help- ing to achieve a more clean, green and sustainable world. David Rooke MBE has taken over from Bob Sargent and is joined by Alastair Moseley as the new Vice-President and Malcolm White as Presi- dent-Elect. David Rooke is the Environment Agencys Head of Flood Risk Management for England and Wales, with more than 27 years in flood and environmental man- agement. David was heavily involved in the recent floods emergency response. David has been involved with CIWEM in many differ- ent guises since 1986, from being Chairman of CI- WEMs Rivers and Coastal Group, a member of Coun- cil, Vice-President of CIWEM and now a Fellow of CI- WEM. One of his first official jobs will be to welcome delegates to CIWEMs annual conference, The Global Environment, held between 9 th and 11 th October. The Global Environment is providing the first showcase of Davids presidential theme and major new CIWEM initiative, Arts and the Environment, which encour- ages dialogue and collaboration between the arts, science, technology, business and the environment. President-Elect Malcolm White is Managing Director of Mott MacDonalds Water and Environment Busi- ness. Malcolm is a Civil Engineer and a Fellow of CI- WEM, with specialist expertise in the planning and design of sewerage and wastewater systems and ex- tensive international experience managing multidis- ciplinary projects. Malcolm has worked on a whole range of projects in countries as diverse as the UK, Pakistan, China, Hungary, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Middle East, so complements CIWEMs global in- terests. Alastair Moseley, UK Water Sector Director at WSP, is CIWEMs new Vice President. Alastair recently joined WSP, after leaving his position as the Direc- tor of the Water Environment Capability at Hyder Consultings Birmingham Office with a wide portfo- lio of work embracing sewerage, water networks, (Continued on page 8) CIWEM Welcomes New Presidential Team Contents that 29% of the sea is already protected, but felt this proportion should be much higher, at 58%. Dr Becky Boyd, Marine Policy Officer with the Scot- tish Wildlife Trust (SWT) said: The poll shows that Scots are very switched on to the pressing need to protect the health of Scot- lands seas. They are concerned not just about en- joying a day at the seaside, but about falling fish stocks and the protection of marine wildlife. In the survey, people thought that 29% of UK seas are already safe in marine reserves. In fact the real figure is only 0.01%!. This UK wide survey sends a strong message to both Holyrood and Westminster that we urgently need to bring forward robust ma- rine legislation to protect and manage our seas so they can recover and become abundant and pro- ductive for future generations. Our coasts and seas contain 50% of Scotlands wild- life with an estimated 8,000 species of marine plants, invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals. Scotland has one of the longest coastlines in Europe at over 11,000 km supporting the largest gannet colony in the world, 36% of the worlds grey seals and 24 species of whales, dolphins and por- poises. Despite having 14 nationally and interna- tionally important coastal and marine habitats in Scotland, our seas are poorly protected compared to habitats on land, are under increasing pressure from human activities and are struggling to cope with rapid climate change. SWT has been campaigning for a Marine Bill for Scot- land for many years and was heartened by a state- ment in June this year from Cabinet Secretary Rich- ard Lochhead saying the Executive hoped to an- nounce plans for a new single piece of streamlined legislation to protect marine and coastal environ- ments soon. SWT hopes a more formal announce- ment on the Bill will be made soon and looks forward to working with the Executive and other marine stakeholders on its content. Jonny Hughes, SWTs Head of Policy added, A Scot- tish Marine Bill is now urgently required to deliver a marine planning system, a Scottish Marine Manage- ment Organisation and a network of Marine Reserves for the protection of our increasingly vulnerable ma- rine wildlife. Dolphins and fish clearly do not stay within administrative boundaries so it is also vital that Westminster brings forward its plans for a Ma- rine Bill as soon as possible. For further information, please contact: Clara Govier, Communications Manager, SWT Tel: 0131 312 4747 or email: cgovier@swt.org.uk
8 Biodiversity News October 2007 There is already evidence from sources like the UK Phenology Network and distribution records that many species are responding to changes in the cli- mate. The MONARCH report illustrates the potential impacts of climate change on some of our most rare or threatened species, under different projected lev- els of greenhouse gas emissions to the 2080s. The MONARCH programme studied the projected change in suitable climate for 120 species that are currently being conserved through the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Thirty-two of these were explored in de- tail and it was found that 29 are likely to experience changes in the location and/or extent of areas where the climate will meet their requirements. Eight are projected to lose substantial climate space: in the case of six of them, all suitable climate space or the vast majority of it is lost by the 2080s under a High climate change scenario. The projections also show a northward shift in climate space for six spe- cies, while 15 have the potential to extend their range within Britain and Ireland. The latter may be particularly important if species are simultaneously losing climate space and declining further south, including in their continental European range. The changes in suitable climate space projected by MONARCH suggest that many species will need to Contents sewage treatment, water treatment, river manage- ment, hydrology, water resources, pollution preven- tion control, environmental impact, integrated water management and leakage control. Alastair has been a member of CIWEM for 12 years and is currently Branch Secretary of West Midlands Branch, as well as former Branch Chairman. During his induction speech, David Rooke acknowl- edged the honour of becoming President and cele- brated CIWEMs leadership role in our adaptation to climate change, saying: Those of us with professional skills have a special role to play. We can provide the leadership, the science and solutions to protect the earth against the forces of nature invigorated by mans use of fossil fuels. And the visual and performing arts present so many opportunities to advocate the environmental and sustainability agenda. CIWEM is bringing the mind and soul together to achieve a safer, sustain- able world. The Presidential Inauguration took place at CI- WEMs AGM on Thursday 6 th September. For more information contact Emily Doyle, CIWEM Press and Marketing Officer, on 020 7831 3110 or emily@ciwem.org. As BAP Species Respond to Climate Change, What Might the Future Hold for Them and What are The Key Messages for Biodiversity Conservation? On International Biodiversity Day, May 22, Defra published England Biodiversity Strategy: towards adaptation to climate change. This report reviews the evidence for direct and indirect impacts of cli- mate change on biodiversity in England and consid- ers options available for adapting policies in order to reduce these impacts. Copies are available from the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ biodiversity/index.htm Defra publishes England Biodiversity Strategy report Contents
9 Biodiversity News October 2007 disperse to survive. Many species will find it very dif- ficult to disperse successfully unless action is taken at multiple scales to address fragmentation of semi- natural habitats, specifically BAP habitats. All species whose potentially suitable climate space moves may benefit from adaptation measures to aid dispersal to and establishment in new locations. MONARCHs projections reinforce the urgency for management interventions and dramatic reductions in our greenhouse gas emissions. Whilst the changes in climate space projected for most species by the 2020s are relatively limited, by the 2050s many are substan- tial. However, there are inherent uncertainties in all computer simulation models. The quality and diver- sity of biological input data and the sophistication of data manipulation both affect the robustness and reli- ability of results. Careful interpretation of such cli- mate space model outputs is vital and they cannot be used to prescribe necessary action or timetables on a species-by-species basis. The outputs are indicative rather than accurate, and adaptation for nature con- servation must be inherently flexible enough to work under a range of circumstances. Plans must be drawn up with such uncertainty in mind and further monitor- ing of BAP species at risk of climate change impacts is vital. The Climate Change and Environment Minister, Ian Pearson, summarising the report when it was launched in May said MONARCH highlights the need to consider biodiversity issues in all adaptation plan- ning across the UK. Successful adaptation measures for nature conservation need decades to become ef- fective. That is why adaptation planning must start now. This must be combined with meaningful in- ternational efforts to reduce emissions, such as in- vestment in clean energy technologies and action to reduce energy consumption and increase effi- ciency. Copies of the report can be ordered or downloaded from the UK Climate Impacts Programme website: http://www.ukcip.org.uk/resources/publications/ while for any further information about the pro- ject, please contact Clive Walmsley (clive.walmsley@ccw.gov.uk) CIWEMS Journal Tackles Flood Risk Recent floods in the UK dam- aged up to 1.5 billion worth of assets. With more ex- treme weather events pre- dicted for the future, the Chartered Institution of Wa- ter and Environmental Man- agement (CIWEM) is provid- ing a unique resource to dis- cuss global strategies for flood risk management. With Blackwell Publishing, CIWEM is launching the Journal of Flood Risk Management. This online- only journal will provide an international platform for knowledge sharing and information dissemina- tion across the range of disciplines where flood re- lated research is carried out. The journal will cover a wide range of topics includ- ing modelling, infrastructure management, hydrol- ogy, flood forecasting, land use management, policy and legislation, as well as uncertainty analysis and risk. The first paper submitted was by Columbia Univer- sity, School of Earth and Environmental Engineering USA, examining rainfall patterns and modelling se- quences from eight rain stations in the Everglades National Park. Editor in Chief, David Balmforth, who is leading an international team of associate editors, says: "Given the potential impacts of climate change, flooding poses one of the biggest challenges to hu- manity for its future well being. CIWEMs new jour- nal will share solutions which could improve our re- silience to flooding in the future. The journal, supported by Arup, MWH and Royal Haskoning, is now open for paper submissions and the inaugural edition will be published in March 2008. Contents
10 Biodiversity News October 2007 On Wednesday 18 July, representatives from more than thirty leading wildlife and horticultural organi- sations, including Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natu- ral England and Helen Phillips, Natural England Chief Executive, together with representatives from Defra, the Wildlife Trusts, Butterfly Conservation, RSPB, Buglife, Living Roofs and the Royal Horticultural Soci- ety signed a wildlife gardening manifesto, at an event held by Natural England, to mark a united commitment to do more for species that rely on pockets of habitat for survival.
Gardens act as a food supermarket for visiting and breeding birds and mammals. They are the place where children make their first contact with the natural world and are often the only place where adults encounter wildlife that isnt on a screen.
Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England said: Gardens cover up to a quarter of the land surface in our towns and cities and they are under threat. In London an area twenty two times the size of Hyde Park has been lost through gardens being paved over. This reduces habitats, contributes to global warming and exacerbates the impact of flash flooding. Through this manifesto, Natural England is calling to action businesses, organisations and the public to play their part and give gardens a future for the benefit of our health and the survival of the endan- gered species that live on our doorsteps. Although the Minister for Biodiversity, Joan Ruddock, was unable to attend, a senior Defra official John Robbs, took her place. Besides being Director of Wildlife and Countryside at Defra, he chairs the Eng- land Biodiversity Group and also the UK Biodiversity Partnership Standing Committee. The launch received a massive amount of media cov- erage, including articles in four national and 14 re- gional newspapers, interviews on BBC Radio 4, Ra- dio 5 Live, 17 BBC local radio stations and even one on News Talk Radio from Ireland. It was also the subject of interviews on both BBC TV and ITV. At the time of the launch, 28 organisations had signed the manifesto:
Since then, these have been joined by ten others:
An up to date list of signatories (as well as the manifesto itself) will always be found at http:// www. nat ur al engl and. or g. uk/ campai gns/ breathingplaces/manifesto.htm Launch of Let our Gardens Live: a Manifesto for Gardens, People and Nature Baines Environmental Ltd Beechcroft Developments Bumblebee Conservation Trust Cottage Garden Society Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens Froglife Living Roofs Mammal Society Snowdonia Wildlife Gardening Partnership Woking Local Agenda 21 The signatories with the manifesto Steve Berry Amateur Entomologists Soci- ety British Dragonfly Society Buglife Butterfly Conservation Chester Zoological Gardens Countryside Council for Wales Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield Environment Agency Environment and Heritage Service Garden Organic Landlife National Society for Allotment and Leisure Gardeners National Trust Natural England Natural History Museum Notcutts Garden Centres Ltd Peoples Trust for Endangered Species Plantlife Pond Conservation Royal Entomological Society Royal Horticultural Society RSPB The Herpetological Conserva- tion Trust The Wildlife Trusts Wiggly Wigglers Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Woodland Trust Zoological Society of London
11 Biodiversity News October 2007 Ground Beetles and Agricultural Land Change Contents The interactions between invertebrate communities can vary widely according to crop type and season. Invertebrate communi- ties are made up of mites, spiders, beetles, springtails, flies and other groups. Changing farming techniques and practices will al- most certainly impact on these invertebrate groups, some more than others. Much information is therefore required on what long- term effects are likely to arise from changing land-use practices and of their environmental significance. Many species that were once common inhabitants of farmland have become rare or even have disappeared. Much of the focus on biodiversity within agri- cultural landscapes has been on the conservation of rare species. However, other issues have now become equally prominent, namely whether or not increased biodiversity or species richness enhances ecosystem functions such as primary productivity and nutrient retention or ecosystem services such as pollination and biological control. Non-crop habitats on farmland are usually more species diverse than cropped fields and intensive grasslands and even sometimes become islands of species-richness if dispersal across suitable habi- tat is limited. Ground beetles or Carabidae are one of the most numerous and diverse groups of arthropods found in agro- ecosystems, contributing to both pest control and acting as a major food source for farmland birds. They are also known to be important indicators of environmental change and may act as good indicators of change imposed by human activity more quickly than plants. The ecology and environmental factors affect- ing ground beetles have been extensively studied and periodically reviews of this work have appeared. Since the 1950s ground beetles inhabiting agricultural land have been more intensively investigated and much is now known about the ecology and habitat requirements of many individual species. Many factors will deter- mine and influence the diversity and abundance of ground beetles within agricultural systems. Many of these factors are well documented but because the beetles respond to a wide variety of environmental fac- tors it is often difficult to quantify the impact of any individual factor. This major group of invertebrates are known to be sensitive to a range of agricultural practices including livestock grazing, pesticide applica- tion and cropping regimes. Management practice, vegetation structure and duration to harvest vary among crops and can all affect in- vertebrate communities. Numerous studies have revealed that beetle fauna differs with crop type, with patterns in assemblage composition occurring in response to the differing spraying regimes associated with particular crops and the amount of ground cover. Changes in invertebrate communities in relation to crop type is likely to be a result of the husbandry practices associated with a particular crop and especially the type of soil cultivation employed, rather than movement and active selection, although some species may prefer the microclimate provided by a particular crop. No beetle species has particularly been associated with particular crops though some associations have been recorded. The presence of ground cover has been shown to promote beetle communities. Greatest differences in beetle fauna composition are known to oc- cur between winter sown and spring sown crops, for example, winter wheat can have higher densities of The common carabid, Pterostichus niger Dr Roy Anderson, AFBI)
12 Biodiversity News October 2007 New Study Reveals that Moorland is an Important Sanctuary for Snipe beetles than the early successional stages of set-aside because it provides more cover. Spring root crops usually have lower abundance and diversity of beetles. The planting of trees on agricultural grassland is known to increase beetle diversity and richness (Cuthbertson & McAdam, Biodiversity News, 31: 17-18). The trees increase the level of environmental heterogeneity and hence the number of opportunities for species colonisation to increase. Soil disturbance can affect both species assemblage of ground beetles and also the phenology and behaviour of individual species. Beetle diversity varies in response to tillage, even a particular species may respond differently to the same tillage treatments in different sites. Uncultivated habitats can be important over- wintering sources of natural enemies for cultivated fields. Soil cultivation tends to reduce populations of beetle larvae and can influence community structure by selecting against species with long larval stages. Since species with longer lived larvae are often larger bodied, this can result in intensively managed habi- tats being characterised by smaller beetles than extensively managed habitats. For further information concerning invertebrate biodiversity contact: Dr Andrew G. S. Cuthbertson, Central Science Laboratory, York YO41 1LZ (e-mail: a.cuthbertson@csl.gov.uk) A new study by The Game Conservancy Trust, which will be published in the July edition of the international science journal Bird Study, published by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), highlights the threat that land drainage can have on important wader bird species, particularly common snipe. The common snipe is a particular favourite of bird-watchers, especially during the breeding season when males can be heard giving their 'drumming' or 'beating' display on spring mornings and evenings. However, these small waders, recognizable by their 6.5cms long straight bills that are used for probing wet grassland for prey, have declined by about 62% over the past 20 years in lowland Britain due to the loss or deterioration of their wet- land habitat. As a consequence they are now designated an Amber List species. To understand whether snipe are fairing better in upland ar- eas, the Trust's study investigated both habitat use and the food preferences of breeding snipe Gallinago gallinago on moorland in northern England. This scientific study is part of The Trust's long-term Upland Predation Experiment, which is investigating the effects of predation on breeding populations of upland waders, such as golden plover, lapwing and curlew. On lowland wet grassland, the snipe's breeding season is determined by the duration for which the soil re- mains soft enough for the birds to probe for food such as earthworms and tipulid larvae (daddy long legs or mosquito larvae). However, since the 1940s the serious population decline in lowland areas has been driven by the loss of this soft wet grassland habitat through increased land drainage aimed at creating more arable land, as well as increased livestock grazing. On Britain's moorland, however, the study revealed that densities of snipe were comparable to those in the Alexis de le Serre Contents
13 Biodiversity News October 2007 Mix together a healthy selection of seed bearing arable flowers such as fat hen, field pansy, black bind weed, knotgrass and chickweed, with a typical selection of ground dwelling insects such as grasshoppers, cater- pillars and leaf beetles and you have a perfect winter and summer ban- quet that will boost our declining farmland birds and their offspring. However, a recently completed five-year study has just concluded that arable crops contain a third less insects than needed to sustain declining farmland birds such as grey partridges, yellowhammers and white throats. The study was carried out by entomologists from The Game Conservancy Trust in conjunction with ADAS and the Central Science Laboratory, and forms part of a 3.5 million Defra funded project called SAFFIE - Sustain- able Arable Farming for an Improved Environment project - which aims to enhance farmland biodiversity by developing more wildlife-friendly farming techniques. Dr John Holland, head of The Game Conservancy Trust's entomology de- partment, said, "Within the crop, arable flowers and seeds are key foods for farmland birds, insects and small mammals all year. The flowers seeds are an important food source during winter, while insects are an essential food for many young farmland bird chicks. But getting the balance right to benefit wildlife is diffi- cult because any approach at reducing chemical controls should not unduly affect the practicalities of farm- ing." As part of the SAFFIE project, the Trust's entomologists studied the impact that weed killers were having on arable flowers, which are an important food source for a range of invertebrates. The aim was to discover whether using lower amounts of herbicide would boost these important arable plants while not affecting the quality of the crop. Dr Holland explains, "The decline of many farmland birds such as skylarks and grey partridges is linked to the loss of their food supply. Boosting the number of arable flowers in a crop encourages more insects and thus more farmland birds. But many species of plant, once regarded as 'weeds', have also declined because New Research Aims to Make the Countryside Buzz Contents best lowland habitats in England and Wales. Moorland is clearly an important habitat for the British snipe population, notably because it is far more extensive than the remaining suitable lowland habitats. The availability of suitable wetland feeding areas on moorland appears to be the main factor determining breed- ing densities. However, between 1980 and 1990 the number of sheep in the uplands more than doubled, resulting in a shift from heather-dominated habitats to heather/grass mosaics in many areas. Although this might have made some moors marginally more attractive to breeding snipe, it is likely to have resulted in increased trampling rates of snipe nests - one of the major factors that caused snipe to decline in lowland wet grass- lands. In addition, the agricultural improvement of pasture fields adjoining moorland is detrimental to most breeding waders, including snipe, and improved grass held the lowest snipe densities within the study sites. Dr Andrew Hoodless, carried out this research on The Game Conservancy Trust's study sites at Otterburn in Northumberland and said, "Because of its specialist feeding requirements, snipe are very susceptible to habitat change. Given the poor status of breeding snipe in lowland Britain and the emerging evidence of declines on upland marginal grassland, we need to ensure that any future upland habitat management prac- tices are beneficial to snipe and do not result in further deterioration of their important moorland habitats. For more information, contact Morag Walker, Head of Media, on 01425 652381 info@gct.org.uk Dr John Holland The Game Conservancy Trust
14 Biodiversity News sized fields appear better for hedgehogs. So hedgehogs have been forced out of the countryside by the industrialisation of agriculture, and are now finding the refuge of suburbia is also being swamped by development. The good news is that hedgehogs are still widely distributed. The majority of hedge- hog sightings were in peoples gardens but were also seen in pasture, arable land, woodlands, village greens, parks, moorland and heathland. The jury is still out on whether the increase in badg- ers has any part to play in the hedgehogs decline. It would be easy to blame badgers, said Hugh Warwick of the British Hedgehog Preservation Soci- ety, but hedgehogs and badgers have co-existed for millennia, still live side by side in some parts of the country and where the decline in hedgehogs is As the hedgehog joins 1149 species and habitats on the Biodiversity Action Plan so HogWatch reveals the extent of the decline in this much loved spe- cies. A report, published recently, shows hedgehogs are in national decline.
All over the country hedgehogs are vanishing. Over half of the respondents to the HogWatch survey are seeing fewer hedgehogs, and this is backed up by a report published today by leading scientists from the University of London. HogWatch was launched in response to findings that hedgehogs have de- clined by as much as 50% in some regions (1). This is potentially catastrophic. Nearly 20,000 people took part in HogWatch report- ing sightings and non-sightings of hedgehogs in 2005 and 2006, making it the largest mammal survey of its kind. The information from these amateur natu- ralists has allowed HogWatch to produce a distribu- tion map for hedgehogs. It shows a clear east-west divide in England. You are more likely to see a hedgehog on the eastern side of England than the west. (see map) But evidence gathered previously from the Mammals on Roads study revealed that the east of the coun- try is where the disappearance of the hedgehog is at its fastest (1). If this is the case then hedgehogs really are in trouble and we need to urgently find out what is causing this decline. Commenting on why hedgehogs are more widely dis- tributed in some areas than others, study coordina- tor Dr Paul Bright said, Increasing urbanisation and tidier gardens are pushing hedgehogs out from the places where most of us live. In the wider country- side landscapes which apparently have smaller- Places where hedgehogs were seen (green dots) and not seen (red dots) in gardens, on farms and throughout the wider countryside Contents of increased use of herbicide, improved seed-cleaning and changes in crop types and sowing dates. This project is therefore, very exciting as it works towards achieving a balance between controlling weeds to ensure an economic crop whilst maintaining ecological biodiversity." The research particularly highlighted the need to target control specifically at pernicious weeds, such as black grass and wild oats, and not the non-competitive 'arable flowers' favoured by birds and insects. Dr Holland explains, "Our research showed that many fields have higher levels of beneficial arable flowers than pernicious weeds and it is therefore possible to reduce herbicide inputs substantially, particularly where pernicious weeds are not posing a threat. Indeed, by firstly identifying that pernicious weeds are ab- sent and then reducing amounts of herbicide sprays accordingly, could benefit farmers financially. The study showed that a single spring spray application of amidosulfuron (Eagle) allowed the most beneficial arable flowers to survive and frequently this treatment supported the most skylark food items. When com- bined with the creation of skylark plots, this treatment could be of huge benefit to the declining skylark population." For more information on SAFFIE, visit: www.saffie.info Nowhere Left to Run How Development Destroys Hedgehogs
15 Biodiversity News October 2007 For more information, please contact Nida Al Fu- laij on 020 7498 4533 ASTRAZENECA Working with Biodiversity As one of the worlds leading phar- maceutical companies, AstraZeneca recognises the importance of long- term sustainable development, based on good financial, social and environmental performance. These foundations are the same as those underpinning the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) signed in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. AstraZeneca is developing a biodiversity strategy aimed at the preservation and enhancement of local ecological interest within boundaries of its sites and preserving links with the surrounding environment via green corridors. The company is in the early stages of developing Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) for all of its major properties around the world. These will be based on a pilot project that is now nearing completion at one of AstraZenecas main research and development sites in Cheshire, in the UK. Data from field surveys carried out in 2006 and 2007 have been combined with a large volume of historic records to produce a very comprehensive collection of information on habitats and species. The work has included monitoring all of the sites habitats as well as surveying populations of significant species such as the extensive colonies of bluebells, the diversity of butterflies and birds and the monitoring of nu- merous bird nesting boxes. In-house computing ex- pertise has been used in combination with Species Recorder and Computer Aided Design (CAD) software to store the data in an easily accessible and visual format and to produce a BAP for the site. Although the BAP is still under development, the information collected so far has already proven valuable. Changes in meadow management on the site has resulted in a 50% increase in grass species in some areas, monocultures of conifers are being replaced by a diversity of indigenous deciduous species and prior knowledge of active badger setts has assisted engineers in planning a major site development pro- ject which will have no impact on these animals. The Cheshire Wildlife Trust has been involved in the project from the outset. The AstraZeneca initiative shows just what can be achieved when major com- panies use their commercial and technical expertise to support biodiversity. The company has set a stan- dard which we hope others will follow, says Kathe- rine Walsh, the Trusts Reserves Officer. Following the success of the pilot scheme, initial ecological studies have now begun on other Astra- Zeneca sites. The companys Leicestershire property has been found to be particularly important for dragonflies and has a thriving Sand Martin colony breeding in a specially constructed nesting bank. Continuing ecological surveys at the Bristol site are yielding a great diversity of species, especially those associated with the sites extensive drainage ditches or rhines, as they are known locally. These are tradi- tional habitats for water voles and a variety of drag- onfly species, but recent surveys have confirmed the presence of reed warblers, grass snake and probably water shrew. European sites in France and Sweden have produced records ranging from crested tits to nesting red- backed shrikes and wart-bitter bush crickets to brown hairstreak butterflies. Preliminary work on AstraZeneca properties in some of the worlds biodiversity hot spots report a wide range of even more exotic flora and fauna; with indigenous anole lizards and endemic birds in Puerto Rico and mon- keys and mongooses on sites in southern India. Currently the companys database and draft biodi- versity plans are only available in-house, but it is eventually planned to make this large store of infor- mation more widely accessible, especially to the Wildlife Trusts and other conservation organisations. highest, there are fewer badgers. It seems likely that the way we have altered the environment is at the heart of the problem. HogWatch is part of a wider research project to es- tablish the status of hedgehogs across the UK, coor- dinated by Dr Paul Bright, Royal Holloway, University of London, and funded by the Peoples Trust for En- dangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. PhD student Anouschka Hof (pictured) carried out the fieldwork. 1.The PTES survey Mammals on Roads found that between 2001 and 2005 hedgehog numbers had declined by 20% and as much as 50% in some places. (Continued from page 14) Hugh Warwick Contents Contents
16 Pioneering Project Inspires a UK-Wide Effort to Save 'Ratty' The release of 600 captive- bred water voles on the River Dore in Herefordshire by The Game Conservancy Trust in the past year, plus the recent injection of nearly 200,000 from funders such as SITA Trust and the John Eller- man Foundation will help to ensure the future for British water voles. Immortalized as the charismatic 'Ratty' in Ken- neth Graham's book 'Wind in the Willows', the wa- ter vole has been part of Britain's native wildlife since the last Ice Age, but today it is in deep trou- ble. Characteristic of idyllic clean, green river- banks, the water vole is now one of Britain's fastest declining mammals and has vanished from 85% of sites nation-wide in just seven years. This decline is partly attributable to the wide- spread degradation of riverside habitat, but preda- tion by American mink has had an overwhelming impact. The North American mink was brought to Britain in the 1930s for fur-farming, escaped from numerous locations and has since colonised the whole of mainland Britain. The Game Conservancy Trust's pioneering project on the restored River Dore in Herefordshire will give renewed hope to conservation organisations in other regions where the water vole is already ex- tinct and unlikely to re-colonise. The habitat has been restored, mink have been eliminated from the river and 600 captive-bred water voles have been re-introduced. Dr Jonathan Reynolds, a senior research scientist at the Trust said, "The significance of the River Dore project is both its large scale and the fact that for the first time we have addressed all the key factors that have contributed to the loss of water voles on an unprecedented scale. During 2003-6, the GCT restored more than 90 km of riverbank in the Mon- now catchment, of which the River Dore forms one part. Now we have addressed the predation prob- lem using the GCT Mink Raft to keep the river mink-free, and released a large founding stocks of voles in two successive years." The innovative GCT Mink Raft was introduced in 2002, and since then this deceptively simple device has been enthusi asti cal l y adopted by Water Vole Biodiver- sity Action Plan Steering Groups and conservation bodies through- out the UK. Jonathan Reynolds said, "Until 2002, the mink issue was thought to be unmanageable. The GCT Mink Raft has shown that a meaningful impact on mink numbers can be made in a short time at reasonable cost." The Trust's research on mink control has set a new pace and agenda, particularly as decades of trapping and hunting had not previously prevented the colonisation of mink throughout Britain. The additional funding now received from SITA Trust and the John Ellerman Foundation marks the final three-year stage of this inspiring project. Now that water voles are once again established on the river, the Trust is keen to ensure the population is sustain- able. Jonathan Reynolds explains, "As a research charity it is important that we address the 'sustainability' of water vole conservation. In practi- cal terms this means that we will extend the mink eradication zone (currently 40 km of river), so that the re-introduced water vole colony can expand natu- rally into mink-free space on neighbouring tributaries. In this way, the entire upper Monnow catchment will become a mink-free water vole sanctuary, which should be maintainable with relatively ordinary fund- ing." To ensure the long-term future of water voles on the River Dore, the Trust will work with local conserva- tion bodies to establish the means to monitor and maintain the status quo once the Trust's funding ends in 2010. Jonathan Reynolds said, "We are hoping that this project will be an inspiration for others to follow. It highlights to policy makers and practitioners the 'art of the possible' in restoring this charismatic spe- cies to rivers throughout the UK." For more infor- mation, contact Morag Walker, Head of Media, on 01425 652381 info@gct.org.uk David Mason
17 Biodiversity News October 2007 Conservationists come in many different forms; some that like to go swimming, some that like to jog; some that like to climb mountains, some that prefer to walk in the lowlands; there are those that like to get knee deep in mud volunteering for conservation work, and those who prefer to support financially; there are those that shoot, and those that do not. What is the difference between all of these? Nothingthey are all as important as the next in achieving conservation tar- gets. In north Wales there are 330 shooting conserva- tionists taking part in BASCs Green Shoots project; a unique collaboration between shooting and non- shooting conservationists, supported by the Country- side Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and FWAG Cymru, that brings delivery of biodiversity tar- gets in to the wider countryside. The eyes and ears of the countryside If you want to know something about an area of land, you generally speak to the landowner. However, with farmers becoming busier and the workload more in- tense, very often farmers do not get the chance to look up and appreciate their surroundings and monitor wildlife as they once did . This is where the shooting community are different; they are the eyes and ears of the countryside due to the quantity and quality of time they spend in the countryside. BASC members have a wide array of sporting interests which include: deer stalking; rough shooting; driven shooting; wild- fowling and predator control, to name a few. These disciplines are very different and require the person to be out at many different times of the day and night. Therefore they are there to see the full variety of wildlife on the land. So, how does the proj ect work? Green Shoots draws on the knowledge that our mem- bers absorb on a day to day basis. To get an idea on what habitats, species and management occurs on our members land we sent out a survey asking our mem- bers about where they shot over in North Wales. It demonstrated the wealth of knowledge about the countryside that BASC members in north Wales had hold of. The survey asked about 23 species and 9 habi- tats, all of which are found on the Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAP) of north Wales, and asked them to indicate on a map where the species and habi- tats occurred. The results were amazing; 19% of north Wales is shot over by BASC members and 9000 biological records were generated. With this wide coverage it has been commented that it is one of the most comprehensive wildlife studies carried out in north Wales. The survey is used to select specific members for a project, depending on the habitats or species rele- vant to the LBAP targets. The following projects outlined are a glimpse of Green Shoots over the past year. Marsh Fritillary..UK BAP species During 2006 Butterfly Conservation and BASC got together to look over the Green Shoots survey data in order to survey sites that could be suitable for this rare butterfly. Those sites that were close to existing marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) popu- lations were visited to check for their presence and give management advice to improve the site and hopefully attract this butterfly in coming years. These sites will be re-surveyed to see how the sites have developed and whether they have been used by the marsh fritillaries. The overall aim is to increase and enlarge the range of the marsh fritillary. Pine Marten- The elusive mammal Perhaps the most exciting project is the pine mar- ten (Martes martes). The survey indicated there were 23 sightings of pine martens on BASC mem- bers land. To avoid spending too much time chas- ing these invisible mammals, the VWT - (Vincent Wildlife Trust) developed a phone interview tech- Conservation: the Common Goal A new pond dug on a Green Shoot in Flintshire. Alex Hatton Contents
18 Biodiversity News October 2007 nique that scores sightings. The 23 Green Shoots sightings are being scored using this method. Those which score highly will be followed up with on the ground work. One series of sightings on a rough shoot in Snowdonia National Park is looking very promising. Breeding boxes have been built and erected in woods surrounding the sightings. A reason for decline is that our woodlands are very young, with old trees not be- ing left, therefore restricting the cavities available to den in. The water vole, under threat by the misguided As the number of water voles plummets, making it the fastest declining mammal in Britain, ambitious partnerships are evolving in north Wales to combat the American Mink (Mustela vison), its main predator and one of the causes of the decline, released from mink farms by misguided activists. The Environment Agency Wales part funds Green Shoots owing to the help BASC members have in helping with mink trap- ping and deploy mink rafts. Mink workshops have been run on Anglesey, with the aim of training fishing clubs and BASC members how to efficiently use mink rafts (originally designed by the GCT) to trap mink. Water vole ecology and land management is also covered, as habitat loss is the other main cause of the decline. To date four mink workshops have been organised through the Green Shoots programme in conjunction with Mentor Mn and the Environment Agency Wales, all targeted at saturating Anglesey with mink rafts. The aim is to create a cordon sanitaire, a line of traps, across Anglesey. This will help trap the few re- maining individuals before moving this line across the rest of north Wales, leaving mink free areas behind. The hope is that this large scale approach can be adopted elsewhere, perhaps for a Wales wide project. The summer of 2007 will see the project extend into the eastern catchments of north Wales Ecological connectivity and habitat work With global warming looking to be another obstacle for our wildlife to overcome, wildlife corridors are go- ing to become more important to allow our wildlife to adapt to the changes. Following Conwy Countryside Service successfully acquiring funds for biodiversity work, it was obvious the Green Shoots programme could help to find members who were willing to carry out work. A farm walk was run by BASC, Conwy Countryside Ser- vice and Coed Cymru on a Green Shoots site, which showed BASC members and local farmers how the farm had developed to the benefit of wildlife without impacting, and in fact improving the shooting/ farming. On this particular site 1410m of fencing was installed in 5 different areas; 7825 trees planted in 4 areas totalling 1.57 ha. It has helped to improve a hillside into a prime shooting and wildlife area. The shooting interest makes it sustainable and will en- courage active management. Following the walk several other projects are developing on Green Shoots sites that will improve biodiversity in the county. Habitat managed for shooting are rich in food for barn owls Land used for shooting is naturally very good for species such as the barn owl (Tyto alba). Well linked species rich hedges, field margins and graz- ing marsh are habitats often found on shoots that are looked after to allow game birds to disperse around the land as well as attracting wild birds such as woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) and snipe (Gallinago gallinago). As these habitats are kept in prime condition they are rich in insects, small mammals and songbirds which in turn attract the predators. It is not surprising that the original sur- vey returned 353 records of barn owls, second only to the number of woodcock sightings (557 records) renowned for being attracted to rough un-grazed habitats. With an active partnership in north east Wales comprised of the Raptor Study Group and Biodiversity Officers, BASC members have been able to significantly extend where both internal and external boxes have been erected, which should increase their numbers over the next few years. The future of Green Shoots. The project has lifespan but it will leave a sustain- able legacy for biodiversity. Over this time the pro- ject will, and has already, achieved biodiversity targets, but in the long term making links between the conservation bodies and BASC members who will carry on the work. As barriers and preconcep- tions are destroyed, it will continue to open areas of the countryside up that were previously unex- plored by conservation professionals. Ultimately we must make long lasting benefits to biodiversity through sustainable projects. By filling out the survey our members have indicated their interest in becoming involved in conservation pro- jects. The key to long term biodiversity gains is to involve the shooter/landowner so that it becomes their project and if it benefits the shoot it stands more of a chance of surviving indefinitely. A good example is with the water vole project; by provid- ing training to people interested in mink trapping, groups of people form who can be encouraged to manage themselves. These groups will far outrun the project as they are the ones who have the vested interest in the land. This project is succeeding because of the support Green Shoots has received from LBAPs, conserva- tion professionals and organisations in north Wales. Shooting conservationists have always done a lot for conservation, but with more help and direction Contents
19 Biodiversity News October 2007 in the biodiversity process they are making even more measurable gains to biodiversity in North Wales. Alex works full time for The British Association for Shooting and Conservation in North Wales. If you have a project that you would like to work on/ develop with him or more information on the pro- ject, contact him on 01244 573024/ 07971 432680 or alex.hatton@basc.org.uk Some of the UK's most endangered butterflies are getting better protection thanks to the opening of a new nature reserve in Mabie Forest, near Dumfries.
Both Forestry Commission Scotland and Butterfly Conservation have teamed up to help create the right habitats in the forest to attract and boost but- terfly numbers. Mabie Forest is one of the richest sites for butter- flies, with over 20 species being recorded. The for- est is the home to three of the most endangered butterflies in the UK, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Dingy Skipper and the Forester Moth. The reserve will also be a safe haven for other im- portant species such as dragonflies, damselflies, owls, bats, woodpeckers and the 'churring' nightjar, a bird which is rarely seen but often identified by its unusual call. Robin Fuller of Forestry Commission Scotland said: "Mabie forest is very popular with visitors and is of- ten known for being a great place for the family to go and enjoy scenic and peaceful walks or a fun mountain bike ride. However, Mabie is also a hidden oasis for many really interesting and rare creatures.
"Butterflies are just one of the special species that the new nature reserve aims to protect, yet we be- lieve that it's possible that over 500 different spe- cies of moth live in the forest. By creating the per- fect environment, we can reduce the decline of many important species and give a welcome retreat to many other fascinating animals." Forestry Commission Scotland staff have worked hard to support the right ecosystems to let the many species of Mabie forest flourish. Ponds and wetland habitats have been enhanced or protected and pock- ets of woodland have been cleared to encourage Contents September 2007 Local and Regional Biodiversity Action Plan Seminar The University of Exeter was the venue for the third of the recent series of Local Biodiversity Action Plan Seminars on 18, 19 and 20 th September this year. Over 170 delegates met to renew friendships, make new contacts, and exchange ideas and practical ex- amples.
The conference was sponsored and organised by De- fra, Natural England and the Wildlife Trust. A var- ied programme with speakers from a wide range of organisations attracted representatives from Local and Regional BAP partnerships across the UK.
The first day opened with an update on recent policy developments. This was followed with presentations on the NERC Biodiversity Duty, and a session on LBAP engagement with Local Authorities. Victoria Ches- ter, Chief Executive Plantlife, gave an entertaining and informative speech at the conference dinner on the evening of the first day.
The second day started with a detailed look at the UK BAP targets review followed by workshops giving the opportunity for representatives of the priority Habitat Action Plan Steering Groups to meet with those working to deliver their HAPs on the ground. In the afternoon presentations on the upcoming communication strategy for the England Biodiversity Strategy and on the BBC Breathing Places pro- gramme informed delegates about wider communi- cation matters. Concluding communication work- shops ended the formal part of the day. A cruise on the River Exe and harvest supper of local produce ended a busy day.
On the third day, delegates discussed a range of is- sues including landscape scale approaches to biodi- versity action and implementation of agricultural projects and initiatives. Conference Proceedings will be produced by the end of 2007. Copies will be available from Donna Radley (see below).
Any queries or requests for further information about the September Seminar from:
Donna Radley, England Local & Regional Biodiver- sity Coordinator, Natural England Telephone: 01733 455106 Email: donna.radley@naturalengland.org.uk New Nature Reserve for Maibe
20 Biodiversity News October 2007 Macrae Edinburgh, part of the Youngs Seafood Group is lending its support to the Scottish Wildlife Trusts (SWT) Tailend Moss Wildlife Reserve in Bathgate. With its brand new premises adjacent to the reserve, Macrae is giving 5,000 a year for the next three years to help improve biodiversity and public access on the site. Simon Milne, SWT Chief Executive said: This local funding for Tailend is especially appropriate and its good to see a successful Scottish company being thoughtful about this wildlife site and its potential for the local community. We are very grateful to Stephen and Macrae Edinburgh for making this three-year commitment and look forward to work- ing with them to make this project a success for wildlife and a useful amenity for local families. A rare lowland raised bog, Tailend Moss supports a great variety of interesting plants and insects that thrive in the damp conditions. Thanks to an abun- dance of food many species of birds can be seen including a large black-headed gull colony, snipe and short-eared owls in winter. Operations director for Macrae, Stephen Cameron, said: We are delighted to be supporting SWT in its valuable work at Tailend Moss, which will benefit both wildlife and the local community. Lowland peat bogs are an internationally important habitat and it is vital they are protected. Sustainability and environmental protection are at the very heart of our business ethos and this makes us espe- cially proud to be playing our part in helping to protect vulnerable wildlife. Over the next three years, a program of improve- ments is planned including access works, new dams, signage and woodland management which will be undertaken by SWT staff and volunteers. For information, please contact:Bill Gardner, Donor Development Manager, SWT. Tel: 013 312 4711 or email: bgardner@swt.org.uk Simon Milne and Stephen Cameron at Tailend Moss Prior to the school holidays, the pupils of Castle Pri- mary School in New Cumnock put in a hard days work at the Scottish Wildlife Trusts (SWT) Knockshinnoch Lagoons Wildlife Reserve alongside SWT staff and vol- unteers. The children were keen to contribute to the conservation of this site in a practical way and earn a John Muir Award in the process. With guidance from SWT, they planned and carried out a whole range of useful tasks themselves: creating a living roof on the bird hide, clearing up litter, removing Japanese knot- weed, listing the birds, insects and plants, complet- ing a visitor questionnaire and making insects homes. The hardest but most satisfying job was camouflaging the bird hide. Its corrugated roof was not particularly pleasing to the eye and did nothing for wildlife. It now has a grassy and flowery covering that blends in well with its surroundings and is less visible to the hundreds of birds nesting on the nearby lagoon. Rennie Mason (Continued on page 21) Contents Raising the Roof for Wildlife more shrubland, ideal for nightjars. Even roadside vegetation has been designed in a way to support a range of wildflowers which support butterflies and other insects. "This site shows that with sensitive management, we can make our woodlands suitable for a wide range of Scotland's wildlife," said Paul Kirkland, Director of Butterfly Conservation Scotland. "For example, Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are in deep trouble in England and Wales, but this well-managed reserve in Scotland proves that we can conserve this species effectively. The butterfly needs sunny wood- land glades. Without either active woodland man- agement or grazing, the glades become too shady for the butterfly and the plants upon which they de- pend". During the next few years, a number of sculptures and interpretation boards will be installed along the route of the reserve. This new interpretation is de- signed to educate visitors of all the wildlife found at Mabie Forest and entice more people further into the forest. The reserve will also be an important as- set for school outings and other outdoor events. Media enquiries to Diana McGowan, Forestry Commission Scotland press office 0131 314 6507. Local Business gives Local Support to Reserve
21 Biodiversity News October 2007 This has been the wettest summer since detailed re- cords began in 1914. This bodes particularly badly for the wild grey partridge, which has already suffered a massive 86% decline in the past 30 years and is on the brink of extinction in many areas of the country. "The wet summer has been a total wash-out for young partridge chicks struggling for survival and ur- gent conservation action needs to be taken by all those with a responsibility for managing the British countryside," warns Dr Nick Sotherton, head of re- search with the Trust. Many factors have contributed to the decline of grey partridges such as the introduction of herbicides and pesticides into modern farming (causing the loss of important chick food) and also the loss of suitable habitat for brood-rearing and nesting. A rise in the number of predators such as foxes, rats, stoats, magpies and crows, are also a major factor behind the decline of grey partridges, especially as the number of gamekeepers providing protection has halved over the past 30 years. Many of the Trust's studies have revealed the importance of predator control and in a six-year experiment on Salisbury Plain, the Trust's research showed that predator control increased grey partridge breeding stock in spring by 35% each year and resulted in an in- creased number of birds in August by 75% each year. Dr Sotherton explains, "Without the right sort of habitat, partridges and their young have nowhere to hide and are therefore extremely vulnerable to pre- dation. Many predators are opportunistic, and as a result an entire family can be knocked out in one go. However, predator control needs to be selec- tive and only carried out when necessary." In Edwardian times there were more than a million grey partridges roaming the British countryside, by the early 1990s this had dropped to 145,000 grey partridges, and today estimates suggest that this figure has halved again. However, the Trust, as lead partner in the Government's Biodiversity Action Plan for the grey partridge has devised a five-point plan for saving this once familiar farmland bird. "It's not difficult," explains Nick Sotherton, "Indeed, many small things added together will make a huge di f f er ence and we urge all those with an in- terest in sav- ing this mag- nificent bird to imple- ment our f i v e - p o i n t plan. We have the sci- Back from the Brink - Trust Urges Immediate Action to Save the Grey Partridge and Launches a Five Point Plan Laurie Campbell Contents from SWT said The children worked hard on what was quite a complicated task. They should be very proud of what they have achieved. Elsewhere, armed with binoculars, butterfly nets and bug boxes, the bing, Birchwood and burn were scoured for new species. Results have still to be ana- lysed but the best finds of the day has to be an or- chid, a large mushroom and beautiful ploom moth. Kyle from Castle School Primary said I loved shaking the trees to see what strange insect would drop out. Despite a distinct lack of sunshine, many walkers were politely quizzed for their opinions on why they visited the reserve and what improvements they would like to see. Gill Smart, SWT Reserve Manager, enthused feedback from reserve visitors is essential. All the work carried out by Castle Pri- mary today is genuinely relevant to the future management of Knockshinnoch Lagoons for the wildlife and the people who enjoy the reserve.
22 Biodiversity News October 2007 ence; we just need to turn this science into action." The Trust's five point plan to save the grey partridge includes: 1. HABITAT: Create suitable habitat - partridges need both nesting cover and brood-rearing cover for food and shelter. Farmers and land managers can benefit financially under the Government's Entry Level Scheme (ELS) and Higher Level Scheme for creating habitats for grey partridge and other farm- land birds. 2. PREDATION: Carry out predator control. Grey partridges are ground-nesting birds and are there- fore more susceptible to a greater range of preda- tors. Predation causes the largest losses when hens are nesting. 3. WINTER FOOD: Provide additional winter food during the leanest months of winter by placing feed- ers at strategic points. 4. KEEP COUNTING: Join The Game Conservancy Trust's Grey Partridge Count Scheme. This is the largest farmer-led monitoring scheme in Europe and it is showing a 40% increase in partridge numbers on land managed by farmers who have adopted the Trust's recommendations. 5. BE SELECTIVE WITH SPRAYS: The Trust's 30-year research into the impact of insecticides shows that they are particularly harmful to farmland bird chicks as they are dependent on a variety of insects when they first hatch. To help farmland bird chicks the Trust advises that the use of these insecticides, es- pecially organophosphates should be reduced to benefit farmland birds. But it's not all bad news for the grey partridge as Nick Sotherton explains, "We now have more than 1,000 people counting partridges across the country. In addition, they are making an astonishing recovery on our Grey Partridge Recovery Project on farmland near Royston in Hertfordshire. Since the introduc- tion of habitat management, predator control and feeding, there has been an extraordinary six-fold in- crease in grey partridges. But a lot more needs to be done to reverse the national decline. We hope this message today will act as the catalyst that will in- spire more people to get involved in saving this de- lightful gamebird." To obtain copies of The Game Conservancy Trust's free 'fact sheets' outlining how to restore wild grey partridges, please contact, Louise Shervington, The Game Conservancy Trust, Tele- phone 01425 651002 or email: lsherving- ton@gct.org.uk Contents The UK BRAG serves as the UKs National Biodiversity Research Platform. It exists to:
Identify, promote and facili- tate biodiversity research to support UK and individual country biodiversity action plan commitments; Coordinate effective and effi- cient UK engagement with European biodiversity research issues, fulfilling the role of a national biodiversity research platform; Contribute to effective biodiversity research net- working in the UK, leading to increased interdisci- plinary capacity; Support knowledge transfer activities in relation to biodiversity research.
The UK BRAG does not act as a funding body for biodi- versity research in the UK, and the success of the Group is not tied to formalised performance meas- ures. Effectiveness is assessed in terms of:
Improved networking within and between re- searcher, policymaker and practitioner com- munities; Increased capacity for biodiversity research in the UK, particularly interdisciplinary ap- proaches; and More effective knowledge transfer, including science-to-policy, facilitated by the Groups activities.
Research Themes
The work of the UK BRAG has addressed a number of major cross-cutting themes, and responding to new, developing areas of research. Thematic pa- pers detailing research needs are available for: Climate Change Adaptation The Role of Biodiversity in Ecosystem Function Genetic Conservation The Impact of Non-Native Species Socio-Economic Issues Habitat and Ecosystem Management Monitoring of Biodiversity and Evaluation of Actions The UK Biodiversity Research Advisory Group (UK BRAG) Contents
23 Biodiversity News October 2007 Ministers Approve Priority Species and Habitats List to Focus Future Conservation Action On 28 th August the Minister for Biodiversity, Joan Ruddock launched a new priority list of 1149 species and 65 habitats at Brentlands Farm orchard in Gloucestershire. Traditional Orchards are among the priority habitats newly included on the list and have been reduced by 60% since 1950. In addition to the Minister and the orchards own- ers, representatives from Defra, Natural England, National Trust, Wildlife and Countryside Link and Peoples Trust for Endangered Species all attended the event. The list was approved by the Gov- ernments of all four UK administrations prior to the event on the 28 th
August. The Minister said: Conserving biodiversity is essential if we are to pass on a healthy environment to the next generation. The new list will help us to target our resources and efforts where they are needed, and demonstrates our commitment to publish new priorities, targets and plans for halting biodiversity loss by 2010 The list, intended to aid the prioritisation of conservation action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), will supersede the old list compiled 10 years ago, which included 577 species and 49 habitats. This increase in number is primarily due to a more rigorous analysis of a broader range of habitats and species, and better attention being paid to lesser known species. Some species are newly included as they are under threat or in decline, such as the garden tiger moth, house sparrow, hedgehog and grass snake, amongst oth- ers. Some species have been removed from the list, however, such as the Killarney fern and the prickly sedge, as the action plan objectives for them have been met. The Scottish and Welsh environment Ministers, Michael Russell and Jane Davidson, both welcomed the pub- lication, and noted its use in informing revisions of their own biodiversity lists. Sir Martin Doughty, chair of Natural England and Dr Nigel Bourn, chair of Wildlife and Countryside Links Bio- diversity Working Group, were also praising. Joan Ruddock also thanked the various experts, many unpaid, involved in the review, who worked tire- lessly over the last three years to bring it to completion. The new Biodiversity Action Plan List can be found at http://www.ukbap.org.uk/ For more information, please contact biodiversity@defra.gsi.gov.uk Joan Ruddock at the orchard Phil Lewis
In addition, the recommendations from the UK BRAGs work on these themes are available in a re- port summarising the Groups work between 2003- 2006 (www.ukbrag.org). Collaborative activities The UK BRAG undertakes national reviews on key topics to inform the BioSTRAT project (www.biostrat.org/), which in turn supports the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strat- egy (www.epbrs.org/). In order to optimise Knowledge Transfer activities, the UK BRAG is working closely with the British Eco- logical Society (www.britishecologicalsociety.org/); and contributes ideas to the Environmental Research Funders Forum, through its Research Coordination working Group (www.erff.org.uk/). Through a shared Secretariat, UK BRAG has a close relationship with the Global Biodiversity Sub Committee (GBSC) of the UK Global Environmental Change Committee (www.ukgecc.org/). While the UK BRAG focuses on the UK and Crown Dependencies, the GBSC considers global biodiversity issues and the needs of the UKs Overseas Territories. To find out more about the UK BRAG and its ac- tivities, please contact the Secretariat: ukbrag@j ncc.gov.uk 01733 866820 Richard Ferris
24 Biodiversity News October 2007 Climate change is causing a significant and increasing impact on UK wildlife. Some species are under stress, while others are expanding their range. What new species will arrive in Britain? This must have profound consequences for conservation and management. Appropriate actions need to be discussed and developed now. This lecture series will inform this debate. National experts will discuss topics such as phenology the tim- ing of natural events, and will examine the way that climate change is currently impacting on British plants and animals, and on terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Adaptation and mitigation actions to maintain maxi- mum biodiversity in open spaces and the environment will be debated. Full details of the speakers and the scope of their presentations will available on the Societys website in the autumn. Join the debate. All welcome. Free ticket admission. The lectures will be held in Birkbeck, University of London, WC1 For free tickets and venue details, contact tel: 020 7679 1069, or e-mail: environment@fce.bbk.ac.uk For queries on lecture content, contact tel: 020 7485 7903, or e-mail: jeremy.wright@walkern.org.uk; All lectures are from 6.30 to 8.30 pm on the following Fridays. Doors open at 6.00pm. 12 October Harmless Pastime or Serious Science? What does phenology tell us about the impacts of a changing climate? Dr Tim Sparks, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology 19 October Climate Warming and Species' Ranges: who will be winners or losers? Dr Jane Hill, University of York Contents Free Public Lecture Series, Autumn 2007 British Wildlife and Climate Change What is happening? Can we do anything? Birkbeck, University of London in conjunction with the Ecology and Conservation Studies Society
25 Biodiversity News October 2007 26 October The British Flora: effects of habitat modification and climate change Dr Chris Preston, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology 2 November Can Birds Fly from Climate Change? Dr Humphrey Crick, British Trust for Ornithology 9 November Adaptation for High Biodiversity under Climate Change Dr John Hopkins, Natural England 16 November Case Studies of Adaptation and Mitigation Measures on Specific Sites Burnham Beeches. Andy Barnard, City of London Corporation River Restoration London. Dave Webb, Environment Agency Landscape Scale Projects and Ecological Networks. Dr Tony Whitbread, Sussex WLT These case studies will be followed by a panel question and answer session chaired by Richard Clarke, Course Director of the Ecology and Conservation Programme, Birkbeck
The Ecology and Conservation Studies Society welcomes new members. Details of the Society and ap- plication forms will be available at the door, and are on our website at: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/ environment/
Adaptive Management and Offshore Wind Energy November 1 st 2007, SOAS London
Environmental impact assessment, SEA, monitoring and research studies into activities using the marine en- vironment are now normal practice. However, the information gained from this work is collected at consid- erable cost. The better regulation and adaptive management agendas suggest that this information should be being used to refine regulation. The aim of the conference is to assess our current understanding of the environmental impact and benefits of offshore wind to pose the question of whether EIA, SEA and monitor- ing requirements can be revised in the light of existing knowledge.
Conference fee: 145 excluding VAT: concessionary rates available For details contact: Bob Earll, CMS, Candle Cottage, Kempley, Glos. GL18 2BU Phone / Fax 01531 890415; bob.earll@coastms.co.uk or www.coastms.co.uk conference programme Please send in any dates of courses, meetings, conferences, events for young people or any other dates of relevance that could be included in our Diary. Contents