Pragmatic approaches to invertebrate assessment: a consultant s perspective 10 th October 2012 Jon Davies BSc MSc CEnv MIEEM
Presentation structure Since this is about Invertebrates and EcIA... Introduction Desk study Phase 1/Scoping Habitat assessment/site appraisal Valuation Impacts and mitigation Input to decision-making/key take-home messages
Introduction Why me? Not a pedigree entomologist, more a mongrel... Tropical entomology + Parochial consultancy Teaching, Draft DMRB Advice Note on Invertebrates, etc. Desire for invertebrates to be taken seriously No single answer to how it should be done 16 years doing it; my thoughts...
Invertebrate Desk Studies Especially important for invertebrates. Before survey/field visit. Who to contact? Records Centre County Ecologist SNCO (EN/CCW/SNH) Local recorders Local BAP Invertebrate Sites Register (ISR) Etc.
Invertebrate Desk Studies What information are you after? Protected species records (distribution maps - NBN) RDB species Notable A/Notable B species UKBAP species LBAP species Don t go overboard with data! Need focus.
Phase 1 habitat survey Surveyors need to know about invertebrates generally i.e. which habitats are good for invertebrates Go armed with desk study info Intelligent target notes need understanding of the desk study Important food plants or habitats present? Use survey to scopeany subsequent work: Site appraisal, and/or Detailed surveys
Habitat assessment/site appraisal Very important survey One visit may be enough Must be relatively experienced secondary scoping Invertebrate habitat mapping valuation/ assessment Site Appraisal report -may be all that s needed... Or, more detailed surveys warranted (i.e. for KERs).
Habitat assessment/site appraisal Phase 1 key habitat features trigger further surveys: lowland heathland bogs and mires ancient woodland rivers, streams and ponds lowland meadows old orchards species-rich habitat mosaics
Habitat assessment/site appraisal Phase 1 other habitat features: standing deadwood over-mature trees floristic diversity dense hedgerows woodland edge wet /marshy grassland mosaics of habitat bare ground aspect
Detailed surveys Use site appraisal/assessment to plan surveys Reasonableunderstanding of the invertebrate fauna of a site -reliableresult with minimum of effort and cost - Pragmatic compromise Various survey methods, but two approaches: targeted survey by trained entomologist (conservation value) habitat appraisal by invert-aware ecologist + replicated sampling/id (site comparisons) 3 to 5 visits, May to September Informing impact assessment and mitigation
Detailed surveys A2/M2 v small welsh wind turbine site Detailed assessment to inform mitigation; monitoring over 10 years; comparison of sites (new v existing habitats) Small footprint; Informing layout; minimal impacts
Valuation Landscape/habitat context is everything Aerial photos good for spotting habitat linkages
Valuation Context very important plus broad numbers of BAP, Nb, Na, RDB or even protected species to determine value of the habitat/site No fixed rule on no. of rare spp. = important / valuable ; local considerations important Need to use common sense and professional judgement; Use the ISIS Broad Assemblage Types (14 BATs) and/ or habitat-linked Specific Assemblage Types (28 SATs)?
Impact assessment Habitat loss and degradation Fragmentation of habitat Mortality of individuals
Impact assessment KER = sufficiently valuable + sufficiently affected Invertebrates usually part of a habitat-based KER Individual species impact assessmentforms for all species of Notable A status and above..? Can address invertebrate issues through mitigation/ enhancement even if no significant impacts Dust really?! Even water quality..?! Hydrological changes to damp grassland more important...
Mitigation, Compensation & Enhancement Huge opportunities for entomology... Avoid valuable sites and/or habitats if at all possible in Masterplanning Inform detailed design use design features (e.g. ponds, swales, open-span bridges, underpasses, landscape areas, etc.) Enhance linkages green infrastructure Opportunities should be maximised to achieve the objectives of the UKBAP and other BAPs Habitat/species translocation may provide a solution in certain circumstances...
Translocation M6 Toll heathland Over-grazed donor site Receptor site (after 5 years)
SuDS design A40 Pembrokeshire Before After
Input to decision-making/ Key take-home messages More intelligent Phase 1 target notes for invertebrates Better scoping -not too little, not too much Context is everything - aerial photos, desk study Influence the Masterplanwith positive solutions not insurmountable constraints; avoid best habitat areas Make the most of parallel benefits diverse ponds (SuDS/ education), mature trees (screening/landscape), etc.. Lots can be achieved don t get too bogged down in detail Yes, focus on rare/protected species for impacts, but on biodiversity for the mitigation/enhancement