PowerPoint presentation

Herpetofauna Conservation
and the England Biodiversity
Strategy (Biodiversity 2020)
Paul Edgar
Senior Environmental Specialist
(Amphibians & Reptiles)
England Biodiversity Strategy
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UKBAP
New Government initiative (Biodiversity 2020)
Landscape-scale integrated ecosystem approach
Aims to maintain and improve protected areas
Expand and re-connect habitats in-between
Based on general habitat management principles
All species and habitats to be considered
Additional actions identified for certain species
Section 41 species (NERC Act 2006)
England Biodiversity Strategy Work
Changes to our Priorities
Agri-environment Schemes
Nature
Improvement
Areas
• Initially 12 NIAs
across England
• Projects to identify
key actions for
species, e.g. toads
How it works
• Terrestrial Biodiversity Group (TBG - chaired by
Natural England)
• Biodiversity 2020 Taxon Groups
• Lead Partners
• TBG Evidence Commissions and “targets”
• England Herpetofauna Group work areas
• Evidence
• Land Use
• Land Management
Targets
• “Species Recovery Plans” for all s41 species
• Common toad and adder to have own plans
• “Targets” for the European Protected Species
based on Favourable Conservation Status (FCS
- as defined by the Habitats Directive)
• Achieving and maintaining FCS should underpin
all conservation and planning work
• Similar approach can be used for Non-EPS
Favourable Conservation Status
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Viability of populations
Area and quality of habitats
Extent of natural range occupied
Prospects
“Favourable Reference Values”
Unfavourable Bad
Unfavourable Inadequate
Favourable
Measures of Conservation Status
Pest!!
Extinct
F.C.S
Conservation
Status or
Abundance
Too
common
Time
Evidence
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England Herpetofauna Surveillance Strategy
Define FCS at different scales
EPS monitoring
SSSI condition monitoring
Monitoring of agri-environment schemes
Additional support for schemes such as NARRS
New schemes (e.g. PondNet and HeathNet)
Research
Land Use
• Changes to the way Natural England works in
planning (e.g. standing advice, NERC Act)
• Protected species “leads” for Land Use teams
• Reviews of Habitats Regulations/licensing
• Mitigation guidance
• Great crested newts (v2)
• Natterjack toads
• Widespread and EPS reptiles
• Favourable Conservation Status projects
Great Crested Newt FCS Project
• Baseline GCN surveys
• FCS defined at Local
Planning Authority level
Land Management
• Habitat management improvements needed
• SSSI condition monitoring of herp features
• SSSI review (Herp Workers’ Meeting workshop)
• Additional herp features on existing SSSIs
• Extend/change existing SSSI boundaries
• Brand new herp features
• Designate new SSSIs
• Designing new agri-environment schemes
• Advice and guidance
New General Herpetofauna Projects
Protected Sites
Smooth Snake FCS Project
New Reptile Projects