1. Assessment of the conservation status of UK habitats and species: problems and solutions Emma Verling Mark Crick Jessamy Battersby

2. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK Emphasis will be on marine Annex I features Definitions Area and Range –Habitats –Species Structure and Function Species Population Habitat for Species Future Prospects

3. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK

4. FCS process in the UK Habitat Assessments –Terrestrial habitats - Habitats Team, JNCC –Marine habitats - Marine Habitats Team, JNCC Species Assessments – Species Team, JNCC Seminars and briefings for country conservation agencies ‘Coarse assessment’ to gather information from country conservation agencies, specialists and others Identify and plug data gaps; clarify parameters with specialists Create ‘audit trail’ supporting the information in Annexes Complete Annexes – using electronic database Public consultation, feedback, review and refine report, submit electronically

5. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK Emphasis will be on marine Annex I features

6. Marine Annex I features H1160 Large shallow inlets and bays H1130 Estuaries H1150 Coastal Lagoons H1110 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water at all times H1170 Reefs H1180 Submarine structures formed by leaking gases H8830 Submerged and Partially Submerged Sea Caves H1140 Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide

7. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK Emphasis will be on marine Annex I features Definitions

8. Feature Definitions UK handbook plus correspondences Degree of interpretation with definitions Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time –Depth of sandbanks – 20m? Large Shallow Inlets and Bays –“Shallow” = <30m across extent –“Large” = ? (maximum and minimum sizes undefined)

9. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK Emphasis will be on marine Annex I features Definitions Area and Range –Habitats –Species

10. Range and Area Area calculated using known location of habitat and expert judgement ‘Alpha Shape Tool’ developed to calculate range –Calculates range envelopes from 10km 2 distributions –Clips to relevant area Range and area values are very difficult to quantify for ‘offshore’ features What does ‘range’ mean for marine features such as ‘Large shallow inlets and bays’? Range and Area

11. Polygons constructed using AlphaShape range mapping tool developed at JNCC. Gives measure of surface area of range (area of polygon drawn) in km 2. H6410 Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils Range mapping – Alpha Shape Tool

12. Range and Area H1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand 10km 2 distribution Range mapping – Alpha Shape Tool

13. Range and Area H1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand 10km 2 distribution AlphaShape Tool Range mapping – Alpha Shape Tool

14. Range and Area H1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand 10km 2 distribution AlphaShape Tool Clipped to coast Range mapping – Alpha Shape Tool

15. 10km 2 distribution AlphaShape Tool Clipped to coast Range ‘Envelope ’ Range and Area H1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand Range mapping – Alpha Shape Tool

16. 10km 2 distribution Physiographic feature Alpha Shape Tool Range Range=Area Range and Area Range mapping – Alpha Shape Tool? H1160 Large Shallow Inlets and Bays

17. 10km 2 distribution Physiographic feature Alpha Shape Tool Range Range=Area Range and Area Range mapping – Alpha Shape Tool? H1160 Large Shallow Inlets and Bays

18. Range and area for offshore features Calculating range of reefs when so much of the resource is offshore Lack of data a huge problem for marine feature assessments Range and Area

19. Marine Annex I features H1160 Large shallow inlets and bays H1130 Estuaries H1150 Coastal Lagoons H1110 Sandbanks........ H1170 Reefs H1180 Submarine structures formed by leaking gases H8830 Submerged and Partially Submerged Sea Caves H1140 Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide } } Physiographic features Offshore component

20. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum 1990-20061800-2006 Species range and distribution Maps created using Alpha Shape software –2 maps per species looking at current range and historic range to assess trend and magnitude of trend.

21. 1990-20061800-2006 Species range and distribution Martes martes Maps created using Alpha Shape software –2 maps per species looking at current range and historic range to assess trend and magnitude of trend.

22. Species range and distribution Problems: –Paucity of data – few comprehensive surveys current or historic to make assessment of changes in range. –Not all data collated. Generally ad-hoc recording over long periods How to decide on date ranges for ‘current’ and ‘historic’ range for comparison purposes? –1994 range difficult to establish –Have looked at historic records back to 1900s & 1800s in some cases. What to use as Favourable Reference Range? Range in 1994? What is sufficient for long-term viability?

23. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK Emphasis will be on marine Annex I features Definitions Area and Range –Habitats –Species Structure and Function

24. Common Standards Monitoring (CSM) data –For protected sites (SAC, SPA, Ramsar, SSSI, ASSI) –Standardises monitoring protocols across different regions of the UK –A simple, quick, assessment of feature condition. –Is a ‘sample’ of the total UK resource Structure and Function

25. Structure and Function - CSM ConditionCondition sub-categoriesArea (ha)Number of site features UnfavourableDeclining25,2783 No change41,4211 Unclassified Recovering44,1821 Total110,8815 % of all assessments47%33% % of total UK resource15%unknown FavourableMaintained95,6688 Recovered Unclassified28,5002 Total124,16810 % of all assessments53%67% % of total UK resource17%unknown Structure and Function

26. Rocky Reef –rocks (including soft rock, e.g. chalk), boulders and cobbles(generally >64 mm in diameter –Permanent geological structure Biogenic Reef –Concretions……..and bivalve mussel beds originating from dead or living animals, i.e. biogenic hard bottoms which supply habitats for epibiotic species –Can be removed “One out all out” approach ‘Complex’ features - Reefs Structure and Function

27. Large shallow inlets and bays Mudflats and sandflats not covered by sea water at low tide Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time Reefs “Nested” Annex I Features SAC Boundary Feature boundaries (not corresponding to SAC Boundaries) Structure and Function Typical Species?

28. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK Emphasis will be on marine Annex I features Definitions Area and Range –Habitats –Species Structure and Function Species Population

29. Estimates very variable in quality and time frame- based on best available information. Often difficult to establish 1994 population estimate Trends - some good trend data, in other cases no information. Historic information very sparse. Favourable Reference Population – what is this? Population in 1994? How to establish sufficient population for long-term viability?

30. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK Emphasis will be on marine Annex I features Definitions Area and Range –Habitats –Species Structure and Function Species Population Habitat for Species

31. The most difficult parameter- information scarce and subjective How do we establish area of suitable habitat? –Generally dependent on assessments of FRR and FRP There are almost no assessments of: –total habitat used by individual species in UK –suitable habitat available or required for FRP of individual species Species: Several vagrant or occasional visitors

32. Overview of Talk Summary of process in the UK Emphasis will be on marine Annex I features Definitions Area and Range –Habitats –Species Structure and Function Species Population Habitat for Species Future Prospects

33. Time scale – next reporting round? 10 years? 50 years? Recognised as an important aspect to highlight the good work being done For Habitats: –Common Standards Monitoring used for habitats (future predictions) For species: –Based on assessment of current pressures and future threats. –Relies on good information in other three parameters for species –Restrictions on ability to report moderate prospects - between good or poor Future Prospects

34. Provisional summary results for UK habitats (at 01/02/07) Parameter AssessmentConclusion – habitat range Conclusion - habitat area Conclusion - structure & function Conclusion - future prospects Overall conclusion Favourable53%23%5%8% 3% Unfavourable -inadequate 33%36%11%42% 17% Unfavourable - bad 13%38%78%47% 77% Unknown2%3%6%3%

35. Main Issues Plasticity of habitat definitions Surveillance adequacy Data adequacy Identifying favourable reference values Interplay of range and area parameters Consistency between habitats Generality of guidance Lack of data (especially for marine features) Species: Several vagrant or occasional visitors

36. General Impressions ‘Audit trail’ very important – repeatable process Very time consuming process in general How will information be used? Just a report or of conservation value? Limitations to all data collection, collation and analysis processes used How comparable are assessments within and across biogeographic regions? Whole process needs greater standardisation and more robust guidance

37. Contact Details Terrestrial Habitats: Mark Crick mark.crick@jncc.gov.uk Marine Habitats: Emma Verling emma.verling@jncc.gov.uk Species: Jessamy Battersby jessamy.battersby@jncc.gov.uk Thank you!