Harry Barton CEO, Devon Wildlife Trust LNP Board lead for the aim To Protect and Improve Devon’s Natural Environment Protecting and improving Devon’s natural environment

Dart Valley Nature Reserve

Chrissie Dixie

Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pasture priority BAP habitat (Culm Grassland)

Braunton Burrows dune system

Protected Areas in Devon

Source: Marine Management Organisation Contribution to the coastal economy (English Channel) Source: Marine Management Organisation

Some achievements -Evidence base / strategy -Forged new partnership to identify key actions for 2015 for each theme -Increased communication

otters, dormice, mudflats water vole, fritillary butterflies, curlew, meadows Issues: lack of appropriate management, invasive species, disease, nutrient enrichment, continued habitat fragmentation State of Devon’s Nature - examples

Contribution to national targets Biodiversity 2020 National Pollination Strategy Water Framework Directive Flood risk management

SSSIs 50% SSSI in favourable condition 30% in % in favourable or recovering condition 97% in 2014 Wildlife Sites County Wildlife Sites 2,114 total – but total could be double this 34% are in good condition Contribution to Biodiversity 2020

Partnership achievements include: Local Sites Project (monitoring and advice) Advice and grants provided by organisations and projects e.g. Two Moors Butterflies, Mires on the Moors Biodiversity 2020:Priority Habitats LNP challenge: To find long term funding for landscape advisory projects and new ways to fund the management of priority habitats.

LNP actions: - Supporting and investigating the extension of the South Devon B- lines project (led by Buglife and South Devon AONB) Including a Bees’ Needs Week in our 2015 events calendar to inspire action and celebrate existing work across the county National Pollination Strategy

Upstream Thinking: the concept

Upstream Thinking: the catchments

Culm grassland can store up to five times as much water water leaves intensively managed grasslands during storms 11 times more rapidly water quality from Culm grassland is significantly better Upstream Thinking: proving the case

Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area

836 advisory visits to 249 different farms 1,312 ha BAP wetland restored 92 km hedgerow restored 137 community events and 47 school groups £2,962,412 raised to support landowners

LNP priority themes Resilient Wetlands Farming with Nature Wood for Good Sustainable Seas Green Connections Naturally healthy Outdoor learning

Partner achievements include: -Upstream Thinking - Working Wetlands, Mires on the Moors -Catchment Sensitive Farming -Invasive species projects e.g. River Otter, Tamar Resilient Wetlands LNP challenge: Meeting WFD targets and securing support for the ecosystem service approach.

Farming with Nature Robin Milton Events Sustainable intensification workshop – linking research and farmers Devon Food, Farming and Nature celebration event Countryside Stewardship ensure that this provides maximum benefits for Devon and is farmer led Farm advisers ensure that Devon advisers provide a high quality service

Wood for Good Corinna Woodall Cross sector wood fuel working group - catalyst for co-ordinated outline proposal submitted to LEP for ESIF funding: development and support of wood fuel industry. Impact of future Ash die back on Devon landscape - March at Bicton College Earth Centre (supported by Devon Hedge group, DCC, AONBs and Forestry Commission)

Sustainable Seas Prof Martin Atrill Devon’s beautiful coast and seas integral to the county’s image and economy Only county with two separate coasts Rich and important marine biodiversity Marine conservation designations Thriving fishing industry (2 main ports) Extensive tourist industry Critical time as much change in coastal policy and management

Sustainable Seas Devon LNP: a catalyst for communication and action Devising Devon Marine Action Plan with key stakeholders First stage was hosting Marine Strategy Workshop – Fishing industry, conservation groups, local government – Assess stakeholder priorities and what the LNP can do central point for communication data storage Awareness & stakeholder needs

Sustainable Seas: next steps – Agree Devon Marine Environmental Action Plan – Scoping a Devon marine data project Central repository for Devon research First workshop and planning ongoing – Central forum for stakeholder projects needing masters or student workers Plymouth and Exeter universities MRes Marine Biology at Plymouth

Looking ahead – key challenges Long term funding for innovative, landscape scale projects with multiple benefits Supporting win-wins: recognising the role of the natural environment in benefitting society and the economy Clarity: clear guidance, simplification, integration and reducing red tape Future for the Defra family and Local Authorities?