1. Ammonia deposition reductions required post-2025 to protect Annex I habitats Jane Hall, UK NFC, CEH Bangor Tony Dore, CEH Edinburgh Ed Rowe, CEH Bangor

2. Background Habitats Directive Member States report every 6 years on conservation status of habitats and species listed in Annexes Conservation Status includes ranking current pressures & future threats L = low importance/impact M = medium importance/impact H = high importance/impact Air pollution category: Nitrogen input [deposition]

3. Study aim To determine the ammonia deposition reductions required post-2025 to meet protection targets for Annex I habitats within UK SACs UK Targets: Low <5% habitat area exceeded (95% protected) Medium 5-25% habitat area exceeded (75% protected) High >25% habitat area exceeded (<75% protected)

4. Nitrogen critical loads Bobbink, R. & Hettelingh, J.P. (eds) 2011: Review and revision of empirical critical loads and dose-response relationships. Coordination Centre for Effects, RIVM. SAC containing one/more of the 41 Annex 1 habitats SAC without any of the 41 Annex 1 habitats Based on empirical critical loads of nitrogen (Bobbink & Hettelingh, 2011) “Recommended” values from ranges for 41 Annex I habitats Applied to Annex I habitats within SACs Habitat area assumed to be the same as site area

5. Annex I habitats: CLnutN exceedances 2025 coastalduneswoodlandbog/fengrasslandheath

6. Nitrogen deposition Maps show deposition to moorland Five scenarios based on UEP45 scenario for 2025: 100% NOx 100% NOx 100% NOx 100% NOx 100% Nox 100% NHx 75% NHx 50% NHx 25% NHx 0% NHx kg N ha -1 year -1

7. Exceedance results: H4010 wet heath

8. Results for Annex I Heath/scrub habitats

9. Results for Annex I Dune habitats

10. Results for Annex I Grassland habitats

11. Results for Annex I Bog & Fen habitats

12. Results for Annex I Forest habitats

13. N deposition threat to Annex I habitats No reduction in NHx 25% reduction in NHx 50% reduction in NHx 75% reduction in NHx 100% reduction in NHx

14. All habitat areas: not just SAC Annex I...

15. Conclusions 9 out of 41 habitats need removal of all NHx deposition and NOx reductions to meet 95% protection target 4 out of 41 habitats need removal of all NHx deposition and NOx reductions to meet 75% protection target A 75% reduction in NHx deposition post 2025 would allow 20/41 habitats to meet both 75% and 95% protection targets Annex I habitat analysis is based on the assumption that each habitat occupies the entire area of the SACs in which it occurs Cannot meet UK protection targets for Annex I habitats within SACs without significant reductions in ammonia deposition Similar results for the wider distribution of habitats beyond designated sites