Quest for more information on UK habitats and species

Across the UK a consultation has begun, with the aim of unearthing any new data that can be used in a major report to the European Commission.  This will be the first assessment of the conservation status of 167 UK species and habitats listed in the EC Habitats Directive, because they were deemed to be under threat at a European scale when the Directive came into force in 1994.

 

Now, 13 years later, all European countries are assessing the progress that has been made in addressing the problems that the species and habitats face, and whether they are recovering or are in decline.

 

A report has been drafted, but experts are taking this opportunity to discover if there is any new data in the research and non-governmental communities that they are not aware of.  They are particularly interested in research or statistics related to those habitats and species where current information appears to be limited.

 

Co-ordinated by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), and involving their country colleagues in Natural England, the Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland), the quest is a valuable contribution towards implementing the Habitats Directive, which first defined the 167 habitats and species of interest.

 

James Williams, Reporting and Standards Manager at JNCC, noted: “We have adopted a rigorous and standardised approach within the guidance provided by the EC, with the main aim of reporting on the effectiveness of the Habitats Directive. Achieving Favourable Conservation Status in this context means when the habitat or species can be expected to prosper into the foreseeable future without any change to existing management or policies.  The assessments integrate information on habitats and species from both inside and outside protected nature conservation areas.  While the results illustrate the scale of the conservation task, the data reveal significant progress has been made (see Notes to Editors).  It will also take time for the effects of recent action to be reflected in improved status.  It is likely that more will need to be done to achieve the long-term aim of the Directive – so that all species and habitats listed are in Favourable Conservation Status”.

 

It is in the areas of the ‘unknown’ that the consultation exercise particularly hopes to unearth new information/data.  For instance, little is known about the leatherback turtle in UK waters, or the population of the Roman snail.  Habitat types where more data could help influence the results of final assessments include caves, sea caves, hard water springs, and calcium-rich fens.

 

Malcolm Vincent, Director of Science at JNCC, commented: “Reporting on the conservation status of these species and habitats is a huge task, and we want to ensure that the UK’s submission to the European Union is high quality.  We have brought together the information we have available, but it is likely that there is more.  We hope to be surprised by what is uncovered in this consultation period, as it will mean we are in the best possible position to report as accurately as possible not only now, but also to build on this when we revisit how these habitats and species are doing in six years’ time”.

 

All the information about the consultation can be found online at www.jncc.gov.uk/article17 from Friday 24 August 2007.

 

 

1.  JNCC has carried out conservation assessments for the 89 UK species and 78 UK habitats listed on the EC Habitats Directive using standards adopted by the European Commission and Member States. The results show that 27% of the species and 6% of the habitats, which are threatened across the European Union, now to be in favourable conservation status.

2.  The results also show the beneficial effect of the conservation action which has been carried out over the past decade, and the significant improvement in status expected over the next 10 to 15 years, largely as a result of the effects of conservation action already taken.  Favourable conservation status for UK species is expected to rise from 27% to 44% and for UK habitats from 6% to 22% over that time period.

 

3.  Three broad themes have been identified in analysing the results of the assessments:

 

 

Further information on these themes, as well as more background on issues such as how we went about compiling the information, is available from JNCC.  Email , phone 01733 866839 or 07976 207959.

 

4.  JNCC can also provide examples that demonstrate recovery to favourable conservation status (e.g., otter, lesser horseshoe bat), as well as those that are expected to reach this status within the next 10-15 years (e.g., natterjack toad, marsh saxifrage), and those that require additional measures (e.g., dormouse, fen orchid). The significant level of assessments reported as ‘unknown’ draws attention to a lack of knowledge in some areas - a few gaps may be addressed possibly by further data coming to light as part of this consultation exercise.

 

5.  All country-specific questions on examples given in this news release, or what it means for a particular country or county, please contact the relevant country agency.  They will assist with information on which species and habitats are important in the area you are considering, as well as supplying views on any future action that may be taken or needed.

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Every six years, Member States of the European Union are required to report on implementation of the Habitats Directive.  This obligation arises through Article 17 of the Directive. The first UK report on implementation of the Habitats Directive is available at:  http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/rrrpac/echabitats/index.htm.  This second Habitats Directive report focuses on a first assessment of conservation status of all habitats and species of Community interest.  The reporting format set by the European Commission requires a separate analysis for each species and each habitat in each biogeographic zone which that country covers. The information for each of these features (167 of them for the UK in the Atlantic biogeographic zone) has been collated by JNCC in consultation with species and habitat specialists in the country conservation agencies. 

 

7.  This is the first time assessments of conservation status of the habitats and species on the annexes of the Directive have been undertaken.  The assessment process is complex.  Each has four parameters, which are brought together, using a format agreed at a European level, to form the overall assessment.  The conservation status assessments use information from both protected sites and the wider countryside and is therefore more than an assessment of protected site condition. 

 

8.  The consultation information, as well as background on the report and the Habitats Directive will be available on the JNCC website from Friday 24 August at www.jncc.gov.uk/article17   

 

9.  The consultation on the draft report will last until 28 September 2007.  Email responses should be sent to

 

10. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international nature conservation, on behalf of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, the Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage. Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems.  Website at http://www.jncc.gov.uk/

 

 

Communications Team, JNCC