Natural England - Integrated site assessment monitoring programme
Integrated site assessment monitoring programme
This programme monitors Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) Indicators of Success (IoS) and the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) units. A proportion of units and agreements are monitored each year (3,900 ha in 11/12), mostly by Natural England advisers. Some specialist features are monitored under contract. Listed below are a selection of projects that are being undertaken this financial year.
Monitoring
| ID | Title | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP0315 | Developing integrated site monitoring protocols and a programme of Integrated Site Assessments | This monitoring project will: i) develop an integrated approach to Natural England's in-house site monitoring (SSSI Condition Assessment and HLS Indicators of Success Assessments); ii) provide a report on the development phase with recommendations for implementation; and iii) implement the recommendations with a programme of Integrated Site Assessments (ISA) begining from April 2010. The ISA programme will include: a) an integrated strategy for site monitoring; b) integrated field methodologies, forms and guidance; c) a quality management system; and d) initial development of IT (in association with other integration projects).
| Debbie Russell |
| RP0458 | National saltmarsh redshank survey | National survey of redshanks breeding on saltmarsh habitats around the English coast. Repeats a similar survey last undertaken in 1996. This survey will allow estimates of numbers of pairs nationally and for each SSSI and will identify national, regional and site level population trends. This information will be used to assist SSSI condition assessments.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £31,397.00 | Allan Drewitt |
| RP0460 | Integrated Site Assessments - monitoring of HLS IoS and SSSI units | This is an annual programme of activity to monitor selected HLS Indicators of Success and the condition of SSSI units. The ISA programme includes: a) an integrated strategy for site monitoring; b) integrated field methodologies, forms and guidance; and c) Capturing of the data collected in the field in a central database Delivery is led by Land Management function, with Integrated Monitoring Team (Evidence) owning the programme.
| Phil Tolerton |
| RP0462 | Saproxylic invertebrate assemblages at Birklands & Bilhaugh SSSIs, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire | A review of the national importance and current condition of the saproxylic invertebrate assemblages at Birklands & Bilhaugh SSSIs, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire. These ancient semi-natural woodlands are widely recognised as having national and European importance for the conservation of saproxylic invertebrates, especially beetles. This project is a desk study to review and analyse all previous survey data to assess the current condition and national importance and indicate whether current management practices appear sufficient to conserve the invertebrate fauna of the sites.
| Steve Clifton |
| RP0466 | Mid-Cornwall Moors marsh fritillary larval monitoring 2011 | This project is a continuation of the monitoring for the Mid-Cornwall Moors meta population of marsh fritillary butterfly. Butterfly Conservation's standard methodology will be employed, involving the collection of vegetation data and production of notes on habitat condition and management practices will be made. Twelve project sites will be monitored to repeat the transect routes undertaken in 2010, however three Criggan sites and one Ennisworgey site deemed unsuitable will be omitted. Photographs of survey sites will not be undertaken. The results will be presented in the form of a short report with management recommendations.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £7,975.00 | David Hazlehurst |
| RP0470 | Survey of spined loach (Cobitis taenia) on the Ouse Washes SAC | The Ouse Washes Special Area of Conservation (SAC) comprises two parallel drainage channels; Counter Drain/Old Bedford and Old Bedford/River Delph. The reason these watercourses qualify as a SAC is due to the presence of spined loach; one of four main localities in England for this species, which is listed on Annex II of the EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Flora and Fauna. This project will monitor the current status (broad distribution, density and age-class structure) of this population, which will inform the Integrated Site Assessment of the Ouse Washes SSSI, SAC and can be compared with previous surveys.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Stella Baylis |
| RP0476 | Specialist CSM monitoring of bryophyte SAC sites in Cornwall 2011/12. | The project is to undertake specialist CSM monitoring of a number of bryophyte SAC sites in Cornwall, 2011/12. The main species to be monitored are Marsupella profunda, Ditrichum cornubicum and Cephaloziella nicholsonii. Standard CSM methodology for monitoring bryophytes will be used involving the identification of species and collection of data on populaiton size and condition. The results will be presented in the form of report/s detailing the condition assessment for the SSSI, photographs and location maps, records of habitat condition together with any threats/issues and mangement recommendations.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £5,842.00 | Beth Tonkin |
| RP0523 | National Spotted Crake survey preparation | A survey is required to assess those SSSIs supporting breeding spotted crakes. In advance of a national survey of Spotted Crakes in spring next year preparatory work must be undertaken by the end of March 2012. This includes the development of a survey sampling approach and the identification of survey locations, the production of monitoring protocols and survey forms, and the coordination of a network of nature reserve staff and volunteers to visit all identified survey locations.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £4,978.00 | Allan Drewitt |
| RP0534 | Winter raptor roost survey | Wintering hen harriers and merlins are a formal interest feature of many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). As part of its programme of monitoring the condition of all SSSIs, Natural England is required to assess the numbers of birds present on those SSSIs where they are a notified feature every six years. This project will coordinate an existing network of volunteers participating in a national monitoring scheme in order to achieve survey coverage of the relevant SSSIs.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £30,379.00 | Allan Drewitt |
| RP0643 | English twite recovery project | Monitoring of breeding twite numbers is required to evaluate the effectiveness of the recovery project work in delivering habitat suitable for breeding twite in the South Pennines. This element of the project will also provide information essential to the assessment of the condition of the South Pennine Moors SSSI for breeding twite and the efficacy of remedial measures. This contract is for preparatory work in advance of field work in 2013.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £15,000.00 | Allan Drewitt |
