Creating Habitats
CIEEM Edinburgh
November 2014
John Box
john.box@atkinsglobal.com
@Johnbox_ecology
Policy context
The Sutherland review 2010
The priority policy options and research needs for nature
conservation in the UK Sutherland, W J et al., Journal of
Applied Ecology 47: 955-965
The Lawton report 2010
Making Space for Nature: a review of England’s wildlife sites
and ecological network
Wide-ranging recommendations to achieve a coherent and
resilient ecological network of wildlife sites across England
that can meet future challenges, including climate change,
and deliver real benefits to wildlife and people
‘No net loss' of biodiversity
EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020
Target 2 – Maintain and restore ecosystems and their services
Action 7 – Ensure no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem
services
Network Rail
‘Make a net positive contribution to biodiversity in the UK’
Objective in 5 year business plan for Network Rail
Infrastructure Projects. Issued in a charter that all of the main
Network Rail contractors signed up to in March 2014. NR
brochure for BBOP conference, June 2014
Creating habitats
Management &
monitoring
Natural
Non-intervention
Artificial
Techniques of intervention in a natural
succession e.g. grazing, burning, coppicing,
water level management
Restoration
(unaltered soils,
remnant
vegetation)
Natural
Natural regeneration, colonisation and
succession
Artificial
Intervention to mimic natural processes e.g.
sowing, planting, hay strewing, using
heather brash
Creation of
new habitats
(altered soils, no
remnant
vegetation)
Natural
Natural colonisation and succession
Artificial
Significant intervention to enhance natural
processes (as above) - may include
translocation of soil, plants, vegetation and
animals
Translocation of
existing habitats
Artificial
Significant intervention to move soil, plants,
vegetation and animals to a new site
2004
Habitat restoration
2004
2014
The Lodge Field,
Ironbridge
Spotted Orchids
2005 - 2014
Relationship between MG5 and
other NVC Communities
Habitat creation
1983
1984
2005
2007
Habitat translocation
2007
2007
2007
2007
2008
2014
The process of creating habitats
• The objectives will drive the quality of the inputs – demanding
objectives require high quality inputs
• Environmental factors are critical – soil type, soil chemistry and
hydrology
• Biological materials from the local area through good suppliers
• Natural regeneration, colonisation and succession
• Ecological manipulation (e.g. soil preparation, control of water-level,
vegetation management)
• Manage the habitats year after year
• Monitor against original objectives over defined period of time
• Implement corrective actions indicated by monitoring
Establish clear objectives
Simple
Measurable
Achievable
Resourced
Time dependent
Example A Species-rich wildflowers
Example B Lowland hay meadow (MG5 grassland
community) of 1.2 ha with a population of at least 1,000
common spotted orchids by 2020
Lowland grasslands
• Soil pH <5 for acid grasslands, 5 - 7 for neutral grasslands, and
6.5 - 8.5 for calcareous grasslands
• Extractable P (Olsen bicarbonate method) <10 mg/kg
• Exchangeable K <175 mg/kg
• Total N <10g/kg (ideally <5 g/kg)
Lowland heathlands
•
•
•
•
•
Soil pH 3.0 - 4.5 (ideally <4)
Exchangeable Ca <150 mg/kg
Extractable P (Olsen bicarbonate method) <5 mg/kg
[Extractable ammonium nitrogen <3 mg/kg]
[Extractable nitrate/nitrite nitrogen <I mg/kg]
Natural regeneration,
colonisation and succession
Advantages
• Species appropriate to the local area & local genetic stock
• Natural development of field, shrub and canopy layers
• Ecological function, structure & diversity come more quickly
than habitat creation using seeds or nursery materials
• Development of unusual plant communities as part of the
natural succession on bare or disturbed ground
Disadvantages
• Visual appearance of vegetation is slow to develop suggesting
lack of management or interest that can lead to undesirable
activities (e.g. fly-tipping)
Key Questions
• How to create semi-natural habitats usually
associated with low nutrient soils on nutrient-rich
agricultural land?
• How to create habitats with suitable connections for
colonisation by species including slow moving
species?
• How to replace ongoing losses of mature and
diverse habitats?
• What are the funding mechanisms to deliver habitat
management and monitoring in perpetuity?