Bulletin of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
Issue 83 | March 2014 Marine and Coastal Ecology
In this issue
Underwater Noise in Intertidal Discovery Project Digital Photography the Marine Environment and Biological Recording Welcome Information
From the New Editor In Practice No. 83, March 2014 Welcome to the March 2014 issue of In Practice. It is with great pleasure that I take this ISSN 1754-4882 opportunity to introduce myself as your new Editor. Editor When I applied for the job, I was asked to submit a critique of In Practice. This was a bit daunting; Dr Gillian Kerby ([email protected]) I was familiar with the publication and I thought it was very good – that’s one of the reasons I Editorial Board wanted to get involved. I talked to a number of members and wasn’t surprised to hear that same Mr Jonathan Barnes, Mr Matthew Chatfield, view repeated again and again. Different people enjoyed different sections for different reasons Dr Andrew Cherrill, Mr Dominic Coath, and there were some great ideas for new things we might do but, overall, the message was Ms Sally Hayns, Dr William Latimer, simple: Jason has been doing an excellent job! Good for CIEEM but it didn’t make the critique Mrs Allison Potts, Mr Paul Rooney, very easy to write. Mr Paul Scott, Miss Katrena Stanhope, Miss Emma Toovey, Mr Darren Towers Publishing, like environmental management, is changing rapidly with traditional publications challenged by digital media. People are busier than ever and have less time but ever-higher Opinions expressed by contributors expectations. Different audiences want different things. There is a risk that printed publications to In Practice are those of the authors are left behind, appear outdated and go unread. and not necessarily supported by the Institute. Readers should seek appropriate This presents both challenges and opportunities for In Practice – to respond and adapt to the professional guidance relevant to their evolving needs of you, the members, whilst delivering value through diverse, useful, highly individual circumstances before following professional and engaging content. any advice provided herein. The opportunities are many. With the rise of digital communication, In Practice is freed from the Information on advertising, including constraints of having to deliver everything that members need to know. Sitting within a broader rates and deadlines, can be found at communications strategy, In Practice can focus on content that is best delivered in print, distinct www.cieem.net. The Institute does not from what you receive via email or can find online. Importantly, there are many opportunities accept responsibility for advertising content or policy of advertisers, nor does to add value and deliver coordinated membership support via a mix of web-hosted and printed the placement of advertisements within media, supported by practical events. In Practice imply support for companies, In Practice is already well liked, with a nice balance of news, information and technical features. individuals or their products or services The ongoing challenge is to respond and adapt to different sectors of the membership whilst advertised herein. retaining those features that readers expect and rely on and that give In Practice its identity. CIEEM Office Printed publications have a longer gestation than digital content, again bringing both risks and 43 Southgate Street, Winchester, opportunities. Although longer lead-in times mean that content and themes can be planned Hampshire, SO23 9EH, UK around future events – with opportunities for synergy – the challenge is to maintain topicality. T: 01962 868626 The special feature articles are well suited to print and this issue includes some thought-provoking material about the challenges of marine and coastal management whilst also raising awareness E: [email protected] of some innovative approaches to gathering baseline data in this difficult environment. The next W: www.cieem.net issue will focus on freshwater ecology and we look forward to some equally stimulating articles. In Practice is printed on paper using This issue also sees the introduction of a new ‘Meet the Author’ feature that aims to highlight 100% post consumer de-inked waste. some of the interesting stories behind the articles we publish, as well as giving an insight into the This is manufactured by an ISO14001, and EMAS accredited company. many twists and turns that careers in ecology and environmental management can sometimes take. I hope you enjoy the first ‘interview’ and I’d welcome your views on this or any other © Chartered Institute of Ecology and features that we publish – or indeed on any aspect of In Practice. Environmental Management
In Practice is a flagship of what the Institute stands for - an advertisement to the world of the high standards that CIEEM sets for ecological and environmental management. I am delighted to be part of the team, working alongside Jason and the Editorial Board to produce a publication that will give you an interesting, informative and entertaining read. Gill Kerby In Practice Editor [email protected]
2 Contents
Offsetting: moving towards Dealing with uncertainty and the an evidence-based metric for precautionary approach to the biodiversity assessment marine environment L.J. Cousins GradCIEEM, S. McMellor Tim Norman CEnv MCIEEM, Mike Barker MCIEEM, G.J.C. Underwood and PG 07 CEnv FCIEEM and Mike Smith PG 24 L.J Appleby Hepburn
Underwater noise in the Digital photography and biological marine environment recording: opportunities and Silvana Neves, Kate Boltwood, pitfalls based on a study of Andrew Baker MCIEEM and hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) PG 10 Federica Pace GradCIEEM PG 28 Roger Morris CEnv FCIEEM
Seasearch – a national SCUBA diving project providing evidence for marine conservation and training in marine species identification and survey skills Chris Wood, Jean-Luc Solandt, Meet the Author – PG 13 Calum Duncan and Paula Lightfoot MCIEEM PG 33 Roger Morris
Intertidal Discovery Project – Coastal survey and mapping for conservation and public benefit in Cornwall Martin Goodall MCIEEM, Carolyn Ecology Legal Update PG 19 Waddell and Catherine Wilding PG 35 Penny Simpson and Dean Amory
02 Editorial 28 - Digital photography and biological recording: 03 Contents opportunities and pitfalls based on a study of hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) 04 News in Brief Roger Morris CEnv FCIEEM Feature Articles 33 - Meet the Author – Roger Morris 07 - Dealing with uncertainty and the precautionary 35 - Ecology Legal Update approach to the marine environment Penny Simpson and Dean Amory Tim Norman CEnv MCIEEM, Mike Barker CEnv FCIEEM and Mike Smith 39 Institute News 10 - Underwater noise in the marine environment Silvana Neves, Kate Boltwood, Andrew Baker 41 Section News MCIEEM and Federica Pace GradCIEEM 52 Partnership News 13 - Seasearch – a national SCUBA diving project providing evidence for marine conservation and 53 New and Prospective Members training in marine species identification and Internal Articles survey skills Chris Wood, Jean-Luc Solandt, 54 - Chartered Ecologist - Calum Duncan and Paula Lightfoot MCIEEM Going From Strength to Strength 19 - Intertidal Discovery Project – Coastal survey and 56 - Raising Standards of Professional Practice: mapping for conservation and public benefit Update and Next Stages in Cornwall 58 - The Only Way is Ethics Martin Goodall MCIEEM, Carolyn Waddell and 62 - What Use is CIEEM to an Academic or, Indeed, Catherine Wilding What Use is an Academic to CIEEM? 24 - Offsetting: moving towards an evidence-based 64 Recent Publications and Journals metric for biodiversity assessment L.J. Cousins GradCIEEM, S. McMellor MCIEEM, 68 Diary G.J.C. Underwood and L.J Appleby Hepburn 69 External Advertisements
3 News in Brief
Select Committee says Law Commission publishes Government must do more Science and Technology invasive non-native to protect biodiversity in Committee report on species report Overseas Territories women in science The Law Commission has published its report The Environmental Audit Committee says that Despite clear imperatives and multiple Wildlife Law: Control of Invasive Non-native the UK Government is failing to adequately initiatives to improve diversity in Species. This is the first item to be delivered protect the globally significant biodiversity of science, technology, engineering and from the Law Commission’s Wildlife project, the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs), despite mathematics (STEM), women still which is due to be completed in the autumn its international treaty commitments to remain under-represented at senior of 2014. protect those unique species and habitats. levels across every discipline. There is http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/areas/ http://www.parliament.uk/business/ no single explanation for the lack of wildlife.htm committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/ gender diversity in STEM; it is the result of perceptions and biases combined with environmental-audit-committee/news/ Tiny bat crosses publication-of-ukots-report/ the impracticalities of combining a career with family. The Committee recommends the North Sea that diversity and equality training should A Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat, ringed Select Committee launch be provided to all STEM undergraduate in the UK, has been found in new inquiry on HS2 and and postgraduate students. It should Netherlands, 600km from where it the environment also be mandatory for all members of was ringed; providing the first record The Environmental Audit Committee is recruitment and promotion panels and of a bat crossing the sea from the UK launching an inquiry on environmental line managers. to mainland Europe. Bat experts in protection in Phase-I of HS2. http://www.publications.parliament. the Netherlands and the UK are The Government produced an uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/ working together to learn more Environmental Impact Assessment and cmsctech/701/701.pdf about this remarkable journey and its consulted on it between April and implications for bat conservation and May 2012. This allowed it to publish offshore windfarms. Potential impact of ash a Draft Environmental Statement for http://www.bats.org.uk/news.php/233/ dieback on UK wildlife consultation in May 2013, and a Final tiny_bat_crosses_the_north_sea Environmental Statement (in 5 volumes) A recently published scientific report has for consultation in November 2013 explored what might happen if Chalara alongside an HS2 Hybrid Bill which infection and associated ash dieback led BS8601 on Subsoil allows the construction of the line and to widespread death of nearly all ash trees now published acquisition of the land needed. within the UK. It reports that it is likely that BS 8601:2013 ‘Specification for subsoil http://www.parliament.uk/business/ there would be a high negative impact on and requirements for use’ has now committees/committees-a-z/commons- some populations of plant and animal species been published. BS 8601:2013 specifies select/environmental-audit-committee/ that use ash trees for feeding/breeding or requirements for the classification, news/hs2-and-the-environment-/ as a habitat. The study, commissioned by composition and use of subsoils that are the Joint Nature Conservation Committee moved or traded for creating soil profiles (JNCC), has discovered that 1,058 species intended to support plant growth. National Wildlife Crime have an association with ash: 12 birds, 55 http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?p Unit funding secured for mammals, 78 vascular plants, 58 bryophytes id=000000000030209662 2 more years (mosses, liverworts and hornworts), 68 The UK Government has committed to fungi, 239 invertebrates, and 548 lichens. funding the National Wildlife Crime Unit Of these, 44 (29 invertebrates, 11 fungi and (NWCU) until 2016. 4 lichens) were found to only occur on ash http://www.cieem.net/news/167/national- trees, while a further 62 were described as wildlife-crime-unit-funding-secured-for-2- ‘highly associated’ with ash and rarely found more-years on other tree species. Besides identifying at-risk species, the report gives a preliminary assessment of tree species that could provide an alternative host for plant and animal species associated with ash. http://www.hutton.ac.uk/news/potential- impact-ash-dieback-uk-wildlife
© wildstock.co.uk
4 Updated Improvement ALGE publish report on Plan for planning and Welsh Government Ecological Capacity and licensing published Tree Health Strategy Competence in English Natural England has released the latest The Welsh Government recently Planning Authorities iteration of its regulatory improvement plan. published its Tree Health Strategy. The Association of Local Government The updated Improvement Plan document The key objective of the Strategy is Ecologists (ALGE) has published for Planning and Licensing recognises the to: ‘Preserve the health and vitality of ‘Ecological Capacity and Competence wide-ranging scope of the regulatory role trees and woodlands in Wales through in English Planning Authorities: What is that Natural England has to play. The latest strategies which exclude, detect, and needed to deliver statutory obligations Plan contains information on the work respond to, existing and new pests and for biodiversity?’ The report shows that Natural England is taking forward with the pathogens of trees, whether of native or many local planning authorities do not Environment Agency as part of the Triennial exotic origin. Take proactive measures to currently have either the capacity and/ Review Action Plan; further information on reduce the impact of pests and diseases or the competence to undertake the our Single Voice engagement with Local on trees and woodlands in Wales.’ effective, and in some cases necessarily Enterprise Partnerships and an update on a http://wales.gov.uk/topics/ lawful, assessment of planning range of services and products that Natural environmentcountryside/forestry/ applications where biodiversity is a England provide to developers and local documents/tree-health-strategy- material consideration. authorities. Andrew Wood, Natural England wales/?lang=en http://www.cieem.net/news/158/ director of science, evidence and advice, said alge-publish-report-on-ecological- considerable progress had been made since the initial Improvement Plan was approved in Review of Scottish wild capacity-and-competence-in-english- fisheries management planning-authorities Autumn 2012. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ The Scottish Government has now asked outgoing Scottish Natural Heritage Chairman Literature review and ourwork/regulation/betterregulation/ improvementplanjan2014updatefeature.aspx Andrew Thin to chair an independent review analysis of the effectiveness of wild fisheries management in Scotland. of mitigation measures to The aims of the review are to: address environmental impacts New warning system to find • Develop and promote a modern, of linear transport infrastructure ‘alien’ invaders in Welsh seas evidence-based management system for on protected species and A new warning system is being wild fisheries fit for purpose in the 21st habitats (NECR132) developed that could reduce the damage century and capable of responding to our Natural England is responsible for ensuring caused to Welsh marine industries and changing environment. that England’s unique natural environment, native wildlife by non-native species in • To manage, conserve and develop our including its flora and fauna, land and coastal waters. Early detection will also wild fisheries to maximise the sustainable seascapes, geology and soils are protected make attempts to eradicate invasive benefit of Scotland’s wild fish resources to and improved. As the Government’s statutory species easier as their numbers would the country as a whole and particularly to nature conservation adviser it is a statutory not be as large or as widespread. The rural areas. consultee in planning. Natural England system will be developed in an 18 month commissioned this research to establish a project led by Natural Resources Wales http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Review-of- strong evidence base for the advice it gives in partnership with the School of Ocean wild-fisheries-management-83f.aspx regarding environmental mitigation for linear Sciences at Bangor University. transport schemes. The work focuses on http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/ mitigation used to ameliorate on-site impacts. our-work/news/133703/?lang=en#. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/ UwJeOoW8SBE publication/6184646404472832
5 News in Brief
Northern Ireland Bat populations recovering consultation on shorter, Birds and Windfarms: according to largest ever simpler planning policy an Updated Analysis of European study Environment Minister Mark Durkan has the Effects of Windfarms Bat numbers increased more than 40% launched a consultation on shorter, simpler on Birds and Best Practice between 1993 and 2011, after declining for planning policy for the North. The Minister Guidance on Integrated many years, according to a new report by the has announced a 12-week public consultation Planning and Impact European Environment Agency (EEA), which on the single Strategic Planning Policy Assessment considers the state of bat populations in a Statement (SPPS), which consolidates over 20 The RSPB has recently produced handful of countries across Europe. The EEA separate planning policy statements into one. this report for the Bern Convention, report on bats is the most comprehensive With regard to fracking, SPSS puts in black which updates one produced for the study yet made of European bat population and white, for the first time, as policy, that Convention in 2003. It updates the trends, studying 16 of the 45 bat species there should be a presumption against the analysis of the scientific literature and found across the continent. The study is exploitation of fracking until the Department provides a much larger section on EIA, the first to compile data from ten existing is satisfied that there is sufficient and robust spatial planning and project development monitoring schemes in nine countries, evidence on all environmental impacts. best practice. building a prototype European-scale indicator http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/ https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=2064 of bat population trends. Surveyors counted media-centre/news-departments/news-doe/ 209&Site=&BackColorInternet=B9BDEE& and catalogued bats hibernating at 6,000 news-doe-040214-durkan-unveils-shorter.htm BackColorIntranet=FFCD4F&BackColorLo sites in nine different countries. Overall these gged=FFC679 species appear to have increased by 43% at hibernation sites between 1993 and 2011, Northern Ireland with a relatively stable trend since 2003. outlines steps to tackle EEA priorities in 2014 changing climate http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/bat- At the European Environment Agency, population-recovering The Department of Environment has 2014 marks the start of a new 5-year work published Northern Ireland’s first ever programme and a new set of environmental Climate Change Adaptation Programme. policy priorities. Late last year the European New TEEB study for The Programme provides a cross Union approved its 7th Environmental Agriculture and Food departmental response to the potential Action Programme (EAP), which sets out the The TEEB Secretariat with support from risks and opportunities from our priorities of environmental policy-making UNEP World Conservation Monitoring changing climate. The Climate Change in the EU for 2014-2020. Entitled ‘Living Centre (WCMC) organised a scoping Risk Assessment for Northern Ireland, well, within the limits of our planet’, it puts workshop in Brussels from 22-23 January which was published last year, provided a particular focus on ensuring a healthy 2014, to develop the structure and an assessment of the risks to Northern environment and resource efficient economy define the content for a forthcoming Ireland of the current and predicted for human well-being. study entitled ‘The Economics of impacts of climate change. The Risk http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/new- Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) for Assessment identified flooding as one of year-new-focus-eea Agriculture and Food (TEEB-AF)’ intended the priority climate change risks facing to provide a comprehensive economic Northern Ireland. It also highlighted a evaluation of the eco-agri-food number of risks that threaten people, systems complex. property, critical infrastructure and http://www.teebweb.org/connecting-the- important natural habitats. dots-that-link-ecosystems-agricultural- http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/ and-food-systems/ index/media-centre/news-departments/ news-doe/news-doe-january-2014/news- doe-290114-durkan-outlines-steps.htm
6 Feature Article: Dealing with Uncertainty and the Precautionary Approach in the Marine Environment
Introduction to the Marine and Coastal Management Special Feature Dealing with Uncertainty and the Precautionary Approach in the Marine Environment
Tim Norman CEnv MCIEEM, Mike Barker CEnv FCIEEM and Mike Smith NIRAS Consulting Ltd
This article draws on NIRAS Consulting’s experience in successfully supporting our clients’ marine projects, particularly for offshore wind development. What often makes these project complex, apart from their size, is the environmental uncertainties present within the marine environment. In the article, we look at how these uncertainties can be dealt with in EcIA and what this means for the precautionary principle.
Introduction The marine environment is recognised as presenting more physical challenges to work than most terrestrial environments. Much less is known about the distribution of marine life than of terrestrial ecosystems, and acquiring new information can be very expensive and time-consuming. The Marine And Coastal Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) Guidelines1 promote a scientifically rigorous approach, but recognises that EcIA relies on ecologists using their professional judgement, particularly in dealing with uncertainty. The Guidelines also set out that where there are uncertainties within the EcIA, a precautionary approach should be taken in accordance with recognised A series of current research programmes to define monitoring systems for sea mammals aim to national guidance (for example, SNIFFER establish sub-sea noise protocols in the UK 7 Feature Article: Dealing with Uncertainty and the Precautionary Approach in the Marine Environment (contd)
Using Professional Judgement to Deal with Uncertainty in EcIA The Marine And Coastal EcIA Guidelines8 acknowledges that we know much less about the marine environment and the distribution of marine biodiversity. The guidelines highlight that undertaking EcIA in the marine environment is challenging and recognises that ecologists will need to rely on their professional judgement. These judgements “should be made on the basis of an objective assessment of the best information available”. Professional ecologists, whether within the Developers’ project team, advising as consultants, representing the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) or the conservation NGOs, should all be using the EcIA guidelines to ensure that Voluntary survey schemes such as SeaSearch gather information on seabed habitats and their judgements are “based on available associated marine wildlife in Britain and Ireland guidance and information, together with advice from experts familiar with the 20062). This means that the process of of the distribution, behaviour and ecological project’s location and/or the distribution rigorous assessment within the marine requirements of marine mammals, fish and and status of the ecological features being environment holds many challenges to seabirds makes accurate evaluations and considered”. This becomes more difficult professional ecologists. assessments of developments in the marine where there is no expert consensus and environment difficult. where available information is too thin Ecological Uncertainty in the to be reliable, even after extensive survey Marine Environment There are a number of compounding factors that increase our ecological efforts over a number of years. Our knowledge of the coastal and offshore uncertainty and which relate directly to the Regulatory bodies, such as the Marine territorial waters of the UK is improving physical nature of the marine environment, Management Organisation (MMO), through projects such as UKSeaMap 20103, including: CEFAS and the regional Inshore Fisheries which has recently updated a seabed • Many species are highly mobile and/or and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are habitat map for the entire UK continental migratory; working towards dealing with uncertainties shelf area. In addition, there are voluntary in EcIA. Through a programme of targeted survey schemes such as SeaSearch4, • Seasonal and irregular shifts in research, to support the delivery of their which aim to gather information on population distributions and densities operational functions9, the MMO are seabed habitats and associated marine based upon prey availability; providing much needed evidence and wildlife in Britain and Ireland through the • Changing patterns of climatic influences guidance. One such project includes the participation of volunteer recreational (just when we thought we understood). development of a strategic framework for divers. However, there remain significant In relation to a framework of priority the scoping of cumulative effects of marine data gaps and uncertainties. For example, species and habitats, almost all marine activities on the environment and socio- new habitat classes for the deep-sea area elements are currently drawn from the economic receptors – a project which NIRAS are still being proposed and considered. twin European Directives7 with little are leading on and yet another area of JNCC and others are currently contributing differentiation on status below that uncertainty within the marine environment. 5 to work within OSPAR’s Biodiversity international level. This situation contrasts Committee to identify species and habitats with the onshore environment, where EcIA Habitat Regulations in need of protection. is well established and understood, using Assessment (HRA) and the There are a series of current research more robust and accepted survey methods. Precautionary Principle programmes to define monitoring systems These surveys are supported by an existing In the UK marine environment most of the and establish priorities in the UK. These baseline context with a large number designations relate to European designated are presently concentrating on habitats, of tiered statutory and non-statutory sites10 and the protected species associated seabirds and cetaceans (whales, dolphins designations. This baseline information is with these designated sites (‘Features and porpoises) including research comparatively data-rich for both terrestrial of Interest’). The potential for adverse programmes to establish sub-sea noise habitats and a wide range of associated effects is often therefore set out both protocols6. Our, often poor, understanding taxonomic groups. within an Environmental Statement and 8 then examined in more detail as part of a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). The Habitats Directive requires the application of the ‘Precautionary Principle’ within the associated Appropriate Assessments and this principle sits uncomfortably with the levels of uncertainty found within marine EcIAs. This principle is applied such that the HRA requires a precautionary approach to both Offshore Wind Farm in North Sea evaluation and assessment. For example, Guidelines encourage, where possible, be directly applied to the remaining Round over the last 10 years marine EcIA for a collaborative approach to dealing with 3 projects. Much also has direct applicability offshore wind has become incrementally uncertainties and stresses the benefits to other ecological assessment and lessons more complex and more involved as of early consultation to minimise the risk should be learnt from the novel elements our evolving ecological understanding of misunderstanding or controversy. We arising from the offshore wind sector and has highlighted how very little we used have found that, although difficult, the from other developments around our coasts. to know. In NIRAS, we have noticed an assessment process can also provide an incremental ratcheting up of the detail effective environment for problem-solving required within the information used difficult and uncertain impacts associated About the Authors within EcIA and HRA, and then even more with major infrastructure projects, such as Dr Tim Norman has at Examination. more than 20 years’ offshore wind. These outcomes can then experience as an Rapidly Evolving Practice – advisor on ecology, Offshore wind power as a Notes EIA, ornithology and case study Habitats Regulations 1 The Marine And Coastal Guidelines For Assessments. Tim The United Kingdom became the world Ecological Impact Assessment In Britain And joined NIRAS in January Ireland CIEEM 2010. leader of offshore wind power generation 2011 as Managing in October 2008 when it overtook 2 SNIFFER (2006) Guidance on the Application Director of the UK consultancy business based in Cambridge. Denmark. This generating capacity has of the Precautionary Principle: Overview and Practical Guidance Documents UKCC05. Contact Tim at: grown incrementally since the beginnings [email protected] in 1999 and Round 3 has nine offshore 3 http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2117 zones where projects are currently in the 4 Wood, C., Solandt, J-L., Duncan, C. and Mike Barker is assessment and consenting stages. There Lightfoot, P. (2014). Seasearch – a national an ecologist with SCUBA diving project providing evidence for more than 20 years are significant ecological considerations marine conservation and training in marine of ecological and within the application process and therefore species identification and survey skills. In environmental professional ecologists are necessarily Practice, 83: 13-18. management involved in many aspects of the industry. http://www.seasearch.org.uk/ experience. Mike’s experience has New survey and assessment approaches 5 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (‘OSPAR been focussed on are being applied to meet the consenting Convention’). the strategic planning and delivery of requirements for offshore wind infrastructure and utilities assets; he joined 6 Neves, S., Boltwood, K., Baker, A. and Pace, NIRAS as Technical Director in July 2013. development. Because ecology is often a F. (2014). Underwater noise in the marine key determining factor for offshore wind environment. In Practice, 83: 10-12. Contact Mike at: [email protected] projects, the role of professional ecologists 7 Wild Birds Directive (Council Directive 79/409/ is highly influential and requires a strong EEC or 2009/147/EC) and the Conservation of Mike Smith is an level of responsibility. We therefore have to Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna Assistant Environmental apply good and accepted practice to assess (the Habitats Directive - EC Directive 92/43/EEC). Consultant, specialising in Coastal and Marine such complex issues. Due to the fast- 8 The Marine And Coastal Guidelines For Resource Management moving pace of the industry, good practice Ecological Impact Assessment In Britain And Ireland CIEEM 2010. and Environmental is rapidly evolving and as a profession Impact Assessment. we need to keep abreast of innovative 9 Including marine planning, licensing of He is developing a marine activities, marine conservation and approaches and tools now in use. strong background fisheries management. in Integrated Coastal Zone Management The intellectual challenges required for all 10 Comprising Special Protection Areas (SPAs), (ICZM), coastal ecology, physical processes, in the consenting process is demanding; as classified under the Wild Birds Directive beach nourishment and paleoclimatology. new approaches and new tools, particularly and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), as Contact Mike at: around ecological risk assessment, are designated under the Habitats Directive. [email protected] being developed ‘on the hoof’. The EcIA 9 Feature Article: Underwater noise in the marine environment
Underwater noise in the marine environment
Silvana Neves, Kate Boltwood, Andrew Baker MCIEEM and Federica Pace GradCIEEM Baker Consultants
Underwater noise in the and future generations”. The document flexible approach should be implemented marine environment is a lays out eleven criteria to determine GES, that will rely more on expert knowledge. with one relating to the introduction of By contrast, the German government has matter of increasing concern energy (including underwater noise)1 responded to the MSFD by putting an for the regulators and, as a (European Commission 2008). The UK has exact sound exposure level limit of 160 dB consequence, for the industry. transposed the MSFD into domestic law, re 1 µPa outside a 750 m radius for pile- through the Marine Strategy Regulations driving operations (BSH 2013). More and more companies are 2010, assessed the current condition of our This example demonstrates how regulation now required to monitor their seas and set targets for all eleven criteria of noise (particularly impulsive noise) in emissions and conduct extensive (CEFAS 2012). the marine environment will impact heavily upon industry. Pile-driving operations baseline surveys pre- and The introduction of sound is likely to disrupt the marine environment because used in both the oil, gas and renewables post-construction to establish sound travels great distances through industry could be seriously affected. whether noise has a significant water. Therefore, before any development Clearly, there is a need to establish precise impact on EU protected species. proceeds, it is necessary to gain an monitoring protocols for measuring marine understanding of the baseline sound scape. noise, both to determine ambient noise This article will examine the new An environmental impact assessment and to assess new impacts. challenges that ecologists must be carried out and underwater noise have to face to assess whether measurements should be taken. the criterion for Good Developments such as new harbours, offshore windfarms, installation of Environmental Status is met for electrical cables underwater, marine the underwater noise descriptor. mineral dredging, or even the introduction of new ferry routes, will generate noise Introduction at each stage of the work. These might The EU Marine Strategy Framework include dredging, pile driving, use of sonar, Directive (MSFD) requires member states to or noise from the use of vessels during the achieve good environmental status (GES) operations phase. Each operation will have by 2020 so as to maintain biodiversity in its own acoustic signature that must be their seas. GES is defined in the MSFD as identified and quantified. These data can “…the environmental status of marine be fed into sophisticated models that take waters where these provide ecologically into account substrate type, bathymetry, diverse and dynamic oceans and seas water temperature, salinity and sea state. which are clean, healthy and productive In UK waters, targets for restricting noise within their intrinsic conditions, and use levels have been set but some aspects of the marine environment is at a level are still under discussion. It is still unclear that is sustainable, thus safeguarding the whether fixed noise levels for different potential for uses and activities by current activities should be set or whether a more Deploying SM2M acoustic recorder 10 Together with researchers from Newcastle, Bristol and Exeter Universities, Baker Consultants is part of the Bio-Acoustic Research Consortium (BARC). BARC is conducting interdisciplinary research to standardise methods of data collection and to measure the effects of noise in the marine ecosystem. With funding from the Natural Environment Research Council, the project was set up to bring together industry and research to establish protocols. As part of this work, Baker Consultants has been deploying marine acoustic recorders at the National Renewable Energy Centre (NAREC) test site for renewable energy to assess the impacts of underwater noise generated during pile driving at the ecosystem level. The introduction of strict regulations in Germany has led the offshore industry NAREC platform to develop new mitigation measures to reduce propagation of noise. A reduction in received sound levels can be achieved by Marine mammals are key players when assessing the impacts of underwater noise using double-walled tubes that surround on the ecosystem because they raise a lot of public concern. Whales, dolphins monopiles and/or the use of bubble and seals, for example, rely heavily on sound and certain noise sources have the curtains. Mitigation measures also involve potential to cause mass strandings (Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings the use of acoustic deterrent devices for Network and British Divers Marine Life Rescue 2009). both cetaceans and seals. Companies Sound is used in many aspects of a marine mammal’s life cycle from foraging may also be required to follow a ‘soft (echolocation clicks that dolphins use to find a prey (Verfuss et al. 2009)) to start’ procedure at the beginning of pile mating (songs of some baleen whales such as the humpback whale Megaptera driving (starting with low energy and novaeangliae (Smith et al. 2008)), to intra-species communication (such as the slowly increasing). These measures aim to whistles that bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus use to convey individual identity drive animals away from the area to avoid (Janik et al. 2006)). exposure to loud sounds. It is likely that anthropogenic noise will have an impact and might cause behavioural Acoustic monitoring and survey changes. These could be temporary or permanent, direct (e.g. avoidance of an area) or indirect (e.g. prey might leave the affected area causing changes to foraging The study of underwater noise and its behavior (Wright et al. 2007; Wright and Kuczaj 2007)). effects has been aided by the advent of a variety of relatively inexpensive instruments Pile driving, for instance, can generate underwater sound pressures of more than that can be deployed for long periods 230 dB re 1 μPa. Such sounds may disturb marine mammals and even cause of time. Known as passive acoustic dangerous physiological effects at close range (Madsen et al. 2006). monitoring devices, these instruments detect changes in pressure in the water due to the propagation of a sound wave and convert it into an electrical stimulus that is recorded on the device. Once properly programmed, the instrument can be used remotely with only occasional servicing, e.g. quarterly. This type of device can record ambient noise and at the same time detect the high frequency vocalisations of marine mammals, such as the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena. Passive acoustic monitoring is just one of many survey techniques used to assess Echolocation clicks the impact of development on marine ecosystems. It requires minimal human 11 Feature Article: Underwater noise in the marine environment (contd)
intervention and can be used when development of new software is making weather conditions are highly adverse. this task more cost effective. References Other survey methods include visual Increasingly sophisticated modelling tools Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings surveys of marine fauna from a boat where Network and British Divers Marine Life Rescue are available to analyse underwater noise (2009). Report on the mass stranding and trained observers record the presence and impacts. These new, more complex models rescue of common dolphins in Porth Creek, the number of animals seen during previously should lead to a better understanding of Percuil River, Falmouth, SW England, June 2008. determined transect routes followed by how noise is generated during the different CWT Marine Strandings Network. http://www. bdmlr.org.uk/uploads/documents/reports/bdmlr- the vessel. This type of survey is usually phases of development, by different cwtmsn-report-may09.pdf accompanied by a towed hydrophone that equipment and in different localities. In BSH (2013). Investigation of the Impacts can detect and record the vocalisations of turn, this should improve our assessment of Offshore Wind Turbines on the Marine the animals seen by the observers and also of the impacts on the marine ecosystem. Environment (StUK4). Hamburg. http://www. any missed by them. The data can be used Developments in the marine environment bsh.de/en/Products/Books/Standard/7003eng.pdf to estimate local populations of marine are often international in nature with CEFAS (2012). Marine Strategy Framework mammals. One major constraint of this cumulative impacts that cross national Directive consultation: UK Initial Assessment type of survey is its weather-dependence and Proposals for Good Environmental boundaries. For example, the planned level Status. CEFAS. since it requires good weather conditions of offshore wind development in the North during daylight periods and is much more European Commission (2008). Marine Strategy Sea has the potential to produce significant Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). http:// expensive and time consuming than changes in the marine soundscape. While ec.europa.eu/environment/water/marine/ passive acoustic monitoring. European Community law is increasing directive_en.htm One of the key challenges of acoustic awareness of noise pollution, there is an Janik, V. M., Sayigh, L.S. and Wells, R.S. (2006). monitoring is the analysis of large volumes urgent need for the convergence of policy Signature whistle shape conveys identity of heterogeneous data in relatively short and guidelines so that noise impacts can information to bottlenose dolphins. Proceedings of the National Academy of periods of time (the German regulator be dealt with using methods that are both Sciences, 103: 8293-8297. normally requires initial reporting of pile- cost effective and based on robust science. Madsen, P. T., Wahlberg, M., Tougaard, J., driving operations within 48 hours). Lucke, K. and Tyack, P. (2006). Wind turbine Within Europe there is a lack of underwater noise and marine mammals: coordination between member states on implications of current knowledge and data needs. Marine Ecology Progress Series, how to measure trans-boundary issues. 309: 279-295. The Crown Estate will shortly publish a Notes Smith, J.N., Goldizen, A.W., Dunlop, R.A. and review on good practice for measuring 1 Full list of criteria available from European Noad, M.J. (2008). Songs of male humpback underwater noise, giving practical Commission (2008) http://ec.europa.eu/ whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, are involved guidance on how to carry out surveys and environment/water/marine/ in intersexual interactions. Animal Behaviour, directive_en.htm 76: 467-477. set up the monitoring equipment. As yet there is no publication detailing specific Verfuss, U.K., Miller, L.A., Pilz, P.K.D. and Schnitzler, H.U. (2009). Echolocation by guidance for marine mammals across two foraging harbour porpoises (Phocoena Europe. Ecologists must rely on guidance phocoena). Journal of Experimental from individual governments (where Biology, 212: 823-834. it exists) and the expert knowledge of Wright, A.J., Aguilar Soto, N., Baldwin, A.L., marine biologists. The lack of knowledge Bateson, M., Beale, C.M., Clark, C., Deak, exchange can mean equipment that is T., Edwards, E.F., Fernández, A., Godinho, A., Hatch, L.T., Kakuschke, A., Lusseau, D., most fit for purpose may be overlooked by Martineau, D., Romero, L.M., Weilgart, L.S., a regulatory body. Wintle, B.A., Notarbartolo-di-Sciara, G. and First and foremost, regulatory bodies, Martin, V. (2007). Anthropogenic Noise as a Stressor in Animals: A Multidisciplinary developers and scientists need to agree Kate Boltwood, Federica Pace, Silvana Neves. Perspective. International Journal of the sampling protocols necessary to Comparative Psychology, 20: 250-273. establish baseline conditions. Part of Baker About the Authors Wright, A. J. and Kuczaj, S. (2007). Noise- Consultants’ work at BARC has been to Related Stress and Marine Mammals: investigate sampling regimes to see if Baker Consultants’ marine team includes An Introduction. International Journal of Federica Pace, Marine Technical Director, Comparative Psychology, 20: 1-1. small samples of data are representative of Silvana Neves and Kate Boltwood, marine the baseline conditions. For example, do ecologists. Andrew Baker is managing we need to record 24/7 or will a sample of director of Baker Consultants and a specialist 10 minutes in each hour give us the same in environmental law, advising clients on all ecological aspects of their developments. understanding of the acoustic profile? Long deployment periods generate large Contact the team at: amounts of data that must be analysed www.bakerconsultants.co.uk quickly and efficiently. Fortunately, the 12 Feature Article: Seasearch – a national SCUBA diving project providing evidence for marine conservation and training
Seasearch – a national SCUBA diving project providing evidence for marine conservation and training in marine species identification and survey skills Chris Wood, Jean-Luc Solandt, Calum Duncan and Paula Lightfoot MCIEEM Marine Conservation Society
Figure 4. Seasearch National Coordinator Chris Wood recording pink sea fans. Photo by Richard Morton.
Seasearch is a national project share their knowledge with Introduction that trains volunteer SCUBA others. This valuable project has New marine legislation calls for a well- divers to record marine species received funding from various managed, ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in UK seas. and habitats, providing a cost- regional and national sources This emerging network consists of six types effective source of verified data over the years, but ongoing of MPAs designated under international, to inform the conservation and funding is vital to maintain European and national legislation: • Natura 2000 Sites: Special Areas of management of the marine the coordination network that Conservation (SACs) and Special environment. In addition to makes Seasearch so successful. Protection Areas (SPAs) established using Seasearch data in desk This article aims to raise under the EC Habitats and Birds Directives. studies, CIEEM members may awareness amongst CIEEM • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) participate in the project, members of how they could established under the Wildlife and benefit from reasonably benefit from the Seasearch Countryside Act 1981 and the Nature priced training courses, use project, and how they could Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. the high quality Seasearch play a role in securing its future • Ramsar Sites established under the 1971 Convention of Wetlands of identification guides, and join either by active participation or International Importance. Seasearch’s growing social simply by helping this message • Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) network community where to reach a wider audience. designated through the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. expert marine biologists freely 13 Feature Article: Seasearch – a national SCUBA diving project providing evidence for marine conservation and training (contd)
• Scottish Marine Protected Areas to be UK Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, data from dives carried out independently, established under the Marine and the main diver training organisations, and we adopt the motto ‘Any dive can be Coastal Access Act 2009 and Marine the Marine Biological Association and a Seasearch dive’. (Scotland) Act 2010 for offshore and independent experts. The total number of forms increased to inshore sites respectively. Thanks to funding from the Heritage over 2,000 per year in 2010 and 2011. • Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in Lottery Fund, a National Coordinator Since then overall numbers have dropped Northern Irish territorial waters under was appointed in 2003 to help maintain but the proportion of Survey forms the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013. consistency and quality as the project increased to 44% of the total in 2013 One of the challenges in establishing and expanded. There is now a network of (Figure 1). managing this network is the paucity of regional coordinators covering the whole The forms are validated and verified by UK coastline, the Republic of Ireland (in data on the habitats and species occurring regional coordinators, who have first- partnership with the Irish Underwater around our shores. Seasearch hand knowledge of their local marine Council), the Isle of Man and the (www.seasearch.org.uk) is a UK- and environment and the skill level of the Channel Islands. Ireland-based citizen science programme recorders. They interpret the biological and for volunteer SCUBA divers which helps Survey methodology and data environmental data on survey forms to meet these data needs and can play a assign biotopes to the dive sites using the Seasearch volunteers record the species, part in monitoring the MPA network. The Marine Habitat Classification for Britain & habitats and human impacts they see Seasearch database is one of the largest of Ireland v04.05 (Connor et al. 2004). Data on their dives by filling in Observation or its kind, containing over 400,000 species is entered into regional Marine Recorder Survey forms. The Observation form is fairly records and 41,000 habitat records, which databases, which are then merged straightforward and quick to complete, yet have been through rigorous validation into a single national Marine Recorder still captures valuable information giving and verification processes at a local and database, which is checked again by the an overview of the site as a whole. The national level. The data are made freely National Coordinator before it is sent to Survey form is more detailed and allows the statutory conservation agencies and available for research, marine spatial volunteers to record multiple habitats with planning and public interest. made publicly available via the National a separate list of species for each habitat. Biodiversity Network Gateway In addition to contributing to the evidence Seasearch has also developed specific (https://data.nbn.org.uk). base for marine conservation, Seasearch methodologies for recording species and Seasearch coordinators and volunteers use raises awareness of marine biodiversity and habitats of conservation importance. These the Seasearch dataset on the NBN Gateway conservation issues amongst the diving include the two UK species of sea fans to support their recording activities, for community and provides an opportunity (Swiftia pallida and Eunicella verrucosa), example to check the known distribution for participants to add purpose to their fireworks anemones Pachycerianthus of a species as an aid to identification or diving and learn more about the wildlife multiplicatus, skate and ray egg cases, verification, to target survey efforts towards and habitats they see underwater. This is and sea grass beds. data-deficient areas, or to target monitoring achieved through a progressive training Most data is collected on Seasearch efforts towards sites that support key system, the publication of identification organised survey dives which target areas species or biodiversity ‘hotspots’. The NBN guides, and crucially by establishing a of conservation interest or gap filling. Gateway Interactive Map enables users to friendly community in which novices can Individuals and dive clubs also contribute overlay MPA boundary datasets with records learn from more experienced participants, many of whom have a professional level of identification and survey skills. Background: recording marine wildlife and habitats for >25 years Seasearch was developed in the mid- 1980s through collaboration between the Marine Conservation Society and the Nature Conservancy Council to contribute data to the Marine Nature Conservation Review that took place from 1987-1998. Early Seasearch surveys focussed on Wales, Dorset, Sussex and West Scotland, but in 1999 a National Seasearch Steering Group was formed to expand the project. The steering group comprises the Marine Conservation Society, the Wildlife Trusts, all Figure 1. Seasearch forms received 2000-2013. 14 specific Seasearch Facebook groups have been set up where volunteers can post photos and get help with identification, often triggering interesting discussions about the species in question. Seasearch does not provide training in dive skills. Seasearch participants must already be certified to BSAC/ScotSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced or equivalent level, and to have completed at least twenty dives, ten of which must have been in UK or Irish seas.
Figure 2. Seasearch course participants recording data from a video dive. of species of conservation importance in complete an online species identification order to see how well current and proposed test. Specialist courses help participants protected sites ‘capture’ known areas of to develop skills in the identification of marine biodiversity. more difficult groups, or specialist topics Currently, digitisation of data from paper such as underwater photography or MPA forms takes place over winter, when the monitoring. The courses are delivered by Figure 3. The latest Seasearch ID Guide - Sea trained Seasearch tutors and specialists in Anemones and Corals of Britain and Ireland, sea conditions are less favourable for 2nd edition. diving, and the data becomes publicly their field and are highly cost-effective. available in spring of the following year. There are 40-50 courses each year with a Diving into Conservation: wide geographical distribution (Figure 2). However, Seasearch is currently setting up how Seasearch is making a online recording facilities for its volunteers The training programme is backed up with difference using Indicia, the open source toolkit for a highly regarded series of photographic A survey of over 200 Seasearch volunteers developing biological recording websites identification guides aimed at ensuring carried out in February 2013 revealed that and apps (www.indicia.org.uk). This will a reliable level of identification skills, having their data used to support marine bring many benefits, including storing including awareness of species that cannot conservation is a major motivating factor photographs and verifiers’ comments be identified to species level in situ, and for participants. Over 50% stated that as part of records and making the data of similar-looking species that can be they are a member of an environmental available more quickly to inform decision confused. There is a general introductory or nature conservation charity and 78% making (Calow et al. 2013). guide aimed at new recorders (Wood said that gathering data to inform the 2007, re-published with amendments designation of Marine Protected Areas was Training and 2013) and specialist guides covering Identification Guides Seaweeds (Bunker et al. 2010), Bryozoans important to them as a reason for getting involved in Seasearch. Seasearch offers a progressive training and Hydroids (Porter 2012) and Anemones system that supports the survey and Corals (Wood 2005, 2nd Edition 2013) The Seasearch project is increasingly methodology. The entry level Observer (Figure 3). A guide to Sponges and Sea focussing survey efforts on existing and course teaches participants the skills they Squirts is currently in preparation. candidate MPAs, as well as priority habitats need to complete Observation forms. Seasearch volunteers benefit from being and species. An example is the pink sea fan Once they have gained experience and part of a friendly community, in which Eunicella verrucosa (Figure 4). confidence at the Observer level, many skills and knowledge are shared. Increasing Seasearch surveys established the participants progress to the Surveyor level. use of digital photography and social geographical range as the Channel In order to gain Seasearch certification, media has also brought huge benefits Islands, South West England and Wales trainees must also have a number of forms in developing identification skills and (east Dorset to north Pembrokeshire), and checked and ‘signed off’ by a tutor, and improving data quality (see Morris, this southern and western Ireland as far north for the Surveyor certification they must issue). A number of regional or taxon- as Donegal. Condition surveys pinpointed 15 Feature Article: Seasearch – a national SCUBA diving project providing evidence for marine conservation and training (contd)
base for a proposed Marine Protected Area successfully submitted by COAST to the Scottish MPA project. Seasearch surveys have also been carried out to map distributions of rare species such as crawfish Palinurus elephas, fan shells Atrina fragilis and the fireworks anemone Pachycerianthus multiplicatus. Crawfish populations were decimated by divers and tangle net fishing in the 1970s and 1980s. Most records now come from Ireland, where collection by divers is banned, and from Pembrokeshire; however, recent Seasearch surveys in the No-Take Zone at Lundy Island have shown glimpses of recovery. The fireworks anemone is a Scottish Priority Marine Feature. Seasearch surveys for this species were carried out between 2009 and 2013 in Loch Shira, upper Loch Fyne, Loch Goil, Loch Creran and Loch Duich, revealing hotspots (e.g. Loch Beg) and trends, such as possible poor recruitment in upper Figure 5. Seasearch pink sea fan records overlaid with bottom-towed fishing effort data Loch Fyne. Such information is useful (relative scale). The overlap is particularly concentrated over the reefs of Lyme Bay [fishing effort data from the Marine Fisheries Agency, and sea fisheries observations] (after Lumbis 2009). for informing management decisions Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right [2013]. regarding possible MPAs for this species at these sites. areas where sea fan populations were that the entire reef feature was at risk Contribution to designation threatened by disease (Lundy and south of damage, and that the site qualified processes of new Marine Devon), or by damaging fishing practices as a Special Area of Conservation that Protected Areas (Lyme Bay). Re-surveys of areas affected by would eventually necessitate controls Marine Protected Areas are a key tool the disease showed how slow the recovery on damaging fishing practices (Lumbis for ensuring the sustainable use and process has been and the low level of 2009). Following protection under UK conservation of marine biodiversity and recruitment outside the stronghold areas law in 2008, the site became a European ecosystems. Inshore MPAs in England of Lyme Bay, south Devon and Cornwall. Marine Site in 2010, largely due to the have increased from 4% to about 25% Epiphytic and opportunistic species on sea contribution of Seasearch data allied to of coastal waters since 2009 (Jones fans were also recorded, especially the mapping work by The Wildlife Trusts and 2012). Wales already has 30% of its priority sea fan anemone Amphianthus Natural England. coastal waters in European Marine Sites. dohrnii, and molluscs Tritonia nilsodhneri Seasearch empowers local people to Northern Ireland is embarking on an MPA and Simnia hiscocki. secure protection for marine sites that are programme that should see the number Seasearch monitoring of pink sea fan important to their community. Following of designated sites increase in the future. populations in Lyme Bay between 2001 Observer training in 2003, divers from the In Scotland, 33 MPA proposals were and 2006 coincided with a well-recorded Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) consulted on in autumn 2013 for possible increase in scallop fishing intensity in the carried out Seasearch dives throughout addition to the current suite of European area of reefs dominated by the species Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran, to support Marine Sites and other area-based (Figure 5). their ultimately successful proposal for a measures, potentially increasing coverage Seasearch surveys reported pink sea fans Community Marine Conservation Area in of the emerging Scottish MPA network dislodged from the soft sandstone ledges north Lamlash Bay, the only one of its kind from 12% to 23% of coastal waters. in Lyme Bay, and washing up between in Scotland. Effectively a No-Take Zone, it Data provided by Seasearch has played the reefs in sediment-dominated areas. was set up using a Statutory Instrument an important role in this process (Figure Devon and Dorset Wildlife Trusts and under the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 6). For example, evidence to support Natural England called for restrictions 1984. Following Surveyor training in 2006, the establishment of reef, sea cave and on scallop fishing in the area, citing more detailed records were returned from vulnerable sandbank habitat sites under evidence of the loss of pink sea fans to the throughout the Firth of Clyde including the Habitats Directive was provided by scallop dredgers. The issue was resolved targeted surveys in the south of Arran, Seasearch data allied to sidescan sonar or at ministerial level in 2008 on evidence much of the latter supporting the evidence drop-down camera surveys. 16 helped increase knowledge at existing European Marine Sites, including Isle of May, Luce Bay, Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast and, informed by northern sea fan Swiftia pallida surveys, Firth of Lorn SAC. However, Seasearch data has not always been used to its fullest potential. In November 2013, Defra designated 27 of the 127 Marine Conservation Zones proposed by stakeholders during a two- year process in England. Seasearch data was used throughout the stakeholder- led process to inform the location, size, boundaries and conservation objectives of the recommended sites. Later, Seasearch provided targeted information and datasets to inform the designation and management of the proposed MCZs, which included detailed survey reports for 13 MCZs (Figure 7).
Figure 7. A Seasearch report illustrating the species and habitats recorded inside the Kingmere MCZ.
These reports were made publicly available via the Seasearch website and sent to Natural England, Inshore Fisheries and Figure 6. A composite image of 127 proposed MCZs in English waters (and UK waters adjacent Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) and local to England and Wales), Scottish MPAs in Scottish waters (and UK waters adjacent to Scotland) and marine SACs throughout UK inshore waters, including Wales and Northern Ireland. The MPs to show the value of the sites. Of those point data shows where Seasearch surveys have been carried out. Contains Ordnance Survey 13, only four sites have been designated: data © Crown copyright and database right [2013]. Skerries Bank and Surrounds, Torbay (southwest); Kingmere (east); Blackwater All Scottish Seasearch data is an integral MCS to the Scottish MPA process, four of Colne and Crouch (both in East Anglia). part of the GeMS (Geodatabase of which were put forward for consultation Much Seasearch data are georeferenced to Marine features in Scotland) dataset, (Upper Loch Fyne, Loch Sween, Loch a high level of precision and confidence, used to underpin the search for possible Sunart and Loch Duichs, Long and Alsh). and are accompanied by verifiable photos Scottish MPAs. Seasearch data, combined Seasearch data also contributed to the of species and habitats of conservation with social data collected by the Marine evidence base for a further three possible importance. Seasearch divers increasingly Conservation Society, underpinned seven MPAs (South Arran, Small Isles and use towed GPS to map the location and third party MPA proposals submitted by Northwest Scotland sea lochs) and has extent of features such as the North 17 Feature Article: Seasearch – a national SCUBA diving project providing evidence for marine conservation and training (contd)
Norfolk Chalk Reef, the longest in One participant summed up the value Europe. Unfortunately, the current data of the Seasearch project in the following References management system used by Seasearch words: “Seasearch is an essential, grass Bunker, F., Brodie, J., Maggs, C. and Bunker, A. - Marine Recorder - is not optimised to roots conservation effort impacting on (2010). Seasearch Guide to Seaweeds of Britain support this type of data. This led to some current understanding and legislation of and Ireland. Marine Conservation Society, Ross- on-Wye. of the data not being used during the later the marine environment. I would like to see stages of the MCZ process, despite calls wider awareness of it in the public at large.” Calow, J., Nicholls, D. and Calow, G. (2013). NatureSpot: a web-based tool for supporting from scientists and conservation NGOs It is hoped that this article will raise biological recording and mapping across the that the precautionary principle should awareness of Seasearch among CIEEM counties of Leicestershire and Rutland. In apply. However, the online recording members and, through them, to a Practice, 82: 32-34. system under development for Seasearch wider audience so that its importance is Connor, D.W., Allen, J.H., Golding, N., Howell, will support storage of photos and upload appreciated and its future can be secured. K.L., Lieberknecht, L.M., Northen, K.O. and Reker, J.B. (2004). The Marine Habitat of GPX files from towed GPS as part of Classification for Britain and Ireland Version records, which should ensure that the data Information about the Marine Conservation 04.05 (internet version: www.jncc.gov.uk/ are given the confidence they merit. Society can be found at www.mcsuk.org MarineHabitatClassification). Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. Further information, downloadable reports, Final Thoughts contacts and dates for courses and surveys Jones, P.J.S. (2012). Marine Protected Areas Seasearch provides valuable data, a can be obtained from the Seasearch in the UK: challenges in combining top-down and bottom-up approaches to governance. high quality training programme and website: www.seasearch.org.uk Environmental Conservation, 39: 248-258. identification resources. With annual Scottish MPA Data Confidence Lumbis, R. (2009). Distribution of Southwest running costs of under £100,000, the Assessments including Seasearch data are England inshore fishing effort and the Pink Seasearch programme is excellent value, available from the Scottish Natural Heritage seafan, Eunicella verrucosa (Pallas, 1766) but these costs must be covered to ensure website: www.snh.gov.uk between 1990 and 2007. University of Plymouth, the sustainability of the project. Plymouth. Seasearch does not derive income from Porter, J. (2012). Seasearch Guide to Bryozoans About the Authors and Hydroids of Britain and Ireland. Marine its data, which is made freely available Conservation Society, Ross-on-Wye. in accordance with the wishes of the Chris Wood works for the Marine Conservation Society as the National Morris, R. (2014). Digital photography and Seasearch steering group and volunteers. Coordinator of the Seasearch project and biological recording: opportunities and pitfalls One volunteer said “I think that private and is the author of the Seasearch Observer’s based on a study of hoverflies (Diptera, public sector data users should give some Guide to Marine Life of Britain and Syrphidae). In Practice, 28-32. kind of support to the organisations that Ireland and the Seasearch Guide to Wood, C. (2007, republished with amendments Sea Anemones and Corals of Britain provide data from volunteers, but I don’t 2013). Seasearch Observer’s Guide to Marine and Ireland. Life of Britain and Ireland. Marine Conservation think that the data should be withheld Contact Chris at: Society, Ross-on-Wye. from those organisations, in case this [email protected] Wood, C. (2005, 2nd Edition 2013) Sea results in poor decision making”. Anemones and Corals of Britain and Ireland. Jean-Luc Solandt is Senior Biodiversity Long-term funding is in place in some Wild Nature Press, Plymouth. Policy Officer for the Marine areas, but in others the project depends Conservation Society and plays a key role on ad hoc funding from a variety of in lobbying for the establishment of a organisations. Sales of ID guides and network of Marine Protected Areas. other materials are an important source Contact Jean-Luc at: of revenue but by far the greatest level of [email protected] support comes from the participants who Calum Duncan is Scotland Programme meet all the costs of equipment, insurance Manager for the Marine Conservation and travel themselves. Society, Seasearch Coordinator for Scotland and a Seasearch Surveyor tutor, convenes Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Taskforce and advocates for Scottish MPAs. Contact Calum at: [email protected]
Paula Lightfoot MCIEEM is the regional coordinator and a tutor for Seasearch in North East England on behalf of the Marine Conservation Society. Contact Paula at: [email protected]
18 Feature Article: Intertidal Discovery Project – Coastal survey and mapping for conservation and public benefit in Cornwall
Intertidal Discovery Project – Coastal survey and mapping for conservation and public benefit in Cornwall Martin Goodall MCIEEM, Carolyn Waddell and Catherine Wilding Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Intertidal Discovery is a ground- breaking project that aims to survey and map the intertidal habitats along the entire north coast of Cornwall. Data collected by the Project is being used to produce interactive online maps to aid in marine planning and environmental monitoring, as well as to underpin local and national marine conservation strategies. In the UK there is a desperate need for baseline marine data. Monitoring in the marine environment is high on the Government’s agenda and there are many new and exciting opportunities for CIEEM members as environmental professionals. Hopefully this overview of the Intertidal Discovery Project will get you thinking about large-scale monitoring, methodologies and the best methods of sharing and disseminating results.
Stalked jellyfishHaliclystus auricular. Photo by David Fenwick 19 Feature Article: Intertidal Discovery Project – Coastal survey and mapping for conservation and public benefit in Cornwall (contd)
The Intertidal Discovery project is run It could be historic descriptions about • the production of a comprehensive by Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the the sea; an ad-hoc species record from map showing all intertidal habitats Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall a member of the public; a structured along 450 km (over 280 miles) of and the Isles of Scilly, and is on track to scientific survey (e.g. a marine phase II Cornwall’s north coast; complete a total baseline survey of the 450 survey); a dive survey (e.g. a Seasearch • public access to three key datasets km north Cornish coastline by June 2014. dive); or footage from the very latest on species, habitats (biotopes) and combination of camera and sonar non-native species; ‘More for less’ technology to create ‘maps’ of the seabed • a detailed report on the current status Ultimately everything comes down (e.g. multi-beam images, drop-camera of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) to money. While this might seem videos or remotely operated vehicles). habitats, together with a prioritised like a brash statement, in the marine The Environmental Records Centre for management plan for each; environment conservation is often Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) • the provision of robust scientific data expensive, so the ability to prioritise and Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) hold a to marine planning authorities and conservation management efforts is wealth of information about Cornwall’s statutory bodies. very important. Decision-making can marine habitats and species. Most of be difficult, controversial and sensitive, these data come from specialised surveys In order to disseminate the project data hence judgement must be steered and or records from dedicated individuals. effectively, we are creating a new marine underpinned by strong evidence. It is a truly fantastic resource but it is website, which will include interactive In 2011, a national evidence-gathering not publically available, and is only of maps and codes of conduct to educate exercise recommended the designation limited use to those making management and inform the public. We are also of 127 Marine Conservation Zones in decisions relating to large geographical committed to outreach work with England, under the Marine and Coastal areas (as illustrated during the recent MCZ partner organisations (Cornwall Inshore Access Act (2009). However, in 2012 consultation process). Fisheries and Conservation Authority, Natural England, Cornwall Council, the UK Government’s scientific advisors Cornwall has the longest coastline of any Polzeth and St Agnes Voluntary argued that only 31 sites were deemed to county in England and, while the north Marine Conservation Areas) to suggest have a sufficient evidence-base on which coast of Cornwall receives millions of practical and prioritised management to potentially secure this high level of visitors a year, we know surprisingly little recommendations for habitat protection. protection. Of these, only 27 sites received about the marine ecology of this iconic designation in November 2013. region. To address this, and to provide Data collection Anyone who has spent time at the much needed information about the The project team and volunteers have now Cornish coast, perhaps snorkelling or ecological state of our coastline, a project surveyed over 98% of Cornwall’s north rock-pooling, will know how beautiful the called ‘Intertidal Discovery’ was set up in coast using Intertidal Biotope Mapping. marine environment can be, and what a June 2012 by ERCCIS and CWT. This method follows protocols created by fascinating variety of species are present. the JNCC and the Countryside Council That’s all well and good, but when it Intertidal Discovery Project for Wales (now part of Natural Resources comes to conservation management and Intertidal Discovery is a two-year project Wales), and allows us to gather evidence legal designations it is essential to be able that aims to survey and map the intertidal relating to large areas of land or sea where to turn general appreciation and anecdotal habitats found along the entirety of it would be impractical to attempt data accounts into robust scientific evidence. Cornwall’s north coast, made possible collection on all the species present. This by funding from the SITA Trust’s approach has been recognised as the best Evidence Enriching Nature Programme. We are method for collecting broad-scale, baseline Evidence of change in the marine working towards a number of important data for intertidal areas (Wyn et al. 2006), ecosystem can exist in many formats. objectives including: and allows the results to be utilised as widely as possibly. The team use hand-held computers in the field to produce GIS habitat maps, assess the site characteristics, take detailed target notes and geo-referenced photographs, and produce comprehensive species lists for each area of survey. This use of technology enables us to dramatically reduce the office time needed to collate the data for analysis and eventual dissemination. Alongside our intertidal work, we Conducting foot surveys for the Intertidal undertake trials to ground-truth inshore Bedruthan Steps. Photo by Caz Waddell Discovery Project. Photo by Caz Waddell sub-littoral habitats using a 100 m drop- 20 of volunteers who have given over 3250 hours of their time to the Project since June 2012. In financial terms this has been valued as a contribution of over £35,000. Initial results Over the last 18 months, Intertidal Discovery has surveyed and mapped approximately 440 km of Cornwall’s north coast. For the first time, we have been able to establish the extent of six major BAP habitats in the region, as well as the range and extent of almost 100 more common intertidal habitats and over 200 individual species. The most frequently recorded biotopes are mussel and/or barnacle communities on high-energy littoral rock. From the 2004 JNCC list of almost 200 biotope codes
Figure 1: Location of a Drop-Camera Run. Photo by Martin Goodall
Drop-Camera Image – Laminaria bed Falmouth Marine School students. Photo by Catherine Wildling camera with lighting and cage array. This involves dropping a video camera over the side of a boat and collecting high quality video footage of the seafloor (Figure 1). As the images are geographically referenced we can analyse this footage to identify and map the extent of some seafloor habitats. The full method follows the mapping European seabed habitats (MESH) methodology (White et al. 2007). In addition, we are working to develop more efficient sediment survey methods and we are in consultation with the relevant statutory authorities to look into the potential of adopting these methods nationally as part of ongoing MCZ condition monitoring assessments. Underpinning this survey effort, our train- ing programme for local volunteers and students teaches survey techniques, GIS mapping, data analysis and management, evidence dissemination and habitat/species identification (all long-term, transferable skills). We now have a dedicated group Intertidal Underboulder Community. Photo by Steph Davis 21 Feature Article: Intertidal Discovery Project – Coastal survey and mapping for conservation and public benefit in Cornwall (contd)
Honeycomb worm reef Sabellaria alveolata. Photo by Alan Rowland
Below and top right Figure 2: Towan Head habitat maps 2a: Habitat information pop-ups 2b: Habitat breakdown charts 2c: 3D effect describing intertidal zones throughout 2a the UK, examples of 92 have so far been recorded along Cornwall’s north coast. We have found superb examples of intertidal underboulder communities (a 2007 priority BAP habitat) located around Cape Cornwall and St Ives, where iconic species such as stalked jellyfish (Lucernariopsis campunulata and Haliclystus auricula), light bulb sea squirts Clavelina lepadiformis, and candy striped flatworm Prostheceraeus vittatus have all been found intertidally. A new record has been confirmed for creephorn Chrondracanthus acicularis, a red seaweed species that had previously been recorded only from the county’s more sheltered south coast; and the honeycomb worm Sabellaria alveolata has been extensively mapped around the Bude area, where only ad hoc records existed previously. The surveys have revealed surprisingly large numbers of the strawberry anemone Actinia fragacea, together with notable 2b records for the bushy rainbow wrack Cystoseira tamariscifolia dominating rockpools, and the brown fork weed Bifurcaria bifurcata on open rock of the lower shore. This would appear to support suggestions from the previous Marine Biological Association’s MarClim study that these species could be among the ‘winners’ of climate change with warming sea and air temperatures affecting their distribution, habitat and abundance in the South-West. (Hiscock et al. 2005).
22 2c
About the Authors Martin Goodall manages the Intertidal Discovery Project and has worked for Cornwall Wildlife Trust for four years, previously working for the Environment Agency. He has a BSc in Marine Biology from Swansea, and a Diploma in Fisheries Management. Contact Martin at: [email protected]
Strawberry anemone Actinea fragacea. Photo by Carolyn Waddell Carolyn Waddell started on the Intertidal Discovery Legacy Project after eight years working for The final results from the Project will be In summer 2014, the mapping portal and the Field Studies analysed and published later this year. other outputs will be publically available at Council teaching However, examples of output biotope www.intertidaldiscovery.org.uk Marine Ecology maps are given in Figure 2. We are in Pembrokeshire. She has a BSc in Biology and an MSc in currently working on the creation of an Environmental Sciences. interactive three-dimensional habitat map References Contact Carolyn at: that will be accessible to everyone (from [email protected] experts to members of the public) in an Hiscock, K., Baker, G., Crump, A. and Jefferson, R. (2005). Marine Life Topic Note. Climate Catherine Wilding online format. This will be an extremely change and marine life around Britain and works part-time on useful resource, both at a local level but Ireland. Marine Life Information Network: the Project (and part- also more widely as a tool for marine Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [online]. Marine Biological time co-ordinating planning, environmental monitoring, and Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth. Seasearch diving decision-making. Available from: http://www.marlin.ac.uk for Cornwall). She graduated from It is our hope that this project will White, J., Mitchell, A., Coggan, R., Southern, Plymouth with an inspire other NGOs and public bodies I. and Golding, N. (2007). Seafloor Video MRes in Marine to obtain much-needed baseline marine Mapping: Collection, Analysis and Interpretation Biology, a BSc in Coastal Ecology, and of Seafloor Video Footage for the Purpose of has worked for the Marine Biological data, and to work together to collate vital Habitat Classification and Mapping. MESH. evidence to underpin local and national Association and the University of Plymouth Marine Institute. marine conservation. Wyn, G., Brazier, P., Birch, K., Bunker, A., Cooke, A., Jones, M., Lough, N., McNath, M. Contact Catherine at: More information about the and Roberts, S. (2006). Handbook for Marine [email protected] Project can be found at Intertidal Phase 1 Biotope Mapping Survey. Countryside Council for Wales. www.erccis.org.uk/intertidaldiscovery
23 Feature Article: Offsetting: moving towards an evidence-based metric for biodiversity assessment
Offsetting: moving towards an evidence-based metric for biodiversity assessment L.J. Cousins GradCIEEM, S. McMellor MCIEEM, G.J.C. Underwood and L.J Appleby Hepburn Essex University
Research at Essex University of offsetting, this is no net loss has calculated the Defra pilot to biodiversity. Researchers are Expert feedback is essential at each metric for biodiversity offsetting encouraging practitioners to stage of metric development. As at a series of sites. The aim was participate in the study because: part of the process of developing to test its sensitivity to species and validating a metric for • Input from CIEEM composition with diversity biodiversity offsetting, the Essex members can significantly project would benefit greatly indices that measure species aid metric design. from your experience, opinion richness and distribution. The and comments. To make the work aims to formulate a metric • Peer review is essential process accessible to all, an to calculate offset requirements to the process of metric online questionnaire has been prepared with the aim of gathering that incorporates measured validation. professional opinion. Respondents diversities with indices for • CIEEM members should will be asked to comment on the structural connectivity and choice and weighting of assessment play an active role in the conservation value. Offset criteria. Input from CIEEM members formulation of the tools will be an invaluable aid in shaping recommendation and design they use. the model and essential to the will be the responsibility of validation process. The survey is many CIEEM members and it • Practitioners need the open to all and can be found at the is essential that the tools used ability to choose from following address; for the process can deliver the methods based on the www.surveymonkey.com/s/ offsetting_metric desired outcome. In the case best evidence available. During 2014, practitioners will be invited to test a new metric in the field, following an appropriate Introduction briefing. Following analysis for Biodiversity offsets are conservation equivalence is further confounded when consistency, accuracy and ease activities designed to provide we seek to include societal, cultural and of use, the results of the project compensation for losses caused through economic values into the equation. It was will be published. Once in the development that cannot be mitigated interesting to look at similarities between through the normal mitigation hierarchy. the responses submitted by organisations public domain, the findings will A change in policy to routinely apply with the expertise and experience to offer a positive contribution to offsetting as part of the planning process comment on such matters. Anticipating the biodiversity offsetting debate; has recently been the subject of a Defra some of the criticism levelled at Defra’s reduce the gap between policy and Green Paper consultation. pilot metric, research at the University environmental science; and provide To calculate the biodiversity value of of Essex aims to address some of the a platform for the opinion of a site, how much and of what type of issues raised. environmental professionals. habitat could replace it, is by no means an easy task. This problem of ecological 24 In the United Kingdom, the idea of implementing a biodiversity offsetting policy has been gathering momentum for at least the five years since Defra commissioned and published a scoping study which examined the design and use of offsetting for England (Treweek et al. 2009). The UK government is not alone in its ambition to counter biodiversity losses by routinely offsetting the impacts caused by development projects. Many countries already have or are currently working towards developing offsetting policies that will contribute towards commitments originally made at the 1992 Rio Convention on Biological Diversity and subsequently revised by parties in Aichi 2010 (CBD 2010). That the UK is experiencing something of a biodiversity crisis is well known and will not come as news to In Practice readers. The State of Nature Report (Burns et al. 2013), for example, makes dismal reading and is only one in a series of publications that increasingly struggle to maintain austerity. In 2011 the collective global responses was a recognition that nationally, an optimistic future view. Positioned at market for “compensatory mitigation” was biodiversity is under threat and that, in the front line of this crisis, the work of estimated to have had a minimum annual principle, they support efforts to develop professional ecologists and environmental value in excess of $4.0 billion (Madsen et new methods to protect biodiversity into managers is obviously pivotal in al. 2011). maintaining and improving the status of the future. Though advocates of this approach may species and habitats. Regardless of how Offsetting metrics smart we can be, or innovative with the have hoped that the policy of biodiversity From the perspective of an ecologist resources we have, it cannot be denied offsetting would gain near universal and scientist, the metric for calculating that changes are needed to improve the consent, it has actually received some efficacy of the frameworks within which scepticism and from some quarters, conservation credits is of particular interest. we currently work. wholesale disapproval. The reasons for Proposed by Defra for use in the six this are numerous, but a major criticism is regional pilot areas, it is a tool designed Offsetting in the UK the fact that biodiversity offsetting is by to quantify biodiversity losses and the Ecological compensation through offset no means a simple process; it involves the scale of compensation (Defra 2012). This provision seems to be the paradigm assessment of complex systems affecting metric, however, received criticism for change most favoured by Government. multiple stake holders, some of whom may being simplistic. Respondents to the Green This has been clearly indicated through a have genuinely conflicting interests. There Paper agreed that, for the pilots, it was a number of publications, the creation of are also public concerns that offsetting very useful starting point but highlighted, six regional pilot schemes and not least by would supersede current legislation by among other things, that whichever metric the public consultation of a Green Paper enabling development projects to skirt be recommended for national use it should on the topic, which closed in November planning procedures instead of being a new fully account for the natural complexity of 2013. It is easy to see why offsetting tier of compensation offering safeguards ecological systems; include social, cultural has gained government support. The additional to those presently in place. and landscape values; and be a rigorous policy, theoretically at least, ticks two very The responses to the Green Paper returned ecological assessment based on sound important and desirable boxes. Firstly, by organisations with experience and scientific evidence. These criticisms draw if successfully implemented, the aim of professional insight raise interesting into close focus the fundamental problems attaining “no net loss” and possibly a points and some commonly held opinion that must have initially faced those working “net gain” in biodiversity is an outcome (responses from CIEEM, BES, Wildlife for Defra to develop the pilot metric. On to which no-one could hold aversion. and Countryside Link, Natural England the one hand, environmental assessment Secondly, the possibility of stimulating a and the Commons Environmental Audit must be scientifically rigorous, inclusive of marketplace for a trade in habitat creation Committee are all available to view as many natural, environmental, societal, would be welcome at a time of economic online). One common theme within these and economic factors as are practicable. 25 Feature Article: Offsetting: moving towards an evidence-based metric for biodiversity assessment (contd)
classify habitat type and if repeated samples are taken, a level of certainty can be applied to measure the completeness of the survey, as can indices of diversity. Similarly, data for birds and invertebrates can be handled in the same way. Data searches and desk studies are another part of the EIA process that yield geographic information about the presence and proximity of neighbouring habitats and locally important sites. Again, if these data are handled quantitatively they can produce informative landscape indices (e.g. connectivity or buffer), which powerful GIS tools such as those used by many Local Biological Records Centres could compute. Given the volume of information required to compile an ES, the Essex metric draws from this and (by intelligently using the data gathered) aims to express the results as a viable offsetting metric. The science behind the description and explanation of biological diversity dates Conversely, the outcome of such a to describe similar criteria. These were back to the divergence of ecology as a rigorous assessment must be justified, unified under suitable headings to avoid distinct biological discipline and it is still a easily conveyed and transparent to a non- confusing or double counting the criteria fertile area of research (Fisher et al. 1943, specialist audience. Finally, after all this, the used. As an example, the heading of Magurran and McGill 2010). To find which process of habitat evaluation and offset ecological connectivity was used to indices for diversity best suited offset design shouldn’t present additional cost to encompass such criteria as the presence of metric requirements, it was necessary to the planning process. corridors; ecological coherence; position apply many of the recognised variants (e.g. as an ecological unit, juxtaposition or Research at the University of Essex aims Fisher’s Alpha, Shannon-Wiener, Simpson’s contiguity. This solution helped contain to address some of the issues surrounding equitability, Species Accumulation, the number of criteria and aid analysis. Rank Abundance Distribution, Species biodiversity offsetting by formulating The most commonly occurring criteria, Area Relationship and Whittaker’s a metric for offsetting that connects appearing in 98% of assessment methods, Beta). These indices were applied to evidence-based science with the needs was the classification of habitat types field data comprising the occurrence of developers, practitioners and planners. present (Figure 1). This was enabled and distributions of plants, birds and Now in its third year, the project started in a high proportion of these methods invertebrates from a range of habitat by examining more than 50 examples of (80%) by gathering field data on vascular types: woodlands, urban fringe grasslands biodiversity assessment methods. These plants. As can be seen from the Figure, and locally important saltmarshes in this examples were the product of a literature a large number of criteria were used. research project. By seeking redundancy search that included only methods used or Complex models appeared less frequently, among these indices it was possible to recommended for offsetting or assessing which must reflect the limits of survey omit many that conveyed little or no conservation value. Originating from 23 resources and a preference towards “rapid additional information. The metric being countries, it became clear that a broad assessment” methods. developed at Essex currently takes the spectrum of methods have been used. form of an adaptable rule-based model; These ranged from very basic metrics, Criteria selection included within the model are numeric relying on the simple identification of Conscious of the need for an offsetting descriptors of community composition, habitat type and a measurement of area, metric not to demand additional ecological biogeographical information in the form to much more complex models that scoping or survey work, the research of structural connectivity, buffering and involved the measurement and weighting at Essex uses data that normally form habitat conservation value. The model of multiple criteria including physical the basis of the ecology chapter of an is versatile and allows for the addition attributes, ecological functions and geo- environmental statement (ES). Clearly, of new criteria and the manipulation biological data, as well as information not all the criteria shown in Figure 1 of criteria weighting. As a means of on species at the site of interest. It was are commonly required as part of an comparing performance, the Defra pilot also found that different methodologies Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). metric was also calculated for each of the used various definitions and synonyms However, NVC-style botanical censuses sites included in the study. 26 An important element of the Essex facing continuing losses to the numbers study is to test the performance of the and distribution of species and habitats, a References metric proposed by Defra; preliminary trend that must be reversed. Biodiversity Burns, F., Eaton, M., Gregory, R., Al Fulaij, N., investigation suggests that it may lack offsetting has the potential to compensate August, T., Biggs, J., Bladwell, S., Brereton, T., sensitivity to biological variation between for residual losses that would otherwise Brooks, D., Clubbe, C., Dawson, J., Dunn, E., Edwards, B., Falk, S., Gent, T., Gibbons, D., sites of a similar habitat type. Comparing remain unaccounted for. As a community Gurney, M., Haysom, K., Henshaw, S., Hodgetts, the pilot metric scores against diversity we may be unable to report having found N., Isaac, N., McLaughlin, M., Musgrove, A., indices for a sample of sites was intuitively the perfect solution to the problem of Noble, D., O’Mahony, E., Pacheco, M., Roy, D., a reasonable place to start (Figure 2). selecting and weighting assessment Sears, J., Shardlow, M., Stringer, C., Taylor, A., criteria but by building on what has Thompson, P., Walker, K., Walton, P., Willing, M., Within the woodland subset of habitats Wilson, J. and Wynde, R. (2013). State of Nature studied, the site highlighted in blue already been achieved, a workable report. The State of Nature Partnership. www.rspb. contained relatively fewer species (Figure solution is attainable. org.uk/Images/stateofnature_tcm9-345839.pdf 2c) and consistently fell among the lower CBD (2010). Aichi Biodiversity Targets [online]. end when alternative index values were Available at www.cbd.int/sp/targets/ applied (Figure 2a, b & d). The site with Defra (2012). Biodiversity Offsetting Pilots. apparently the lowest floristic diversity Technical Paper: the metric for the biodiversity achieved a maximum score under the offsetting pilot in England. PB 13745. www.gov. uk/biodiversity-offsetting Defra scheme. A site that achieved the median Defra score is indicated in yellow Fisher, R.A., Corbet, A.S. and Williams, C.B. (1943). The relation between the number of yet it was the richest and had among the species and the number of individuals in a highest index scores. random sample of an animal population. Journal This result is unsurprising simply because of Animal Ecology, 12: 42-58. the pilot metric uses condition as proxy for Folke, C., Carpenter, S., Walker, B., Scheffer, diversity. However, one concern coming M., Elmqvist, T., Gunderson, L. and Holling, C. (2004). Regime shifts, resilience, and biodiversity from the University of Essex study is in ecosystem management. Annual Review of that the omission of species data could Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 35: 557- undermine offset success. In a scenario 581. http://www2.bren.ucsb.edu/~fd/misc/595/ folke-regimeshifts-annrevecolsys04.pdf where a diverse site (of any given habitat type) is lost to development and where Madsen, B., Nathaniel, C., Daniel. K. and Bennett, G. (2011). 2011 Update: State of Biodiversity compensation is provided in the form of About the Author Markets. Forest Trends, Washington DC. a less diverse example, the resultant net- www.forest-trends.org/publication_details. Leslie Cousins is an early career ecologist loss would go unnoticed due to a lack of php?publicationID=2848 and graduate CIEEM member with a information on species present. variety of conservation interests. Having Magurran, A.E. and McGill, B.J. (2010). Species richness is the simplest and easiest graduated in 2011 with a degree in Biological diversity: frontiers in measurement and ecology and gained experience in assessment. Oxford University Press, Oxford. of diversity indices to interpret; however, ecological consultancy, he is now based richness alone does not necessarily equate Treweek, J., ten Kate, K., Butcher, B., Venn, O., in the School of Biological Sciences at the Garland, L., Wells, M., Moran, D. and Thompson, to high conservation value. Nevertheless, University of Essex. He is in the final year S. (2009). Scoping study for the design and use richness or an alternative index which of his PhD, working under the supervision of biodiversity offsets in an English Context. includes information relating to richness of Dr Leanne Appleby Hepburn and Prof. Department for the Environment, Food and Graham Underwood. His research takes an (e.g. Whittaker’s mean alpha) should be Rural Affairs. www.gov.uk/government/ ecological perspective to examine metrics uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ included in the calculation of biodiversity and their use in biodiversity offsetting. file/218689/BiodiversityOffsets value. This may require weighting to The research is a NERC studentship with 12May2009.pdf adjust for habitat type or the presence of Natural England as a CASE partner and non-native, invasive species. With the aid has additional support from the Essex Wildlife Trust. of a comprehensive data set, these are challenges the Essex project is working Contact Leslie at: [email protected] to resolve. Biologically diverse communities and habitats form ecosystems that not only have greater intrinsic value but are resilient to disturbance and, therefore, more capable of maintaining the services they provide (Folke et al. 2004). Though tempting and easy as it may be to criticise biodiversity offsetting and the methods by which it can be achieved, nationally we are 27 Feature Article: Digital photography and biological recording: opportunities and pitfalls based on a study of hoverflies
Digital photography and biological recording: opportunities and pitfalls based on a study of hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) Roger Morris CEnv FCIEEM Bright Angel Coastal Consultants Ltd
This article explores the potential use of digital photography as a biological recording tool. It is based on an analysis of a dataset of nearly 17,000 records of hoverflies from a variety of Internet sources. This family of flies represents one of the better-recorded invertebrate taxa but includes a substantial number of species that require detailed investigation under high magnification. As such, an analysis of photographs of this fly family offers an insight into the issues that may emerge if photography is used in a broader context for biological recording. The results show that photographers largely report species that are relatively common and are encountered without employing specialist search techniques. The results also emphasise the need to employ a variety of search techniques to assemble The hoverfly Volucella pellucens, or Great Pied Hoverfly, is a common species whose males hold robust taxonomic lists that are territories in sunlit glades 28 representative of the fauna of a greater hope for the non-vocational sector? study site. At the moment, there A survey of natural history societies might suggest that here too, activity is waning. is no co-ordinated programme Membership of many societies is at best of data extraction from the static. A general shift in demographics is Internet. Thought needs to be evident, with fewer young people joining and participating in society activities. given to its potential as a source Looking at modern social media however, of records, but should bear there is arguably no sign of a decline in in mind the time required to interest in wildlife. Interactive web-based forums are extremely popular. The online extract records. biological recording facility iSpot1, that The need for robust data on the ecology, allows people to upload photographs distribution and abundance of our plants for identification, is extremely popular and animals is essential for ongoing and generates good numbers of records conservation science, management and across a wide range of taxa (Woods & A male hoverfly of the species Eristalis policy development. Yet, despite this need, Scanlon 2012). Other forums include Wild intricarius; the species is sexually dimorphic the supply of trained and competent About Britain2 and the huge community taxonomists is seemingly declining and of photographers based around Flickr3, My interpretation of these questions is the science is under severe stress in many Picasa4 and Ipernity5. There are also based on more than five years monitoring institutions. Godfray et al. (2011) highlight numerous active and popular forums on 6 the Internet for identifiable photographs structural weaknesses in the academic Facebook . Clearly, there is demand for of true flies (Diptera) for various schemes, world with University departments shifting interaction and assistance with identifying but in particular the Hoverfly Recording emphasis away from taxonomically-based plants and animals. In addition, there Scheme (www.hoverfly.org.uk) where skills and studies; and since 2009 many is a continuing demand for places on I am co-organiser (with Dr Stuart Ball). regional museums have shed key natural Manchester Metropolitan University’s MSc During this period I have amassed a historians. Many professional taxonomists in biological recording. What is the key dataset of over 17,000 hoverfly records carry their interests into retirement and separator between modern and historic biological recording? and a further 4000 other Diptera taxa often form the basis of skills in national derived solely from photographs posted and local societies. Consequently if there A change in philosophy on web forums or sent in photographs via are fewer jobs in taxonomic disciplines, 7 e-mail. These data form the foundation there must ultimately be a commensurate In a recent post on a Yahoo forum , there was an exchange in which an individual for more detailed interpretation that will decline in the population of retired be developed in coming months (Morris, professionals who continue to make an took great exception to the competent specialist saying that a particular animal in prep.). Meanwhile, there are some fairly essential contribution to our knowledge of could not be identified to species level immediate messages that can be drawn plants and animals. from photographs. The gist of the tirade from the data that could have a bearing on There is also a huge body of people from was that the specialist should wake up efforts to promote biological recording. all walks of life who take an interest in to the modern world and recognise that The British hoverfly fauna natural history. They are the unsung heroes photography was the way forward. This of biological recording because much of view was supported by others, who also At the time of writing, the British hoverfly the data held by the National Biodiversity believed that it was unreasonable for fauna is known to comprise 283 species. Network (NBN) comes from their efforts. a specialist to decline to make a firm Its taxonomy is relatively well known These are ‘citizen scientists’ or perhaps identification and that they should have and is covered by a detailed monograph more appropriately they are non-vocational been able to do so from the photograph (Stubbs & Falk 2002). In addition there is taxonomists (Morris 2010). Their interests supplied. This exchange illustrates how a photographic guide (Ball & Morris 2013) and skills vary, but the data they collect is views have shifted away from acceptance that illustrates all of the genera and 165 the basis for many of the essential parts of the collection and examination of species (it was developed as a companion of conservation management: defining biological specimens using strict taxonomic to the main monograph and is richly SSSIs, monitoring trends and distribution, rigour. The question that follows must illustrated for this reason). Neither volume and adding new species to the ‘British list’. therefore be: can photographic recording is completely up to date; a supplement is Some even provide taxonomic advice to actually replace traditional recording? And, needed to cover species added to the British the Universities and run training courses can photographic recording form a part of list since 2002 (e.g. there have been two attended by museum staff! a strategy to maintain and grow the very further additions even since the text of Ball There is clearly a need for a mature necessary army of technically competent & Morris was finalised in late summer 2012). conversation about the future of citizen scientists whose data are essential A substantial proportion of British professional taxonomy, but perhaps there is to conservation management? hoverflies can be identified from 29 Feature Article: Digital photography and biological recording: opportunities and pitfalls based on a study of hoverflies(contd)
photographs, providing the photographer photograph was taken. Where a photograph photographs placed on the Internet captures relevant and essential features. has more limited data, the author is covering the period 2004 to date (Figure Using 30 years’ field experience I expect to contacted to seek more detail. Thus, the 1). The real surge in activity commenced be able to place a name on photographs resulting Excel spreadsheet comprises details around 2009 when iSpot was launched, of about 140 species (i.e. about half the of the species, the date of the photograph, but it has been accompanied by a British list). Mistakes do however happen. a location name, an OS grid reference growing level of activity on Flickr, which I generally avoid jizz (the intuitive use of determined to either 2, 4 or 6-figure is now the major source of data. This un-definable characters and experience). resolution (i.e. 10 km, 1 km or 0.1 km growth in records appears not to have Instead, I normally rely on whether I resolution), the name of the photographer, reached a natural plateau. can actually see the key characters, but the determiner’s name, the stage or sex of 2. There is a strong bias in the data photographs rarely covey scale properly the animal, and the source, together with because photographers generally and are one-dimensional. additional notes on flower visit, etc. respond to an opportunity rather There are several genera where In the period August to October 2013, than seeking out a particular species identification is best undertaken in males an additional set of records was compiled to photograph. Consequently, those whose critical features exist within the for photographs of hoverflies that could subjects that are most commonly seen genital capsule or on the undersides not be taken with confidence to species and stay still for sufficient time to be of the tarsi (the foot segments). These level. This has already yielded in excess of photographed appear most frequently species present the majority of the 500 examples and provides an indication on iSpot and on other media. difficulties that require microscopic of the wider spread of coverage by 3. Some genera (Platycheirus, Pipiza, examination and are entirely dependent photographers. In the majority of cases Cheilosia) hardly ever figure in on morphological rather than colour identification to generic level is possible, photographs even though they form characters. Other complications arise but a minority of photographs cannot be because many hoverflies are rather variable taken beyond the level of tribe because a major part of the list developed in colouration (both hairs and the actual of the angle and the coverage of key during a field recording session by a integument), with some genera exhibiting taxonomic features. competent specialist (Figure 2). strong temperature-related variation. In New spreadsheets are developed each year, 4. It is rare for significant lists to be addition, there is an element of sexual allowing the previous one to be uploaded developed for a particular place on dimorphism in many species and also into the Hoverfly Recording Scheme (HRS), a particular day. A long list rarely brood dimorphism in some species with which is held on Recorder 2002. HRS data comprises more than five species multiple broods. are uploaded onto the NBN intermittently whereas a corresponding list by active These factors mean that unlike charismatic (the last time was 2005). netting can reach 30 or more species at groups such as butterflies and dragonflies, a good site on a good day. the potential for accurate identification Lessons learned 5. Activity by photographers is a relatively based on distinct patterns is more limited. Full analysis of the photographic data good means of determining the daily, In addition, our fauna is a sub-set of a is expected in 2014, but several strong weekly, monthly or yearly level of insect much larger European fauna (currently themes emerge that are relevant to the activity. Although there is an inevitable comprising over 800 species) where many biological recording community. tendency for more photographs to species complexes exist in genera that 1. There has been a continuous growth be posted as a consequence of a nice are relatively straightforward in the UK in the numbers of data-worthy day at the weekend, there remains because there are fewer known species. Data compilation The dataset has evolved and search techniques have been refined through experience. Initial searches were undertaken using a standard search engine (Google) and key words based on either specific or generic names. Rich sources of records are regularly re-visited and I now check over 20 websites daily and around a further 30 on a more intermittent basis. In addition, I occasionally repeat the original Googling exercise and check sources that drop off the horizon due to inactivity. Viable photographs Figure 1. Growth of Internet recording between 2004 and 2013. The data for 2013 are marginally bigger than those for 2012 but can be expected to increase over subsequent years. must have a believable date and must either This projection is based on past experience where data for previous years have subsequently be geotagged or some form of notation grown as photographers join interactive websites and post their backlog of records. must be available to indicate where the 30 to a major influx of new interest and Figure 2. generated a recording community Representation of the that had previously not existed to any numbers of species within individual significant degree. hoverfly tribes and the proportion of Implications records for each This study focused on a taxonomically tribe. This figure challenging group of organisms. Prior to shows that the bulk of the records involve 1983 it was considered a very difficult the tribes Eristalini, family, but it has benefitted from better Syrphini and keys and illustrations. These books, Volucellini, and that together with better access to web-based other large tribes are identification aids, has encouraged much poorly represented. greater interest in the family, which was once the preserve of a limited group of taxonomically competent Dipterists. considerable activity during weekdays. noteworthy for the recently arrived Residual difficulties are exposed by the limitations of what can realistically be Conversely, poor weather quickly Cheilosia caerulescens and for the identified using photographs. shows a slump in numbers. The effects picture-winged fly Palloptera of prolonged heat are also readily muleibris (Pallopteridae). The range of species that feature apparent, and were demonstrated by a on photographs demonstrates how 8. Very few photographers concentrate slump in hoverfly records in July 2013. biological recording is dependent upon on hoverflies and consequently data a combination of sound taxonomy and 6. Thirty species contribute roughly 86% collected by this mechanism are highly field craft. Cryptic species and those with of the records (Figure 3), despite the ad hoc. Those who diligently record list of species recorded exceeding 150. habits that do not lend themselves to these animals and other organisms Certain large, charismatic species are photography are inevitably overlooked can be exceptionally useful sources of particularly well-represented in the and under-recorded. Digital photography records but they are very unusual. dataset. So, too, are the ubiquitous obviously extends the potential for and abundant species that are most 9. Interaction with individual recorders as recording amongst those who are unwilling frequently seen in parks and gardens. photographers is possible, and this in to kill specimens but it must be recognised turn has encouraged a small number to 7. A very small number of species as an adjunct to more rigorous recording appear to be recorded more make greater effort to record hoverflies. rather than as a potential replacement. frequently by photographers than 10. The establishment of the UK Hoverflies The Internet is, however, an important and field entomologists. This is particularly ‘Facebook’ page8 in August 2013 led growing means of communicating with
Figure 3. Representation of the 30 hoverfly species most commonly noted from photographs. These 30 species comprise 85.7% of the photographic records.
31 Feature Article: Digital photography and biological recording: opportunities and pitfalls based on a study of hoverflies(contd)
Figure 4. Notes Breakdown of the contributions made 1 http://www.ispotnature.org/ by major sources of 2 http://wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ photographic data. 3 http://www.flickr.com/
4 http://picasa.google.com/
5 http://www.ipernity.com/
6 https://www.facebook.com
7 http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UK- Hoverflies/info
8 https://www.facebook.com/ groups/609272232450940/
field naturalists and people who take a with projects such as the National are less willing to join societies that would passing interest in the plants and animals Phenology Network, or other previously have met their need for social they see. The success of iSpot, which has aspects of monitoring responses to interaction. This does not bode well for generated over 100,000 records and has climate change and understanding the traditional society and means that they been responsible for two additions to the response of invertebrates to must start to think carefully about how the British list (Woods & Scanlon 2012), environmental change. they might adapt to the new paradigm. is testimony to this. Making these links 4. Developing a simple suite of recognisable Experience from the recently established is, however, not a passive process of species that are responsive to factors UK Hoverflies Facebook page shows that establishing a mechanism to capture data such as temperature or rainfall. a new ‘virtual society’ can be created, but and waiting for them to be uploaded. even these formats are dependent upon 5. Developing ‘virtual’ communities of There is a clear need to direct interaction regular efforts to encourage membership natural historians to augment existing between taxonomic specialists and those and to motivate people to participate. arrangements through national and members of the public with a latent local societies. potential for biological recording. This is Perhaps the most important lesson to be References illustrated by the relative contributions of drawn from these initial observations is Ball, S. & Morris, R. (2013). Britain’s Hoverflies: data from various sources (Figure 4). an introduction to the hoverflies of Great Britain. that the Internet has considerable potential The data that emerge from photographic Princeton University Press. as a source of records of taxa that can Godfray, C., Boxshall, G., Akam, M., Bailey, M., recorders have potential to augment other be identified from photographs. In the sources, but there are obvious limitations; Blaxter, M., Chase, M., Fortey, R., Knapp, S. and course of this work, it has been noted that McLean, I. (2011). Developing a National Strategy the most important being the relatively moths and butterflies, dragonflies and a in Taxonomy & Systematics. http://www.nerc. limited range of species recorded. There few other charismatic animals are regularly ac.uk/research/programmes/taxonomy/documents/ national-strategy.pdf (Accessed 06 October, 2013). are, however, a number of areas where photographed. In these areas there is there is potential to make use of digital greater potential for using photographers Morris, R.K.A. (in prep.). Photography as a source of biological recording: a case study using photography as a significant addition to the as an adjunct to detailed monitoring. armoury of monitoring tools. The following hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae). At the moment these sources are initial suggestions require refinement, but Morris, R. (2012). A change in funding directions: monitored on a highly ad hoc basis (I are worthy of consideration: implications for biological recording. British Journal am aware of several recording scheme of Entomology & Natural History, 25: 143-151. 1. Providing a relative measure of the organisers who operate as I do) and (available from http://www.bacoastal.co.uk/ Entomology/2012-Funding.pdf) abundance of readily identifiable consequently a great deal of valuable data species over a long time-period. is missed. The scale of the job of data Stubbs, A.E. & Falk, S.J. (2002). British Hoverflies: an illustrated identification guide. British 2. Establishing a network of people whose monitoring should not be underestimated Entomological & Natural History Society. (Revised & interest is likely to be at a local level however. Extracting data for the Hoverfly Updated by Ball, S.G., Stubbs, A.E., McLean, I.F.G., such as their garden or nature area. Recording Scheme alone involves several Morris, R.K.A. and Falk, S.J.) It must, however, be recognised that hundreds of hours effort each year after a Woods, W. & Scanlon, E. (2012). iSpot Mobile – A maintaining interest at an individual more intense period of work to ensure that Natural History Participatory Science Application. level over a long time frame (decades) the backlog was properly investigated. Paper presented at the 11th World Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning. http://kn.open. may not be possible. A critical lesson to be drawn from forums ac.uk/public/getfile.cfm?documentfileid 3. Monitoring the relative abundance such as Wild About Britain, iSpot and =18323 (Accessed 06 October, 2013). and distribution of charismatic species Facebook is that people are increasingly that might be used in association reliant upon electronic communication and 32 Feature Article: Meet the Author
Meet the Author – Roger Morris CEnv FCIEEM
What do you do? What or who first inspired you How did you get to where you I have two ‘day jobs’. I am an independent to get into ecology? are today? consultant, specialising in coastal It was genetic! Both my parents were There were no jobs there when I graduated management. My clients primarily involve biologists. My father was a micro- in 1980. So, after several labouring jobs Government departments and agencies. palaeontologist whose interests ranged and an abortive attempt to be a teacher Commissions have ranged from the UK from birds to coral reefs; my mother (the best thing I ever did was to fail TT), I though to The Netherlands and Germany. was a botanist. I was captivated by ended up running a Manpower Services I am also a non-executive Director at the natural world, collecting fossils to project in 1983 (i.e. at the height of the Harwich Haven Authority, which is rearing caterpillars from a very early age. 1980s recession). Five years later I joined responsible for providing safe navigation Jacques Cousteau’s wonderful television the Nature Conservancy Council as an to the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich, programmes definitely pushed me towards entomologist. Three years later NCC Ipswich and Misterley. I am probably as Marine Biology - and there is the twist of was split up and the entomological jobs well known, however, for my voluntary fate because I ended up with a degree in were disbanded. I was with JNCC for a role as joint organiser of the UK Hoverfly Applied Zoology! short while acting as editor and print- Recording Scheme. buyer getting various reports published. 33 Feature Article: Meet the Author
After a 15-month spell dealing with Are there any ‘must-have’ What’s the best thing about the Channel Tunnel Rail Link I got my qualifications and/or your job? first permanent job – after 14 years experience? I’m my own boss! on 6-month to 15-month contracts I would argue that a good ecologist and several blocks of unemployment! I working in the broad field of conservation What’s the downside? became Conservation Officer for South requires the following: Very little work and commensurate pay! Humberside in 1994 where I gained i. A sound grounding in wildlife law experience of integrated coastal zone What’s next for you? and its application. management, shoreline management Difficult to say – I hope that there will ii. A basic understanding of drift and planning and the rudiments of estuarine be enough work to see me through to hard geology. geomorphology. Four years later I became retirement but I have not discounted Head of Estuaries Conservation in English iii. Good geographic literacy in terms another career change. Nature’s Maritime Team, and specialised of the differences in habitats and in big port developments, dredging and species across the British Isles. What is your top tip for success? estuarine geomorphology. In 2006 English iv. A skill or interest that makes you I have always advised that one makes Nature was merged with the Countryside stand out from the rest of the one’s own luck (good or bad). A sound Agency and parts of Defra to become candidates. political nose is probably the most ‘Natural England’. I left NE in 2009 v. A constant desire to learn. important asset, followed by an aptitude greatly disillusioned! My consultancy and for hard graft (I lacked the former and had appointment to Harwich Haven Authority Do you have any advice for bags of the latter). I would also advise that followed shortly afterwards. someone setting out on a career if one hits a dead end, reinvent yourself and change direction. What have been the most in ecology and environmental important steps along the way? management? My other piece of advice would be to It depends on what you want out of life. have a clear picture of what you want to Mine is not what might be regarded as a If you aspire to reach the dizzy heights of do, and where you want to be by particular conventional career. Between 1980 and management, then don’t stay in the same points in your life. It is frightfully easy to 1994 I forwent holidays and used all my post for more than three years otherwise drift – Pink Floyd’s lyrics about realising that spare time developing entomological skills you will get overtaken by others with more 10 years have passed are so true! (mainly as a Dipterist and Hymenopterist). drive. Alternatively, if you actually want The turning point was an interview for to be an ecologist, then bear in mind that the Invertebrate Site Register in 1984 a great deal of what one does is not after which it was suggested to me that ecology – it is administration in one form if I wanted a job in entomology I should or another. So, make sure you have a give up moths and take up a more useful hobby in wildlife that keeps you engaged group – such as flies. It was wise advice with the natural world when one’s day-job but should be noted for a critical point - involves meetings and report-writing. change direction if you are heading for a dead-end. Flies still provide me with plenty of entertainment even though I no longer work in entomology. ... And then one day you find The second key step was the realisation “ in around 1992 that I stood no chance ten years have got behind you getting a job in conservation as a biologist. Nobody needed technically competent No one told you when to run, invertebrate ecologists – they wanted people who understood development you’ve missed the starting gun” planning and wildlife law. That remains the case today I think. Extract from ‘Time’ from ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ by Pink Floyd. Finally, when I joined Maritime Team, it was clear that nobody was very keen on estuarine geomorphology – it is the trickiest bit of coastal management. So, I made a For further information point of becoming moderately proficient. I had a fantastic mentor – Prof. John Pethick Contact Roger at: [email protected] who was absolutely inspirational.
34 Feature Article: Ecology Legal Update
Ecology Legal Update Mitigation Measures and Habitat Regulations Assessments: when can mitigation secured by planning condition be relied upon by a competent authority to conclude an absence of likely significant effects on a European site from proposed development?
Penny Simpson and Dean Amory Freeth Cartwright LLP
Introduction during 2013 on this issue and are the focus When complying with the “Habitat of this article. The article seeks to explore Regulations Assessment” regime in the where the boundaries lie in terms of lawful context of development proposals (found reliance on planning conditions when under Part 6 of the Conservation of determining likely significant effect. Following the advice of Natural England Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (NE), the inspector, therefore, imposed Case 1: Feeney v Secretary of a condition under which further (“2010 Regulations”) which implement State for Transport [2013] EWHC Article 6.3-6.4 of the Habitats Directive), air quality / NOx monitoring work 1238 (Admin) the competent authority (normally the would be undertaken followed by the planning authority or the Secretary of The case implementation of mitigation measures if shown to be necessary. The condition State) must make a screening assessment This High Court (first instance) case required information to be obtained as to the likelihood of significant concerned a challenge by Mr Feeney to about the present state of NOx pollution environmental effects arising from the the Chiltern Railway (Bicester to Oxford development in combination with other on the lowland hay habitat, and about Improvements) Order 2013 made under plans or projects. A key issue is the extent the effect of the scheme on the levels the Transport and Works Act 1992 Act. to which mitigation secured by planning of NOx on it, leading to an analysis The Order authorises the construction of a conditions may be relied upon to reach a of possible remedial measures and new length of railway, a section of which conclusion of no likely significant effect. their implementation. On this basis no would pass about 1 km to the east of parts appropriate assessment was required. On the one hand, most would agree that of the Oxford Meadows Special Area of The Secretary of State accepted the a planning condition which, for example, Conservation (SAC). restricts the hours of operation of a inspector’s recommendation and imposed At the inquiry, Chiltern had argued that, proposed facility so as to avoid ecologically this condition when granting the Order, based on modelling data, there was no sensitive times of day or seasons, also confirming that no appropriate likely significant effect on the lowland hay would be a relevant factor in assessing assessment was required. meadow feature of the SAC from nitrous likely significant effects of a proposed Mr Feeney challenged the planning oxides (NOx) levels arising from its project. development. On the other hand, most permission. He argued (correctly) that the As such no appropriate assessment under would also agree that it is unacceptable Habitats Directive and 2010 Regulations the 2010 Regulations was required, nor to rely on planning conditions which have required an appropriate assessment to further assessment or mitigation. the effect of deferring the assessment be carried out unless the Secretary of of likely significant effects until after The inspector, however, found that the State was convinced that there was no planning permission has been granted modelling data left room for uncertainty: possibility or risk of a likely significant since that would frustrate the purpose of “Although Chiltern has provided some effect. This follows the well known case the legislation (in other words conditions modelling data the potential for significant of Waddenzee2, under which the Court of cannot be relied on as a surrogate for the adverse effects cannot be ruled out Justice of the European Union ruled that assessment process). until the impact of the scheme has been such a risk existed “if it cannot be excluded However, there are cases where the assessed against on-site data. The current on the basis of objective information that position falls somewhere in between these data which are completely based on the plan or project will have significant two extremes. Two cases went to court modelling leave room for uncertainty.” 1 effects on the site concerned”3. 35 Feature Article: Ecology Legal Update (contd)
Mr Feeney argued that the imposition shortcomings, “no better predictions were (SSSI) powers under the Wildlife and of the condition, and particularly the available”7. It is not entirely clear what Countryside Act 1981. Did the Secretary condition’s requirement for collection of evidence the judge had for this conclusion. of State, when imposing the condition, baseline data on NOx, proved that the If a more thorough assessment could have really have sufficient certainty that the inspector and Secretary of State did not been carried out by Chiltern to address these measures envisaged by the condition could have enough information about those shortcomings and to clarify the likely impacts be implemented, if they were needed, so matters, nor could they know whether then it is strongly arguable this should as to rule out the possibility of significant the remedial measures which were then have been done, otherwise the condition is effects? This is the most problematic and required to remedy the effects of the indeed having the effect of frustrating the unsatisfactory part of the judgment. scheme could be implemented. Therefore, purpose of the 2010 Regulations. the screening test should have failed and Case 2: R (on the application Some lawyers are of the opinion that an appropriate assessment was required. of Champion) v North Norfolk the judge in Feeney misapplied an District Council [2013] EWCA Mr Feeney lost his argument (and, at the earlier decision of Sullivan J in R (Hart Civ 1657 time of writing, it is understood that he District Council) v Secretary of State for has decided not to appeal to the Court Communities and Local Government8. The The case of Appeal). Hart case is authority for the proposition In this case North Norfolk District Council The court ruled that this was not a case that, when applying the screening granted Crisp Malting Group Limited where the inspector or the Secretary test under the 2010 Regulations, the planning permission for a proposed of State suffered from an absence of competent authority is required to development (construction of 2 silos and a knowledge about the condition of the consider the project as a whole, including lorry park with wash bay facilities) on a site SAC or the predicted deposition of NOx. mitigation measures if they are part of the in close proximity to the River Wensum, Information was before them on both these project. In Hart, the mitigation measure which is a SAC. points and there was no suggestion that put forward by the developer was clearly The Council’s development control the model or data presented by Chiltern part of the project – it was the provision committee decided that the development were significantly flawed. On this basis, a of recreational play areas outside the was not such as to require either an conclusion was reached by the inspector Special Protection Area (SPA) to dissuade environmental impact assessment (EIA) / Secretary of State that harm to the SAC people from using the SPA for recreation. or an appropriate assessment. However, was “unlikely”. The uncertainty that Similarly, the principle in Hart would apply the Council imposed planning conditions remained, taking into account the data to a project put forward with limited relating to the monitoring and, if necessary, presented, related to what would happen hours of operation to avoid ecologically restoration of water quality in the drainage once the railway was in operation. This sensitive periods. But can the proposed network between the development site was the gap which the proposed planning mitigation scheme in Feeney fairly be and the river so as to avoid harm to condition was designed to fill: “That was regarded as “part of the project”? First, the SAC. The first condition prevented where the uncertainty lay and no better Chiltern railways did not itself put forward any development until a scheme for 4 predictions were available” . Even if Chiltern the condition as part of its project (the monitoring water quality in the drainage had provided a baseline assessment in Secretary of State applied the condition network was approved by the Council and addition to its modelling data prior to following NE’s advice). Secondly, any future required the monitoring scheme then to determination, this would have revealed mitigation is contingent on the further be implemented. The second condition nothing to assist, since the unknown assessment work under the condition – i.e. required steps to be taken if the monitoring element was the data from the railway once it is not a certain aspect to the project. scheme demonstrated diminution of water it was in operation. Furthermore, NE had These factors do give rise to a concern but quality attributable to the development. given evidence that there was no reason it is doubtful that they render the decision The Council had concluded that, with the to believe that if remedial measures under defective. This is because (although not proposed mitigating measures, there was the condition were to become necessary, discussed in the judgement) the “likely no relevant risk. they would not be effective. The suggested significant” test must be applied to the measures were “tried and tested”5. As such, Matthew Champion, a member of a local project “in combination with other plans the imposition of the condition enabled the village action group, brought a claim for and projects”9. Therefore the mitigation in Secretary of State to address “the limited judicial review of the Council’s decision. the Feeney case should, in any event, have possible effect of the limited uncertainty”6 Deputy High Court Judge James been taken into account through the “in so as to conclude, lawfully, no likely Dingemans QC quashed the planning combination” mechanism. significant effect. permission on the basis that the Finally, the mitigation measures that NE committee’s two conclusions together were Comment regarded as “tried and tested” (i.e. making not rational: the decision not to require This is a controversial decision for management changes to land within the EIA or appropriate assessment suggested three reasons: SAC) would, in fact, be dependent on that the committee thought that there was The judge found that even though the the co-operation of land owners / NE’s no relevant risk of pollutants entering the modelling data provided by Chiltern had use of Site of Special Scientific Interest river, but the second decision to impose 36 the condition suggested that there was that the conditions were necessary as a involving an interceptor and storage such a risk. Therefore the imposition of the precautionary measure for the purposes of infiltration system and, thereafter, a condition showed that EIA and appropriate reassurance, without considering that in storage infiltration basin to be planted with assessment should have been undertaken. their absence there was a likelihood that indigenous plants to act as a secondary The Council and the developer appealed pollutants would enter the river. treatment system. NE had confirmed it was happy with this scheme which does “not to the Court of Appeal. They won and Relying on Feeney (paras 50 and 52 of 12 10 represent novel or untested techniques” the High Court decision of Judge James the judgment), the Court of Appeal and withdrew its objection on this basis. Dingemans QC was overturned. stated: “A condition can in principle be imposed to address a situation falling In addition, unlike in Feeney, there was The Court of Appeal held that there was short of one that is considered to involve no acknowledgement by the competent nothing in the minutes of the committee’s a likelihood of significant adverse effect. authority of any risk of a likely significant meeting to suggest that the inclusion That is how conditions 23 and 24 are to effect. Finally, it cannot be illogical to of the conditions had been suggested be viewed in the present case, though conclude no likely significant effect but or agreed because of a likelihood that this case is stronger than Feeney because then to impose conditions to allow for the development would give rise to a there is here no perceived “residual range monitoring and remedial measures as diminution in the water quality in the of uncertainty” that the conditions are a precautionary measure. It would be drainage network, let alone a likelihood intended to address”.11 counter-productive for the caselaw to of the water quality diminishing to such dissuade such precautionary conditions an extent that it could have a significant Comment being imposed. adverse impact on the SSSI or the SAC. The judgment in this case focussed more The conditions had been imposed to meet on the process of decision making than Conclusions the concerns of a particular councillor, the legality of reliance on the condition. Conclusions from the cases above are following a separate and earlier decision However this case is certainly less as follows: of the committee that no EIA / appropriate controversial than Feeney. a) Planning conditions may be taken into assessment was required. The committee, Here, the developer had put forward account by a competent authority in any event, could properly consider as part of its project a drainage scheme when determining likely significant 37 Feature Article: Ecology Legal Update (contd)
effects under the Habitat Regulations f) Such conditions are acceptable and may Assessment regime (see for example be taken into account when assessing Notes regulation 61(6) of the 2010 Regulations, likely significant effects where the 1 Feeney v Secretary of State for Transport under which the authority “must have effectiveness of the mitigation measures [2013] EWHC 1238 (Admin) at paragraph 29 of regard” to the manner in which the are not in question and where the the judgment scheme is proposed to be carried out above requirements are met. Measures 2 (Case C127/02) Landelijke Vereniging tot “or to any conditions or restrictions whose effect and nature are plainly Behoud van de Waddenzee v Staatssecretaris subject to which they propose that the established and uncontroversial may van Landbouw,Natuurbeheer en Visserij [2005] 2 C.M.L.R. 31 consent…should be given”). therefore be taken into account. This is correct either because they are to be 3 (Case C-127/02) Waddenzee [2005] 2 C.M.L.R. b) All the elements of a proposed project, 31 at paragraph 44 of the judgment including any mitigation measures regarded as part of the project or, if not, 4 Feeney [2013] EWHC 1238 (Admin) at which are part of the project, should because they are to be assessed as an paragraph 51 of the judgment be considered within the assessment “in combination project”. of likely significant effects (e.g. Pill L.J. g) If, where taking into account the 5 Feeney [2013] EWHC 1238 (Admin) at paragraph 56 of the judgment (para 46) in the EIA case of Gillespie mitigation measures, the competent v Secretary of State for Transport, authority is left in doubt as to their 6 Feeney [2013] EWHC 1238 (Admin) at paragraph 51 of the judgment Local Government and Regions13; and efficacy then the screening test Sullivan J. (para 76) in the Habitat must fail. If there were uncertainty 7 Feeney [2013] EWHC 1238 (Admin) at paragraph 50 of the judgment Regulations Assessment case of R (Hart on the basis of objective evidence District Council) v Secretary of State for about whether significant harm 8 R (Hart District Council) v Secretary of State Communities and Local Government14. would be eliminated by the measures for Communities and Local Government [2008] EWHC 1204 (Admin); [2008] 2 P. & C.R. 16 c) Planning conditions cannot be relied available following monitoring then consent could not be granted, as 9 Conservation of Habitats and Species upon as a surrogate for the required Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/490), reg. 21(1)a assessment of likely significant effects. the requirement, as per the Habitats Directive, that the risk of a significant 10 Feeney [2013] EWHC 1238 (Admin) at They cannot be used to circumvent paragraph 50 and 52 of the judgment the need for an assessment. Since, effect be excluded could not be met. 11 Champion [2013] EWCA Civ 1657 at under Waddenzee, the likely significant paragraph 48 of the judgment effect test requires risk to be excluded 12 Champion [2013] EWCA Civ 1657 at based on objective information, then paragraph 24 of the judgment assessments of environmental impacts About the Authors must be undertaken rigorously. Penny Simpson is a partner within Freeth 13 Gillespie v Secretary of State for Transport, Cartwright LLP’s Planning & Environment Local Government and Regions [2003] EWCA Civ d) Therefore, if mitigation measures are Group and a specialist in natural 400; [2003] Env LR 30 at paragraph 46 of the being relied upon to avoid a conclusion environment legal issues. She advises both judgment of “no likely significant effect” then private and public sector clients on a wide 14 R (Hart District Council) v Secretary of State evidence must be put forward as to range of issues including protected sites, for Communities and Local Government [2008] protected species, water issues, planning EWHC 1204 (Admin); [2008] 2 P. & C.R. 16 the basis for that position. The best issues, prosecution, wildlife licensing and predictions possible must be provided. compliance issues. e) However, it is a fact of life that Contact Penny at: predictions of effects are merely that. 0845 017 1133, 07918 767811 or Predicted effects cannot be guaranteed [email protected] even based on the best science. As such, Dean Amory is a Legal Assistant within there will, in many cases, be value in Freeth Cartwright LLP’s Planning & imposing, through planning conditions, Environment Group. monitoring requirements which are Contact Dean at: designed to “check” or “confirm” that 0845 077 9567 or [email protected] the impacts turn out to be as predicted once the project is up and running and to allow steps to be taken if, contrary to expectation, the effects are not as predicted. This is acceptable and, indeed, is to be encouraged.
38 Chartered Institute News
Chartered Institute News Higher Level Apprenticeships CIEEM Awards For several months now CIEEM has been Degree Accreditation Scheme Nominations and entries for all of discussing the possibility of developing a We are delighted to announce the the 2014 Awards categories are now postgraduate Higher Level Apprenticeship accreditation of seven new degree closed. We have had some fantastic with LANTRA, the sector skills body courses or degree pathways. This entries and are delighted that for land-based industries. Higher level brings the total number of accredited members are so keen to promote our apprenticeships are something that the courses or pathways up to 13. Several profession. We talk a lot about poor UK Government (through the Department of the accredited course programme standards of practice but we have for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)) have leaders are now making contact with much to celebrate and we should been promoting through their Trailblazers Geographic Section Committees and not be shy of shouting about it and Scheme. The Higher Level Apprenticeship identifying ways in which our member making others outside our profession would give graduates the opportunity for networks can support students and aware of the good work that we do. 12-18 month’s work-based learning with an how the higher education institutions Shortlisted entries will be invited to a employer whilst following a planned training can help the Geographic Sections. special Awards Luncheon to be held programme and receiving a wage. The The newly accredited degrees and on the 26th June at the Birmingham apprentices would be formally assessed at degree pathways are: Botanical Gardens (see page 61). The the end of the apprenticeship period. Degree Courses event will be compered by journalist The intention is that this would help to and comedienne Helen Lederer with bridge the gap between university and Nottingham Trent University Defra Minister Lord de Mauley as our permanent employment, allowing graduates MSc Biodiversity Conservation special guest and Chris Baines our who would otherwise seek voluntary roles Oxford Brookes University principal speaker. Why not come and to get a wage and further training as well as MSc Conservation Ecology join us and help celebrate with our practical experience in the workplace. CIEEM Degree Pathways winners? Finalists will be announced would lead on developing the ‘syllabus’ Hull University in April, and online bookings for and the assessment process for the scheme. BSc (Hons) Ecology tables and seats will open We have been liaising with employers and shortly afterwards. statutory agencies who have all expressed Northumbria University an interest in supporting the scheme and BSc (Hons) Environmental forming an expert panel to develop the Management New Eligibility Criteria syllabus and assessment process. Oxford Brookes University We are excited to announce that as of There are risks, in that we would want to be BSc (Hons) Biology April, our eligibility criteria for membership sure that it was not a means of employing Oxford Brookes University will be changing. Going forward, CIEEM’s ‘cheap labour’ and that it did not replace BSc (Hons) Animal Biology Competency Framework will be used as existing Graduate Trainee schemes. The key and Conservation the basis for membership eligibility. There is securing sufficient Government funding to Oxford Brookes University will be a minimum level of expectation of enable apprentices to be paid a living wage BSc (Hons) Environmental Sciences relevant level competences for the different during the apprenticeship period. At the Degree accreditation is ongoing and categories of membership. If you are moment Government funding is uncertain more information on the scheme can interested in upgrading your membership so it is not yet clear where we will be able to be found at www.cieem.net. category and would prefer to do so under progress the scheme. our current criteria please note that the last submission date of old applications will CPD Audit be 30th April 2014. We will be removing our existing applications from the website We recently carried out a random sample audit of CPD records returned by members. and replacing with the new applications The results were disappointing in that just over half of members audited had not returned on 31st March 2014. Should you wish to their CPD record for 2012-13. These records are now being submitted but we must get an existing application in by 30th April remind all members that undertaking the minimum requirement of CPD is a condition of 2014 please ensure that you download membership and that you need to evidence this through your CPD record. If you are unable the application form now. Please visit our or unwilling to provide evidence of CPD then this may be treated as a breach of the Code website to find out the details of our new of Professional Conduct. eligibility criteria. Should you have any To make it easier for members we will shortly be launching an online CPD recording tool. questions please contact the membership Anyone who has unusual circumstances that make it difficult for them to undertake CPD team on 01962 868626. on a regular basis should get in touch with the Secretariat to discuss their options. 39 Chartered Institute News
Spring Conference 2014 New Fellows CIEEM’s Spring 2014 Conference will take Calling all CIEEM Chartered Congratulations to Dr Mike Wells who place on 18th March at the Burlington Hotel Environmentalists has recently been admitted to fellowship in Birmingham and will be on the theme We are continuing to receive a steady of the Institute. Dr Wells has over 20 year’s of ‘Biodiversity Offsetting: From Theory to stream of Chartered Environmentalist experience as an ecological consultant Practice’. We have an excellent programme applications and we are looking including 7 years of running his own of speakers and Defra have confirmed they to recruit members to volunteer as consultancy, Biodiversity by Design Ltd. For will be sending a speaker along to update interviewers. There are generally 3-4 the past 10 years he has also been involved delegates on the Government’s plans interview cycles per year which take in academic teaching as an external lecturer, regarding biodiversity offsetting in England. place at various locations across the external examiner and visiting research Bookings will be closing very shortly! UK. Travel expenses will be paid so it fellow. The main focus of his work in recent http://www.cieem.net/events/660/ is just your time and environmental years has been on matters relating to green biodiversity-offsetting-from-theory- expertise we would like you to infrastructure, sustainable masterplanning to-practice volunteer. If you think you might be and habitat restoration/creation in urban able to spare one or two days a year settings. He has published many articles and to assist with interviews please contributed to several books on this topic Autumn Conference 2014 contact Sarah Richards at as well as lecturing extensively in the UK and overseas. He is a well-known advocate We are pleased to announce that [email protected]. of biodiversity in urban design and, as such, this year’s two-day Autumn has extensively promoted the principles of Conference will be at Edinburgh biodiversity planning to other professionals University’s Conference Centre on Warranty and Contract Vetting through publications, presentations and the 11th and 12th November. The Service from MFL inter-disciplinary working. theme of the conference is ‘Progress CIEEM is pleased to announce that our in Effective Habitat Restoration and insurance partner, McParland Finn Ltd, Habitat Creation’. has made the decision to take this service Staff Changes Accommodation on site at Pollock back in-house from the current provider. In January we welcomed Sarah Halls is limited and can be booked on The provision of this advice is an essential Richards who joined us as our a first come first served basis online tool in your risk management process and Membership Officer. Sarah has through http://www.book.accom. the service offered is intended to flag up previously worked for the RSPB ed.ac.uk at a reduced price of £65.45 contractual conditions that may expose at Sandy. quoting the code CONF14. However you and your business to liabilities which we will be supplying a list of other exceed the scope of your professional Gill Kerby has joined CIEEM as the hotels and accommodation indemnity insurance. The service is not new freelance In Practice Editor. Gill is options nearer the time. a full contractual review. If you require a an experienced publishing professional more detailed review, MFL can recommend with a career history in ecology and an experienced legal firm who will provide environmental management. She 2014 Professional Development preferential terms to you as a membership joins CIEEM after 17 years working Programme benefit. For more information please for the British Ecological Society (BES) contact Darren Hewitt (T: 0161 237 7748, as Managing Editor of the Journal The Summer and Autumn programme E: [email protected]) or of Applied Ecology. At the BES, Gill’s of workshops and training courses is Gabrielle Church (T: 0161 237 7730, E: priority was to make the science now available online. We have tried to [email protected]). published in J. Appl. Ecol. accessible respond to ideas and suggestions for new to conservation practitioners so courses as well as delivering those that that wildlife, habitat and landscape are popular each year and increasing the [email protected] management can be informed by geographical spread. We will be adding the best science available. Gill has an to the programme throughout the year False Claim of Membership Grade academic background and an in-depth and are currently seeking trainers for some 2013-14 knowledge of ecology and science popular courses that we wish to offer in The individual below has claimed an publishing. She also has experience new locations. Take a look at the website incorrect grade of membership and has of working with environmental for further details. been reprimanded without conditions: consultants and in organisations like Sophie Meredith (Coventry) GradIEEM http://www.cieem.net/events the Nature Conservancy Council and claiming MIEEM and AIEEM the Agriculture Training Board. Gill lives near Stamford in Rutland and is a trustee of her local Wildlife Trust.
40 Chartered Institute Activities
Irish Section News Protected Habitats and Species – A Best Practice Approach
Anne Murray MCIEEM objectives of Natura 2000 sites. Site describing this Priority habitat in Ireland. Irish Section Convenor specific conservation objectives are used The results of the project will be used as a tool for Appropriate Assessment to establish the conservation status of (Habitat Regulations Assessment). The petrifying springs in Ireland. The Irish Section of CIEEM hosted its conservation objectives form part of The session after lunch was the workshop Conference entitled ‘Protected Habitats the management system for Natura session and the objective was to highlight and Species – A Best Practice Approach’ 2000 sites. The conservation objectives the interactions of ecology with other on the 18th and 19th of November 2013 for Natura 2000 sites designated for disciplines. The aim was to provide a forum in Dublin. The aim of the conference raised bogs, for example will be set in for the introduction of the topic and to was to provide practical information 2014/2015. Raymond Flynn continued listen to the work of another profession on surveying and assessing protected the discussion on raised bogs with his in the context of ecology followed by habitats and species in Ireland and also to interesting presentation on the importance questions and discussion, within a less highlight the overlap of ecology with other of understanding the hydrology of bogs, formal environment than the main disciplines such as planning, landscaping, to prevent further degradation and also to conference. Sarah Kimberley provided engineering, hydrology and hydrogeology. restore bogs, in particular raised bogs of a workshop on groundwater-dependent The conference consisted of a series of Natura 2000 sites. focused presentations, case studies and terrestrial ecosystems in Ireland which In relation to survey techniques, the next explained the implications of the EU Water workshops which were delivered over two session aimed to inform ecologists on Framework Directive and the assessment of days by a range of expert speakers from the different techniques for protected the risk from poor water quality on those across the island of Ireland. habitats. Mapping and surveying Irish ecosystems, habitats and species within Jenny Neff CEnv FCIEEM, our CIEEM Vice Upland Habitats was outlined by Philip Natura 2000 sites (e.g. petrifying springs, President, opened the conference. Ciaran Perrin CEnv MCIEEM, who highlighted fens, raised bogs). A Planning Workshop O’Keeffe (Director, National Parks and the challenges of this type of survey was running at the same time where Wildlife Service) gave the welcome address work, especially when mapping mosaics Heritage Officer for Kildare County Council, and an update on the work of NPWS and, and transitional habitats. Classification Bridget Loughlin, explained where in particular, on the current conservation of habitats is also a challenge given the biodiversity and ecology sit in the stages of status of protected habitats and species in diversity of communities within most the Planning System of local authorities. Ireland. Trends in protected habitats and Annex I and Fossit habitat categories species of Ireland show improvements and the absence of community-level The final session of the day covered three in some and decline in others. The steps classification in Ireland, such as the UKs very interesting case studies including the towards better management of our National Vegetation Classification (NVC). BurrenLIFE project presented by Sharon protected habitats and species were also ‘The Flora and Conservation Status of Parr, ‘Assessing Wind Energy Projects on identified. In terms of protected EU nature Petrifying Springs in Ireland’ is a PhD Birds’ by Richard Nairn CEnv FCIEEM and designations, Rebecca Jeffries of NPWS research study by Melinda Lyons and she ‘A legal analysis of the N6 Galway Outer provided an update on the conservation shared her experience of surveying and Bypass Case’ by Alice Whittaker.
41 Chartered Institute Activities
The second day was opened by Michael process. The study included an extensive A number of species survey specialists Meharg (Assistant Director, Biodiversity study across six sites and an intensive provided insight and details of survey and Natural Heritage, Northern Ireland study at one site. The results of this study methods for a number of protected species Environment Agency – NIEA) with have been used to develop an evidence- including Maria Long MCIEEM on Vertigo a presentation on the protection of based approach to the assessment of moulinsiana in Ireland, John Conaghan on biodiversity in Northern Ireland, in the potential impact of intertidal oyster survey of rare plant populations in Ireland particular on the current conservation cultivation in the context of Appropriate and Will Woodrow MCIEEM, and Clive status of protected habitats and Assessment of aquaculture activities in Mellon on marsh fritillary in the Republic species in Northern Ireland. The trends coastal Natura 2000 sites. of Ireland and Northern Ireland. in conservation status were outlined Staying with marine and coastal themes, Joanne Denyer MCIEEM examined and some of the main issues affecting the next presentation detailed the methods the significance of the bryophyte Red conservation status were identified. of surveying and mapping marine habitats Data Book for ecologists in Ireland Protection of habitats and species on and species. Louise Scally specialises when undertaking Ecological Impact an all-island of Ireland basis has been in marine habitats and species surveys Assessments. The focus was on: developed using cross-border Action Plans and discussed three case studies which which habitats are likely to support and research/survey initiatives. The Invasive demonstrate the practicalities, challenges rare and protected bryophytes; when Species Ireland project is an excellent and solutions associated with mapping a detailed bryophyte survey might be example of co-operation in the face of an marine habitats and species at a level required; requirements of surveyors; all-island problem. suitable to measure change: Mapping and developments likely to impacts on The MulkearLIFE project is a river catchment sensitive subtidal communities, Mapping bryophytes. Case studies and guidelines, scale river restoration on the Lower River subtidal marine species and Mapping of the including some from Scotland and Wales Shannon Special Area of Conservation Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS). (which have a similar bryophyte flora and (SAC). Ruairi O Conchuir explained that a The Ministerial Address from Jimmy land-use to Ireland) were discussed. main project objective is to restore degraded Deenihan T.D. (Minister for Arts, Henry Andrews MCIEEM’s presentation habitats on the Mulkear River and its Heritage and Gaeltacht) was an on the Bat Tree Habitat Key: A guide to principal tributaries. While the main target important acknowledgement of the potential bat roost features was given by species are Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey role of ecology in Ireland. Paul Scott CEnv MCIEEM on behalf of and otter, the project benefits a wide range Workshop sessions for Day 2 were given Henry who could not make it on the day. of other fish species, invertebrates, birds by Christian Nea of the National Roads However, we hope to get Henry over to and mammals. Numerous restoration Authority (NRA) who gave an insight Ireland for an Irish Section event in 2014. methods and results achieved were into the engineering solutions to address A big thank you to the wonderful described and the importance of compliance with the Habitats Directive. presenters for their great presentations on partnerships with other agencies, local While Maryann Harris of Dublin City diverse and informative topics. communities and farmers, in the success Council talked about landscaping and For further information and to view the of this project, was very apparent. biodiversity with participants learning conference presentations for the event, Nuala McQuaid, of the Marine Division about urban landscapes and how please visit www.cieem.net/2013-irish- of the Department of Environment ecologists can influence the management section-conference-and-agm. Northern Ireland, discussed the new of urban biodiversity. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Northern Ireland and the New Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013. MPA is defined by the IUCN as: “Any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.” This was followed by the presentation of a case study of the effects of intertidal oyster culture on the spatial distribution of water birds by Tom Gittings MCIEEM and Paul O’Donoghue CEnv MCIEEM. This study aimed to identify whether the spatial distribution of waterbirds is affected by the presence of oyster trestles and to inform the ongoing Appropriate Assessment Jimmy Deenihan T.D. meeting Anne Murray, Joanne Denyer and George Smith. 42 Chartered Institute Activities
Irish Section News New Support Officer
Mairead Stack Irish Section Support Officer [email protected]
The post of Irish Section Support Officer is a new one and I am delighted to have the opportunity to support the Irish Section Committee. This is a part-time role and the main remits can be broken down into four broad areas which are: promotion of the Irish section; identification of priority areas for policy engagement; identification of new CPD training in Ireland; and supporting Irish CIEEM events. I started in September 2013 and as the All-Ireland Conference was in November, the first few months were spent organising the conference. Now having some support in place, the Irish Committee will be able to provide further assistance to Irish CIEEM members. We are presently conducting a Training Analysis and hope to have identified courses that we can run here in Ireland in 2014 and going forward. As a background to myself; I studied Natural Science at Trinity College Dublin, specialising in Zoology and then completed an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Edinburgh. I started my career in zoos, working as an assistant keeper in Dublin Zoo to then working as Conservation Co-ordinator for the Federation of Zoos in London. I moved back to Dublin and worked as a sole trader Ecologist for five years, working Mairead Stack on a number of National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) projects. I was Editor at the Management Planning Support Unit Officer for three and a half years. I have I look forward to working not only on at NPWS for a year and I wrote eight been Secretary of Bat Conservation Ireland behalf of CIEEM in Ireland but also with NPWS Management Plans over the years. also. I moved to Boston for three and a the other Geographic Sections. Following on from being a sole trader half years where I dedicated my time to I was a NPWS Conservation Ranger for my two small children and worked on the North Dublin area on a temporary a voluntary basis for the Massachusetts one-year contract and when this finished Audubon Society. I moved back to Dublin I was the Dublin City Council Biodiversity in July 2013.
43 Chartered Institute Activities
South West England Section News High Profile Local Issues and Looking Forward to 2014
The second half of 2013 saw two to allow tidal water from the mouth of the Badger Management and the fascinating events held by the SW Section River Parrett to inundate 500 hectares of Control of Bovine TB of particular relevance to our region: a visit low-lying pastoral farmland on the Steart On Tuesday 10th December 2013, the SW to Steart Marshes to see landscape-scale Peninsula in North Somerset. Section held its second AGM, although the ecological mitigation in practice and a The area has been expertly re-modelled to main event of the night was a Discussion discussion event on the high profile matter create freshwater and brackish wetland Event on Badger Management and the of badger management and the control of habitat, with sluices to control levels to Control of Bovine TB. As a high profile Bovine TB. benefit waders and wildfowl (and the and contentious local issue, this attracted healthy attention from our members. Steart Marshes public watching them) to compensate for losses of 240 ha of mudflats as a Having established the security of the In the shadow of the Hinkley Power result of the yet-to-be-constructed Bristol venue, gone to greater extents than Station, CIEEM South West members were Ports development, and to contribute to normal to ensure only members attended privileged to witness first-hand ongoing anticipated loss of tidal habitat due to sea and consulted with the local constabulary, ecological mitigation and enhancement level rise over the next 15 years. the event was well attended and thankfully works at a scale that few are likely to be Members were informed of the complexity passed peacefully with no protesters! directly involved in. The Steart Marshes of the issues influencing design and project is the second largest uncontrolled Three highly knowledgeable speakers gave construction, including huge tidal ranges, tidal exchange scheme in the country, different perspectives on the biological, massive scale engineering, habitat involving breaching existing tidal defences ecological, social and political challenges of creation, and licensing and translocation the management of badgers in the quest of protected species. Although still under to control Bovine TB. construction, the site is already attracting First, Professor Robbie McDonald provided Before large numbers of waders, wildfowl and an introduction to badger management also otter. On completion, the site will and the control of Bovine TB. As Chair in be grazed under the management of the Natural Environment at the University of Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, who will Exeter, and research including the science, ultimately manage the site as a wildlife and policy and practical implications of Bovine public resource. tuberculosis (TB) in badgers, he provided With an estimated 33,000 visitors expected a detailed description of previous research per annum, this will be a flagship project and trials and the ecological and biological for the region, raising awareness of the difficulties associated with disease control. environmental and conservation issues here He provided insight into the phenomenon and more widely, whilst inspiring current of perturbation and other patterns of and future generations. disease spread. He concluded with a CIEEM have been invited back once the comparison of the efficacy of the various system is fully functional – after such an badger management methods, specifically TB vaccination, culling or a mixture of After inspiring visit there is sure to be plenty of interest! both, against no control. A mix of both culling and the application of vaccination Many thanks to Matt Phillips (May Gurney), to a ring around the cull area provided the Tim McGrath (Wildfowl and Wetland Trust) greatest reduction in the number of cattle and James Scott (Environment Agency) for herd incidents (approximately 28%). an inspirational visit and for their valuable Following this in-depth introduction, Roger evening time after a full day at the Blowey explored the role of culling in the wetland face! control of Bovine TB. As a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Specialist in cattle health and production with 40 years of experience with farm animal medicine in Gloucestershire, he has a wealth of scientific knowledge and experience of Atlantic Marsh Creation. Photos by WWT) the impact this disease has on the farming 44 evenings for seminars, and on weekends for field visits. Perhaps as may be expected, the Bristol/ Bath area received the most votes for where people would be willing to travel to attend events. We received a variety of suggestions for event topics and themes, which we have grouped and listed below in order of popularity: • Species-specific survey techniques and standards, including data interpretation and advances in equipment/technology, (especially south-west specific species, e.g. dormice and cirl bunting); • Practical examples of mitigation and enhancement (including for European Protected Species licensing), and habitat management practices; • Biodiversity offsetting, Ecosystem Services and Green Infrastructure; Photo by Robbie McDonald • Legislation; • Ecological Impact Assessment (including community. He provided a detailed how to work effectively with other description of the various eradication disciplines such as Landscape), and programmes that have been used across Habitats Regulations Assessment; a range of diseases prior to showing the pattern of distribution of Bovine TB since • Ecological consultancy challenges, the mid-1980s. This was explored in the commercial knowhow and networking context of the results of the various trials opportunities; conducted and how various political • Requirements of the planning system/ decisions and legislation may have played Photo by Gordon McGlone interactions with planning; a part in the rise in Bovine TB prevalence • Habitat-specific ecology and mitigation/ over recent decades. He concluded by vaccinators and volunteers have been restoration/ management; noting the wide ranging impacts of Bovine trained to support professional contractors • Addressing climate change and impact TB on man, the farming-based economy to enable delivery of these programmes at of social issues (e.g. population growth); and badger communities themselves. minimal cost. • Ecological Clerk of Works; and Dr Gordon McGlone completed the suite The full presentations are available to of presentations by providing a detailed members via the CIEEM website. • Surveys and mitigation relating to wind review of the potential use of Bovine TB Many thanks to our speakers and Duncan farms and other renewable energy. vaccination with badgers. At the helm McLaughlin and his colleagues at Atkins Thanks to all who took part and we look of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust for over for providing the fabulous venue. forward to issuing details of our developing 30 years, he led their deployment of the programme for 2014. Coming soon, we new bTB badger vaccine in 2010 and has Looking Towards Events in 2014 are hoping to secure field visits for our contributed to Ministerial advisory groups The South West Section recently undertook members to see practical examples of and Parliamentary Select Committees a survey to find out what types of events habitat creation and restoration at sites in on the matter. Gordon provided detailed and activities our members would like Gloucestershire, Devon and Somerset – descriptions of the Animal Health and to take part in, which informed the watch this space! Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) above events and will help us shape the Badger Vaccine Deployment Project in programme for 2014. With more than Keep in Touch! Gloucestershire, including the required 160 responses from across the region and In addition to the CIEEM website, a planning, and achieving efficient and membership categories (including non- great way to keep up to date with effective delivery. He outlined how this members who are interested in joining), relevant discussions and events in our has informed vaccination deployment by the results indicated a fairly even interest region is to join our CIEEM South West other Wildlife Trusts, including imminent in seminars, field visits, conferences, and Section LinkedIn group: http://www. programmes in Dorset, Somerset training courses, with preference for linkedin.com/groups/CIEEM-South-West- and Devon. He emphasised how ‘lay’ weekday events, and an emphasis on Section-4306464/about 45 Chartered Institute Activities
Scottish Section News Claire Lacey CEnv MCIEEM Scottish Geographic Section Convenor CIEEM Scottish Section Committee 2014 [email protected]
Following the Section AGM, held on has been very involved in delivering student His career includes Upland Bird Survey 16th January 2014, the Scottish Section focussed events and careers talks. work for NCC, three years as an Assistant Committee would like to take this Nicola Tyrrell has served on Wildlife Warden in Wigan, 16 months as a opportunity to introduce themselves to the Committee since 2009 and consultant for ERL (pre-ERM), and 13 years the members. has recently stepped down as an environmental specialist on numerous Convenor: Claire Lacey has from the role of Convenor. As pipeline projects in the UK and abroad. More served on the Committee an ecologist and environmental advisor recently he has provided ecological expertise since 2011. She qualified in since 2005 she has worked with several on development projects closer to home, Marine and Environmental consultancies to promote a positive including ornithological input on wind Biology in 2002 and has worked ever since approach to wildlife conservation within energy projects. He wants to contribute as in the field of marine mammal ecology. She development and land management. In he benefitted greatly from his mentors and has worked for both the charity sector and her role as Director of Ecology with RST wants to give something back. now currently splits her work time between Environment she is particularly passionate Jessica Tainsh was co-opted the Scottish Windfarm Bird Steering Group about helping businesses to understand and as a Graduate member of and the University of St Andrews. Within fulfil their environmental obligations as well the Committee in 2012. She CIEEM, Claire has a particular interest in as identify opportunities to do things better. graduated from the University data-sharing initiatives, survey methodology Within the Scottish Committee, Nicola of Glasgow with an MSc in Coastal System and is looking forward to becoming more particularly enjoys facilitating collaboration Management and a BSc (Hons) in Zoology. involved in developing CIEEM consultation between CIEEM and other environmental She currently volunteers with the RSPB in responses. She would also love to see more organisations. Lochwinnoch as a family events helper and ‘marine’ people become involved! Marcus Cross has served is sub-contracted with a couple of energy Vice Convenor: Elaine on the Committee since companies, carrying out ecology surveys. Anderson has served on the 2009. He works for Scottish Jessica has also been a volunteer with the Committee since 2010. Until Power Renewables as an Cats Protection League, Buglife and at recently, Elaine worked for an Environmental Manager providing ecological Kelvingrove Museum. Her interests are in NGO, Highland Birchwoods, as an ecologist advice to their UK and International Offshore ecology and conservation. and latterly as ecology services manager. business. In 2002 Marcus was awarded his She has a passion for mammals, particularly doctorate in Environmental Parasitology and bats and badgers and is being drawn further has worked in various positions in large and There are 16 positions available on the into the fascinating world of plants. She has small ecological consultancies before starting Committee, so there is the opportunity a particular interest in raising professional his current position in 2010. for eight more members to join standards and in engaging with students Phil Baarda was co-opted on the current team. Please contact and graduates having worked with several to the Committee in 2011. headquarters or any of our Committee universities to encourage students to think He is a Woodland and Land members should you be interested about environmental career opportunities Use Adviser based at Inverness or wish to know more. The role of and to encourage student and graduate and has been with Scottish Natural Heritage the Section Committee is available to involvement and membership of CIEEM. for the last five years. Prior to this, Phil view on the CIEEM website in the new Secretary: Situation vacant at the time of has done a variety of things in a variety of Sections Toolkit. writing. Please get in touch if you would places – an EU project manager with the Please keep in touch and look out for like to join us in this role or as an ordinary NGO Highland Birchwoods in the Highlands, full details of events in forthcoming Committee member. a nature reserve manager in East Dorset, emails, In Practice and on the Scottish a field officer with BTCV in Dorset, and a Treasurer: Erin Grieve joined Section LinkedIn page. Please get Biodiversity and Livelihoods adviser with the Committee in 2011. As in touch with your ideas of how we VSO in the Philippines. Phil has been a Full a recent Ecological Science can extend the presence of CIEEM member of CIEEM since 1997 and sits on Graduate of the University of in Scottish society and add value to the Professional Standards Committee. Edinburgh, she understands the importance being a member of the Institute. of guiding and improving standards in Brian Minshull joined the ecology and environmental management Committee in 2012. He has and recognises the importance of operated BCM Environmental employability of graduates. Like Elaine, Erin Services Ltd since 1990. 46 Chartered Institute Activities
CIEEM Scottish Section Committee Best Practice Event Golf and the Environment, 18th April 2014
The CIEEM Scottish Section Committee criticism. However, it needn’t always be is an ecologically sensitive one. The Castle invites you to an event aimed at providing this way; the Machrihanish Dunes course Stuart Golf Links (www.castlestuartgolf. insight regarding an example of a golf in Kintyre was developed entirely within com) are immediately adjacent to the course development that was creatively a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Inner Moray Firth SSSI/Special Protection designed and constructed to succeed in by a wealthy American businessman. It Area (SPA) and Moray Firth Special Area delivering a world-class links golf course was the first 18 hole course in the UK to of Conservation (SAC). As can be seen that also enhances local biodiversity. achieve Golf Environment Organisation from the photographs, by working with In recent years the image of golf in (GEO) certification. Similarly, in the last few (rather than against) the statutory bodies, relation to the environment has suffered, years, a links golf course was created at a links course was successfully created on often due to developments occurring in Castle Stuart, near Inverness. Again, the farmland (the sand-dunes did not exist on sensitive habitats and receiving widespread developers were American, and the location the site prior to construction).
Before During You are invited to attend a collaborative event between CIEEM and the Castle Stuart Golf Links to find out more about the environmental management of this development project. It is hoped that SNH will provide some input on the day from their perspective, and although not attending in person on the day, the CIEEM Vice President for Scotland, Kathy Dale, will provide pre-prepared context in relation to the development of a links course on the Menie Estate. After The event is planned for the 18th April 2014, which your diary will tell you is Good Friday. This date has been chosen on the basis of both the available dates at Castle Stuart and also the theory that (hopefully) spring will have sprung! The date will (again hopefully) also help with travelling arrangements, as winter should be over. In addition, we intend to organise a CIEEM social event in nearby Inverness that evening. It is hoped that some delegates may even choose make an Easter weekend break of it in the Highlands (with partners, friends or families); perhaps seeing the bottle-nosed dolphins at Chanonry Point, the red kites on the Black Isle or exploring Speyside and the Cairngorms. Please refer to the CIEEM Scottish managers, and developers from all sectors, Section web page (http://www.cieem. whether CIEEM members or not, are net/geographic-sections/7/01.-scotland) welcome. Spaces are limited so please for further details and details of how book early to avoid disappointment! We to register. Ecologists, environmental look forward to seeing you there! 47 Chartered Institute Activities
Overseas Territories Special Interest Group Technical Seminar Review Anguilla, the Chagos Archipelago and Plant Conservation in the Overseas Territories 26 September 2013, Kew Herbarium, London
Tom Smith CEnv MIEEM archipelago. Anguilla, a small island The seminar was concluded by Clare Principal Consultant, RSK situated east of Puerto Rico, supports Stringer of the Chagos Conservation Trust diverse but fragile marine environments with her presentation on ‘The Chagos Committee Member, CIEEM Overseas threatened by fisheries and tourism. The Islands: protecting the world’s biggest no- Territories Special Interest Group aims of the project were to classify the take marine reserve’. The Chagos Islands (OT-SIG) marine environment surrounding the are located in the central Indian Ocean and island and provide a detailed bathymetric contain the largest coral atoll in the world Building on the success of the first 2 dataset that was cost effective. This data and over 60,000km of shallow limestone Overseas Territories Specialist Interest set could then be for future monitoring of reef and associated habitats. On 1st April Group (OT-SIG) conference held on 31st environmental change and to help guide 2010, the British Government announced January 2013, the OT-SIG held a technical environmental management strategies. The the creation of the Chagos Marine Reserve. seminar at Kew Herbarium on 26th project utilised Earth Observation studies This designation of a fully no-take Marine September 2013. For those not aware of gathered via remote sensing techniques Protected Area (MPA) that extends to 200 the OT-SIG please see In Practice (June together with ecological knowledge to nautical miles, created the largest marine 2013, pages 49-51) for further information develop the GIS datasets. The datasets are reserve in the world. It was also granted the on the group and a summary of the United now being used by the local government highest level of marine protection as there Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs). using open source GIS. are no people living within the proposed The seminar was well attended with 30 MPA. The MPA now acts as a living Rebecca Upson from Kew provided a delegates from a range of organisations laboratory to allow scientific study of the summary of recent work on the Important and interest groups. diverse marine ecosystem, and in particular Plant Areas (IPA) of the Falkland Islands. fish recovery, whilst also acting as a reservoir Marcella Corcoran from Kew opened The Falkland Islands are important for biodiversity that may allow future re- the seminar with her talk on saving Pinus biogeographically owing to their position colonisation of over-exploited oceans. caribaea var. bahamensis, the national tree between the Antarctic and South American The seminar highlighted the wealth of the of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Large continents; however, given the Falkland biodiversity within the UKOTs, but also numbers of this tree have been killed off on Islands’ isolation and small size, they are the threats posed to the many vulnerable TCI due to an infestation by an accidentally naturally vulnerable to ecological change. habitats and species. The OT-SIG is introduced scale insect (Toumeyella This is particularly evident following committed to promoting the work going parvicornis). In addition to the scale surveys which highlighted soil erosion, on in the OTs and providing a forum for insect, the species is also threatened by invasive species, off-road driving and the discussion of that work. The Group has hurricanes, development and uncontrolled over-grazing as particular threats to species already begun planning further events for fires started by people. In response to this and habitats. The IPA programme which this year. Please keep updated through the threat, Marcella highlighted the efforts of is co-ordinated by Plantlife International CIEEM website for further details. the TCI Pine Recovery Project which has and IUCN, provides a framework for the set up an international pine-scale working identification of those areas most important group, is providing ex situ collection of seed for plant conservation. Using all known (Millennium Seed Bank) and has established botanical records and targeted field work, a detailed monitoring programme. the application of the IPA criteria identified Samual Pike from Environmental Systems 17 IPAs across the Falkland Islands. The Ltd gave an introduction to mapping identification of these sites will allow for conservation issues for the Anguilla conservation strategies to be developed. 48 Chartered Institute Activities
South East England Section News
Section Committee 2014 Secretary – Lynn Committee Member – Whitfield MCIEEM Liz Fagg GradCIEEM Convener – Ben Benatt I have worked as a I have worked as a Further CEnv MCIEEM consultant ecologist since Education lecturer at K I have worked as a 2005 and am currently a College since 2002, and consultant ecologist since Principal Ecologist in the have taught Practical 1991, and have been London office of AMEC E&I UK Ltd. I work Conservation to students at a range of employed by Halcrow/ on a wide range of environmental projects, countryside sites in southeast Kent. To CH2M Hill since 2006 where I am based specialising in bat ecology. further my qualifications in Ecology, on Hammersmith, London and work on As a member of the Committee for the I studied an MSc in Environmental a wide range of environmental projects last couple of years I have enjoyed helping Conservation part-time and graduated mainly in the southeast of England. I have out at Section meetings while taking the in 2012 from University of Greenwich. I been on the South East England Section opportunity to meet up and network with regularly support CIEEM at conferences Committee since 2009, and have been a range of other members from all walks by helping on the information stands Convener since 2011. of the professions represented by CIEEM. and promoting the benefits of CIEEM I have found my time spent on the I began a term as Committee Secretary membership and training events. This gives Committee to be rewarding, in particular this year by organising the Section AGM me the opportunity to meet a wide range helping to organise local events for CIEEM at Wisley RHS Garden, and look forward of professionals and is very rewarding. The members. Being on the Section Committee to helping further the aims of CIEEM South East England Section has just asked enables me to have direct links with members in the region during 2014 me to join their Committee, which I am CIEEM and involvement with the running and beyond. looking forward to, with the expectation of the Institute, as well as giving me the that I will be more involved in supporting opportunity to develop connections with Committee Member – the Section. fellow ecologists and discuss ecology- Peter Lawrence MCIEEM related issues with them. I have worked as a Consultant Ecologist since Vice-Convener – 2002 and am currently an Debbie Bartlett FCIEEM Associate Ecologist based I combine working as a in the London office of LUC. I work on a consultant ecologist and wide range of ecological projects including landscape manager with protected species work, with particular my role as programme experience in open space enhancement leader for the MSc in Environmental and strategic biodiversity planning. Conservation at the University of As a relatively new member of the Section Greenwich, the first MSc to gain CIEEM Committee, I have enjoyed the opportunity accreditation. My research interests are to get to know the members of the agriculture and forestry and the challenge Committee and other CIEEM members of combining delivering benefits for wildlife from across the region, with a range of while maintaining economic viability and backgrounds and skills. I look forward sustainable livelihoods. to helping deliver Section events and My role with CIEEM is as a member meetings in the year ahead, including to of Training, Education and Career support student involvement and career Development Committee (TECDC) and development, and also the opportunity to of the Governing Body. My involvement contribute to the wider work of CIEEM. with the South East Section has focused on organising events on different topics around the region. I look forward to meeting more members in the future and am particularly interested in student involvement and facilitating new entrants to the profession.
49 Chartered Institute Activities
Yorkshire and Humber Section News Section Event Report
The Yorkshire and Humberside Section acquired Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve to take place towards Christmas 2014, became a bone fide Section at its AGM in near Driffield. Skerne Wetlands is to be with replanting taking place the following March 2013, and we’ve been pretty busy developed into a wetland in the River spring. For more information, contact Ross since then. Hull headwaters, and will provide an Frazer [email protected]. The first was a talk on the killer shrimp, excellent opportunity to observe both the A surveying workshop was organised hosted by Ecus Ltd in Sheffield. It gave an opportunities and the difficulties relating by Barry Wright of Energyline, who has introduction to the shrimp, its ecology, to such projects. Contact Sara Robin developed a new survey method designed to identification and behaviours; areas in the [email protected] for more details. record data detailed enough to reconstruct UK where it has been found, with theories The second visit was to the Dark Peak a hedgerow scheduled for removal as part as to how it may have been introduced Nature Improvement Area on the outskirts of a mitigation strategy. All attendees had and spread; biosecurity; and finally an of Sheffield. This NIA is part of the Local the opportunity to try out the new HEDGES opportunity to inspect killer shrimps under Nature Partnership, a South Yorkshire method on a site close to Wetherby. A user the microscope. It was an informative Forest Partnership initiative. It is focussing friendly survey, it can be completed on one evening and very well attended. on a 1970s conifer plantation, removing A4 sheet of paper instead of the 17 pages The Section is keen to follow an ecological/ the majority and restoring it to broadleaf required of the Defra Hedgerow Survey environmental project or two from start woodland and moorland. The site has a Handbook (2nd ed). The afternoon was very to finish, to observe how it progresses on natural inclination towards woodland cover; well attended, nicely rounded off by a social the ground, and achieves its outcomes. a river clough running through the site is in a Wetherby pub. For more information on Two site visits were arranged with this in already beginning to redevelop its natural the HEDGES method, contact Barry Wright mind, the first being a trip to the newly cover of oak and rowan. Felling is expected [email protected].
Burbage, Dark Peak NIA. Photo by Sara Parratt-Halbert. 50 A joint field meeting with the Yorkshire Naturalists Union (YNU) took place at Flamborough to record marine and coastal wildlife, contributing to a Shore Thing survey for the Marine Biological Association (MBA). The resulting data has been entered directly into the MBA’s database, with more general records entered into the YNU’s online recording site and eventually the NBN Gateway. For more information contact Paula Lightfoot p.lightfoot@ btinternet.com. Our Section is working on further joint events for 2014; look out for these in the Training and Events section of the CIEEM website. The last event of the year took place in Thirsk in November; ‘An Evening of Bats’, attended by 66 people. John Drewett gave a fascinating talk on Natterer’s Bats, which was still the talk of the town at the Committee meeting a couple of weeks later. The second part of the evening was Gordon Haycock and Elizabeth Richell, Sheffield Science Fair. an introduction to the North Yorkshire Bat Group Minimum Standards for Bat Surveys Career Events Report The second event took place at Sheffield given by Andrew Westgarth. Our Section Two Careers events have been attended University with Elizabeth Richell and Holly has several members whose special interest by the Yorkshire and Humber Section Smith joining Gordon on the stand. Once is bats, so expect to see more bat related Committee in autumn term of 2013. again the literature was invaluable for stuff in the future. The first event was at Leeds University engaging students, and a further 52 signed School of Earth and Environment and was up for email notification of Regional events. attended by Gordon Haycock and David In both cases the events were well Martin. Using the newly supplied banner attended, and students seemed eager to and CIEEM literature, we engaged with engage. It is hoped that they will attend a good number of students, with many Section events and meet our membership, expressing an interest in Section events encouraging them to pursue a career as an and 35 signed up for email notice of ecologist or environmental manager, and forthcoming events. join CIEEM!
Sara Parratt-Halbert MSc. Photo by Stinking Weasel
About the Author Sara Parratt-Halbert MSc GradCIEEM is Project Manager for EU ERDF Interreg.IVb funded project Stimulating Enterprising Environments for Development and Sustainability (SEEDS). She works for South Yorkshire Forest Partnership in Sheffield. Previous posts include Woodland Manager; and Environmental Education Centre Manager, both for an urban woodland in South Yorkshire. Contact Sara at: [email protected] www.seeds-project.com
51 Chartered Institute Activities
Partnership News
All-Party Parliamentary Group Society for the Environment for Biodiversity European Network of We are pleased to announce that the In late January the APPGB held an event Environmental Professionals following CIEEM members have been in the House of Commons on Biodiversity admitted as Chartered Environmentalists: Following on from the General Assembly and Climate Change. Presenting at the Mr Jonathan Jackson, Mr Thomas Oliver, held last October ENEP’s Executive event were Professor Alex Rogers from Mr Sion Brackenbury, Mr David Denman, Committee has embarked on a process Oxford University on the effects of climate Mr Duncan McLaughlin, Mrs Rebecca to conclude its activity plan for 2014. Part change on the marine environment; Purslow, Miss Laura Gore, Ms of this process has involved the President Professor Chris Thomas from the University Primrose Duplessis, Miss Phillippa Baron, and Project Officer visiting almost all of the of York on observations, projections Mr Leonard Griffiths, Mrs Katie Rogerson, 23 member associations to discuss their and conservation strategies; Dr Nathalie Mr Edward Godsiffe, Dr Eleanor Lucy priorities for 2014. Pettorelli from the Institute of Zoology at Ballard, Ms Clare May ENEP has also secured a meeting with the Zoological Society of London on the www.socenv.org.uk Commissioner Potočnik, who is head international effects of climate change on of DG Environment, on Friday 28 biodiversity; and Dr Mike Morecroft, Head March at 10h30. A delegation of three of Profession, Climate Change, at Natural representatives will attend the meeting to England on Climate change impacts and highlight the value of the ENEP network to adaptation from a statutory agencies the Commission. point of view. Zac Goldsmith MP, Lord To help with the ongoing workload of Oxburgh, Joan Walley MP and Caroline IUCN-UK the network, ENEP has a new Project Spelman MP also attended. The APPGB is IUCN President, Zhang Xinsheng, visited Assistant. Monika Baunach joined ENEP in currently finalising its own website, where IUCN-UK during his visit to the UK in February for a two-month period. Monika the presentations from the event will be February 2014 for the London Conference is from Nuremberg in Germany, but lived uploaded. We will share these documents on Illegal Wildlife Trade. To mark President in London for two and a half years before with members as they become available. Zhang’s visit, a reception was held at moving to Brussels. She holds a BA in www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/ London Zoo as an opportunity for him to European Studies from the University of cmallparty/register/biodiversity.htm meet with the UK’s IUCN Members and Passau, Germany and an MA in Political to listen to what they had to say about Communications from Goldsmiths, conservation and about IUCN. University of London. Prior to joining ENEP, www.iucn-uk.org Monika worked as an intern in WWF-UK’s Public Affairs Team. www.efaep.org
52 New and Prospective Members
Applicants and Admissions If any existing Member has any good reason to object to someone being admitted to the Institute, especially if this relates to compliance with the Code of Professional Conduct, they must inform the Chief Executive Officer by telephone or letter before 20th April 2014. Any communications will be handled discreetly. The decision on admission is usually taken by the Membership Admissions Committee under delegated authority from the Governing Board but may be taken directly by the Board itself. CIEEM is pleased to welcome applications for membership from the following:
APPLICANTS Registrants announced 15 January 2014: Upgrades to Full Membership Applications For Full Membership Mr Philip Baarda, Mr Simon Barnard, Miss Eleanor Body, Miss Sally-Ann Hurry, Dr Michael Dobson, Miss Nicola Faulks, Miss Rhia McBain, Miss Emma North, Mr James Askham, Miss Laura Blaker, Dr Alan Feest, Mr David Feige, Dr John Feltwell, Mrs Hilary Phillips, Miss Lucy Plumb, Mr Chris Cummins, Mr William Jackson, Dr Martina Girvan, Miss Emma Goddard, Mr Stewart Wesley. Ms Alison Johnston, Dr Annabel King, Mr Luke Gorman, Mr Stuart Graham, Mr Steven Peters, Mr Duncan Revell, Upgrades to Associate Membership Mr Paul Gregory, Mrs Sally Hayns, Dr Rachel Hirst, Mrs Elizabeth Sanders, Mr Chrispian Snell, Mr Richard Anderton, Miss Jess Batchelor, Dr Sarah Jackson, Ms Lisa Kerslake, Mr Paul Lee, Dr Philip Sterling. Miss Helen Davies, Miss Johanna Fewtrell, Mr James McCrory, Mrs Susan Morgan, Applications For Associate Membership Mrs Abigail Gray, Miss Kristy Kelly, Prof Stephen Ormerod, Ms Stephanie Peay, Miss Michelle Nesbitt, Mr Keith Thomas, Mr Joseph Bradshaw, Miss Leanne Butt, Mrs Katherine Prior, Mrs Abigail Sanders, Miss Leanne Wall. Ms Lisa Dolan, Mrs Catherine Poate, Mrs Kerry Shakespeare, Dr George Smith, Recent Graduate Members Mr George Siskos, Ms Nikki Taylor. Mrs Claire Smith, Dr Jim Thompson, Applications to Upgrade to Full Membership Dr Joanna Treweek, Mr Paul Watts, Miss Robyn Ablitt, Mr Adam Banting, Miss Emma Barnes, Mr Andrew Davies, Miss Katherine Harrington, Dr Steven Heathcote. Mr Paul Whitby, Mr Michael Willis, Miss Amy Wright. Miss Charlene Davies, Miss Jenny Downie, Applications to Upgrade to Associate Miss Carol Flaxman, Miss Rhona Fulton, Membership Full Members Ms Alison Gilry, Miss Franky Green, Dr Niamh Burke, Dr Patricia Byrne, Miss Sarah Atkinson, Miss Paula Bateson, Mr Gary Hillier, Miss Rebecca Hubball, Dr Nicola Chapman, Dr Stewart Clarke, Mr Stephen Beal, Miss Joanna Greetham, Miss Maisie Jepson, Mr Christopher King, Mr Thomas Cook, Mrs Sarah Dillon, Miss Amelia Hodnett, Mr David Hunt, Mr Geoff Maud, Mr Craig Osgerby, Ms Caroline Essery, Mr Richard Harrison, Ms Ruth McGuire, Mr Patrick O’Shea, Miss Laura Shakespeare, Mr Philip Irving, Mr Christopher Jones, Miss Elaine Rickman, Mr Barnaby Scott, Miss Lucy Robison-Smith, Dr Kevin Jones, Mr Anthony Juniper, Mr Dominic Sheldon, Miss Julie Watson, Miss Kathleen Smart, Miss Katie Stenson, Mr Rhyan Law-Cooper, Dr Stephanie May, Miss Elizabeth White. Mr David White, Mr Andrew Zealand. Miss Rachel Midgley, Miss Laura Murray, Recent Upgrades to Graduate Members ADMISSIONS Mr Matt Pannell, Dr Alexandra Pollard, Chartered Ecologists Mr Paul Renshaw, Miss Leanne Sargeant, Miss Jessica Breeze, Miss Lorna Griffiths, Miss Katherine Knox, Mr Sean Woods. Registrants announced 23 October 2013: Miss Francesca Tarry, Mr Simon Thomas, Ms Mary Thornton, Dr Rachael Thwaites, Recent Student Members Mrs Penny Anderson, Ms Sue Bell, Mr John Box, Dr Paul Tinsley-Marshall, Ms Heather Webb, Ms Katharine Dale, Dr Phillip Edwards, Miss Emma Alexander, Miss Rebecca East, Mr Robert West. Mr Paul Goriup, Mr Richard Graves, Mr Henry Smith, Mr Mate Vakarcs. Ms Jacqui Green, Dr Richard Jefferson, Associate Members Recent Affiliate Members
Mr Peter Jepson, Dr Martyn Kelly, Mr Andrew Cole, Miss Aisling Connolly, Mr William McCauley. Mr William Manley, Prof Robert Marrs, Mr Andre Douglas, Mrs Roberta Epps, Mrs Jenny Neff, Ms Pamela Nolan, Miss Jane Herbert, Miss Rebecca Nason, Mr Michael Oxford, Dr David Parker, Mr Rupert Simms, Miss Ellen Somerwill, Mr Steven Pullan, Ms Caroline Ann Skinner, Miss Stacey Waring, Mr Robbie Watt, Dr Fred Slater, Mrs Claire Wansbury. Mr Martin Woolley, Mr Ben Wyatt.
53 Internal Articles
Chartered Ecologist – Going From Strength to Strength!
Karen Sanderson September 2013. We are delighted to need to be an ambassador for the highest Registration Officer, CIEEM announce that from this second tranche, a professional and ethical standards in further 32 applicants who were successful ecological consultancy.”
at stage two of the process, were ratified Kerry Shakespeare: “Like James, As you may be aware, CIEEM established by the Governing Board and are now becoming a Chartered Ecologist is a the Register of Chartered Ecologists under entitled to use the post nominals ‘CEcol’. significant achievement in my career. I find powers conferred by the granting of a Amongst these new Registrants are Luke ecology an ever challenging and exciting Royal Charter on 1st April 2013. Gorman and Paul Watts, both are Senior sector to be part of. I hope through this The award of Chartered Ecologist has Ecologists at Atkins, and Kerry Shakespeare chartered status that an ecologists role in given us the opportunity to create a and James McCrory, who are both Lead influencing future developments will go new professional standard which will be Ecologists for RPS. They were pleased from strength to strength, keeping us at widely recognised and valued. To that to share their reasons for applying for the forefront of decision making to not end, the process has been designed to Chartered status. only allow development to proceed but be thorough, robust and rigorous. The Luke Gorman: “I have worked as an to also protect and enhance the natural award provides a professional benchmark ecological consultant for over ten years, environment for future generations.” which demonstrates that those holding leading the ecological input into a number Recruitment of assessors is an integral the title have been thoroughly assessed of complex and nationally important part of the process and a top priority. All and are working to the highest standard, schemes. I work to high standards, using assessors must be Chartered Ecologists and have the competence to take innovation and new industry technologies and have taken part in training. We are the profession forward to meet the to advance the ecology discipline further. happy to report that a healthy pool is challenges of the future. I am extremely pleased to have been building from our first Registrants who In order to test the process and build granted chartered status and believe are keen to promote the profession an initial pool of assessors (there was that the Register of Chartered Ecologists and help drive up standards. We are no grandparenting), the Register was will raise the standards of practice in the extremely grateful to our assessors who initially launched to applications from the ecology sector.” are volunteers and selflessly give their time and support to us. Thank you. President, past-Presidents and Fellows in Paul Watts: “CIEEM allows registration July 2013. Feedback from the Fellows was as a Chartered Ecologist via two possible The Register is open and is proving that the application form is challenging routes: generalist and specialist. As popular. Applications are welcome from and takes longer than they expected. One one of Atkins’ lead ornithologists, I Fellows and Full members of CIEEM and Fellow remarked that the form was “… chose the specialist route, requiring are processed on a first come, first served, similar to completing an application form me to demonstrate competences to regional basis. Additionally, we will soon for a job…a very important job!” an authoritative standard. I found the be accepting applications from equivalent grade members of certain other licensed From this first batch, 21 applicants were application process both challenging and professional bodies. For further information ratified by the Governing Board. On being interesting, allowing me the opportunity and details of how to apply, please go to awarded Chartered Ecologist status, Paul to reflect on the ecological skills that I our Chartered Ecologist webpages (www. Goriup commented: “… delighted to have gained whilst working on a variety cieem.net/chartered-ecologist) or do not have been accorded this new professional of projects for Atkins, as well as in my hesitate to contact me should you have any recognition. I expect that Chartered volunteer role as a bird ringer. I am questions or require further information. Ecologists will now rank with other very proud to have received chartered chartered professions for our scientific status and feel it is testimony to the knowledge, managerial competencies high standards that all Atkins’ ecologists and practical experience. As the impacts adhere to.” of climate change and biodiversity loss James McCrory: “Becoming a Chartered intensify in coming decades, Chartered Ecologist is a significant milestone in my For further information Ecologists will be vital for helping society career to date. The process to become Contact Karen at: [email protected] cope with them.” chartered challenged me to analyse how The Register was opened to applications my experience has contributed to my from Full members on Monday 30th profession. Being chartered reinforces the 54 Internal Articles
Featured CIEEM Training Workshops
Introduction to Phase 1 Design and Management of Bat Impacts and Mitigation Habitat Mapping and Plant Soils for Habitat Creation and (1 May, Dunblane) Identification Biodiversity Trainer: Beccy Osborn MCIEEM (8-9 May, Newark) (8 and 9 April 2014, Neston, Cheshire) Level: Beginner to Intermediate Trainer: Jane Southey CEnv MCIEEM Trainers: Dr Jenny Jones, Dr Philip Putwain This course follows on from Introduction MCIEEM and Dr David Hackett CEnv Level: Beginner to Bat Survey on 30 April; the event also MCIEEM Phase 1 methodology is a system used forms a stand-alone event for participants extensively to provide rapid recording of Level: Beginner to Intermediate with some experience of bat surveys. The wildlife habitats. The first day of this two- Soil is a vital part of terrestrial ecosystems day will provide a brief overview of Scottish day course will introduce plant taxonomy, whose importance is often overlooked. This legislation in relation to bats and licence focusing on some of the common British part classroom-based and part field-based requirements. Bat impacts and mitigation plant families. Participants will have the two-day course will deliver knowledge options relating to various development opportunity to use keys to identify plants of soils to practicing ecologists with little types will be considered including roads, both in the classroom and in the field. or no prior experience and enable them housing, industrial sites and wind farms. The second day will introduce Phase 1 to speak with confidence when dealing Many case studies will be covered and methodology. Participants will integrate with planners, landscape professionals participants are encouraged to bring their both days’ learning by applying survey and project engineers. Workshop own examples of bat mitigation (successful methodology and conducting plant topics covered include description of or not!) for discussion. A short field visit in identification in classroom group exercises soil types and soil profiles, physical and the afternoon is planned to look at some and in the field. chemical properties, structure, ecosystem examples of bat mitigation. Participants will function and soil biodiversity as well as have the opportunity to discuss examples soil amelioration and soil creation with of bat mitigation and receive advice on Introduction to the National emphasis on brownfield sites. During the further reading. Vegetation Classification (NVC) second day participants will experience soil profiles of different soil types. (30 June, Broxton, near Chester) Professionalism and Trainer: Julia Drage MCIEEM (rtd) Environmental Ethics Introduction to Bat Survey Level: Beginner (20 May, Birmingham) The National Vegetation Classification (30 April, Dunblane) Trainer: Jim Baxter (NVC) classifies community types by Trainer: Beccy Osborn MCIEEM Level: Intermediate to Advanced recording and analysing the plants Level: Beginner present. The technique provides a widely Professionals in the fields of ecology and used methodology for providing detailed This course will provide an introduction environmental management strive to gain (Phase 2) ecological site survey. This one to Scottish bat legislation, bat ecology, the confidence and respect of working day course aims to encourage thinking best practice survey techniques, roost partners and stakeholders by building a in terms of the occurrence of plant types and identification. Case studies will reputation based on high quality work, communities. The classroom session cover different survey situations, including trust, consistency, credibility and integrity. will cover data collection and analysis, construction sites, wind farms, roads and Yet the complexities of the legal and identification of plant communities and trees. The day will be classroom based with regulatory system, plus other pressures, a field visit in the evening to look at bat create ethical challenges that test high site evaluation. Participants will record roosts and (weather permitting) record at professional standards. How can these and sample communities on a neutral least three species of bat with a number challenges be practically approached in grassland and the collected data will be of different bat detectors. Participants will everyday work? tabulated and analysed, using keys and have the opportunity to discuss survey NVC floristic tables. queries and experiences and receive advice on further reading.
55 Internal Articles 2014 Autumn Conference Raising Standards of Professional Practice: Update and Next Stages ,/ddZ d/KEE
Linda Yost CEnv MCIEEM Mick Hall CEnv MCIEEM Deputy Chief Executive, CIEEM Associate Director, Arup and Chair of CIEEM’s Professional Standards Committee Z ^dKZd/KE
CIEEM’s Professional Standards Committee to be poor ecological or environmental • there should be consistency in the ϭϭͲϭϮEŽǀĞŵďĞƌϮϬϭϰ͕ ĚŝŶďƵƌŐŚhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ (PSC) has sought the views of the management practice. It also summarised understanding and application of membership through online surveys and a their understanding of the cause(s) and guidance across all sectors; series of one-day workshops with respect effects, and their thoughts on workable • there should be minimum standards of to defining poor practice, and seeking solutions. From the information gathered practice in the sector through certification views as to solutions. it was evident that poor standards of and quality assurance; work were often confused with issues The workshops were run on a country basis • appropriate behaviours should be of compliance with CIEEM’s Code of in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales encouraged and reinforced; and to take account of the relevant policy Professional Conduct. • there should be stronger baseline support in Examples of poor practice that were (legislation, regulations, guidance, etc.) place to promote good standards of work raised and discussed during the and to enable local member participation. (law, Directives, regulations and policy). The workshops were chaired by the workshops included: In total there are approximately 40 Vice-Presidents from each country and • Operating outside of professional areas for improvement and it is with were facilitated not only by PSC but knowledge, skills, sphere of competence some satisfaction that many of these also several members of the Governing • Exercising of professional judgement in suggestions reinforced the areas of work Board. We sought the participation of relation to information, advice, applying that are already in progress at CIEEM. The Full members and Fellows from across the objectivity, relevance, accuracy, fairness, next stage is to determine how best to sectors in these workshops and sought the impartiality take forward the remaining issues, and engagement of particular non-members these will need careful consideration by from the SNCOs, local Authorities, wildlife/ • Compliance with legislation and regulations the Governing Board and the individual species trusts and societies. • Application, interpretation of guidance Standing Committees. Once all of these • Over specifying mitigation/survey work The online survey was used to gather suggestions have been considered, the information from those members who • Conduct of business relationships recommendations will be prioritised and expressed an interest in providing their • Scientific data and information usage incorporated into the Business Plan 2014- views, and those members who had • Employment of appropriately qualified, 15 or into the Strategic Plan 2015-2020 as agreed to participate in the workshops. competent staff and their management, appropriate. The workshops sought to clarify and verify supervision and support The PSC would like to thank all of the džĂŵƉůĞŽĨĂůĂƌŐĞƐĐĂůĞƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶƉƌŽũĞĐƚͲdŚĞ'ƌĞĂƚ&ĞŶWƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ĂŵďƌŝĚŐĞƐŚŝƌĞ the anecdotal evidence of poor practice Considering the findings of the respondents for their valuable time and that is alleged to be occurring within the workshops and survey, the PSC drew up contributions that have helped identify the profession, and to propose measures that recommendations for actions to address areas issues of poor practice. Their advice will could be taken to address and rectify poor of poor practice raised and to implement help to shape the measures that will raise A call for papers will be announced in May 2014. standards. The attendees of the workshops suggestions for solutions. The PSC reported standards. PSC expects to provide more were asked to: the outcome of the survey and workshops to detailed updates in the coming months on ĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟŽŶŝƐĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞŽŶƐŝƚĞĂƚƚŚĞhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͛ƐWŽůůŽĐŬ i. consider what they saw as poor the Governing Board, which was considered the work that will be undertaken to deliver these measures. practice; at its meeting on 15th January 2014. ,ĂůůƐ͘dŚŝƐŝƐŚŽǁĞǀĞƌůŝŵŝƚĞĚďƵƚĐĂŶďĞŬĞĚŽŶůŝŶĞĂƚ ii. consider what was the cause of poor From the suggestions put forward by practice; members a number of topic areas were ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘Ŭ͘ĂĐĐŽŵ͘ĞĚ͘ĂĐ͘ƵŬĂƚĂƌĞĚƵĐĞĚƉƌŝĐĞŽĨάϲϱ͘ϰϱ iii. consider what the effects of the poor identified for further investigation. These practice was; and included that: For further information ƋƵŽƟŶŐĐŽĚĞKE&ϭϰ͘ iv. propose solutions or ways of • the membership application process Contact Linda at: addressing poor practice. should reflect a good standard of practice [email protected] as well as of behaviour; DŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚ The outputs of the workshops summarised Contact Mick at: the key areas of concern that individuals • members should remain current in relation [email protected] had encountered, which they perceived to the latest practice in their sphere; 56 2014 Autumn Conference
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A call for papers will be announced in May 2014. ĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟŽŶŝƐĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞŽŶƐŝƚĞĂƚƚŚĞhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͛ƐWŽůůŽĐŬ ,ĂůůƐ͘dŚŝƐŝƐŚŽǁĞǀĞƌůŝŵŝƚĞĚďƵƚĐĂŶďĞŬĞĚŽŶůŝŶĞĂƚ ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘Ŭ͘ĂĐĐŽŵ͘ĞĚ͘ĂĐ͘ƵŬĂƚĂƌĞĚƵĐĞĚƉƌŝĐĞŽĨάϲϱ͘ϰϱ ƋƵŽƟŶŐĐŽĚĞKE&ϭϰ͘ DŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚ
57 Internal Articles
The Only Way Is Ethics
Lisa Kerslake MCIEEM Judging Wisely There is something profound and at the same time immediately practical about the Swift Ecology Ltd In preparing to write this first article, and questions we want to consider in these taking into account (in our very humble articles: what does it take to be a wise way) the centuries of enlightened debate judge in matters of professional ethics? Mike Oxford FCIEEM and argument over ethics, one thing has On this particular point, found in a series Consultant and ALGE Project Officer become apparent to us; that is there is no of excellent articles on business ethics, one magic formula to guide our judgement Klempner (2008) says: over an ethical dilemma. Nor is there any This is the first article in a series that will acid test to determine the ‘rightness’ appear in coming issues of In Practice. or wrongness’ of a decision you make. “’Wisdom’ is a rather old fashioned Over the course of these next few articles You cannot judge the correctness of an word. Modesty seems to forbid we will start to explore: what it is to be a ethical decision by the money it puts into us from referring to ourselves as good or wise judge over ethical questions, your bank account, or the size of the car ‘wise’, yet the opposite ‘unwise’ is why having a sound ethical basis for you drive, or indeed your status in an clearly a term of criticism. What we everything you do as a professional is organisation. However, what you may strive to be is not ‘unwise’, while important, as well as exploring how to learn, after the event, is what other people recognising that genuine wisdom is reserved for the few.” think about different kinds of professional think of your decisions, people whose ethical dilemmas. judgement you respect.
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58 Internal Articles
In our coming series of articles, we hope to coming to an ethical decision, our response demonstrate why we should all desire to be to an ethical challenge is not based on It is November, and an elderly farmer wise. However, if – as Klempner suggests just some mere subjective preference. Our has approached you to undertake – you are uncomfortable with the term judgement represents our understanding bat surveys of her barn complex. wisdom then perhaps we can rephrase the of, and is dictated by, our sense of what is She is desperately keen to get original question: what is it to ‘judge well’ right. However subconscious or intangible planning permission before April on matters of professional ethics? this may seem, it guides our judgement and the following year. Whichever way we couch it, what does not gives it its sense of urgency and necessity. You know that the local planning seem to be a matter of debate is that being We make our ethical evaluations against authority does not have an in-house a good judge of professional ethics is an a background of common knowledge ecologist, and is unlikely to scrutinise essential accomplishment for a professional and understanding of what is acceptable this sort of application too closely, so person – even if it is something that we or unacceptable behaviour. For CIEEM it is likely to get consent even without mainly do subconsciously. In fact, in our members, a list of behaviours that we any form of ecological survey. day-to-day lives, we rarely appreciate, or should abide by or aspire to is given in What issues around good practice does stop to think about how ethics intrudes our Code of Professional Conduct. But, this raise, and does it raise any issues into so many of the practical decisions ultimately, what a knowledge of any code that might be in conflict with CIEEM’s that we make. We simply don’t think of conduct cannot do is substitute for your Code of Professional Conduct? consciously about this underlying personal own good sense and judgement. Would it change your position if you code that guides how we act and what we What lies behind the very idea of ethics knew she was recently widowed and do. Nevertheless, some form of ethical or is the notion that it is possible to see needs to move out of the farm as soon moral code underpins nearly every action the world from a point of view which as possible? we take. And we generally tend to muddle is, to some degree, detached from the Should it influence you, if you discover on until something comes up that is one which we ourselves occupy. And of that she has been a very active member beyond our normal experience; a choice or course we all inhabit different worlds as of the local Wildlife Trust for the last 30 challenge, where we genuinely don’t know we perform different roles. Our decision years – or that she is offering to donate what we should do. over an ethical issue may be different 11 hectares of wildflower meadow on Before we get too far into this, we should depending on the assumed role we have the farm to the Trust if she is able to make a clear distinction. A difficult ethical in our world as we face a particular obtain planning permission? decision is not necessarily the same as challenge: that of professional ecologist, Does it alter how you might react, a decision that is difficult to make. For business owner, responsible citizen, loyal if you understand that if you do not instance, you may be faced with a situation spouse, caring parent or child, a decent accept the commission, she is likely morality where it is very clear what would be the human being. These particular roles all to use an ecological consultant (a right or wrong thing to do. Say you are carry particular personal ‘baggage’ and friend of the family) that has a very aware that a client has, contrary to your values that have the potential to clash. poor reputation locally in terms of the advice, committed a serious offence under The dogmatic response that professional quality and competence of their work? wildlife legislation. The right thing to do good practice dictates ‘X’, or that the client What further ethical dilemmas might would be to at least bring this to their requires ‘Y’, and that these override all you have to wrestle with if you are told attention – if not to actually report it to the other obligations in all circumstances, is that she is terminally ill and unlikely relevant authorities. But this would probably simply unworkable. be a very difficult decision to make. to survive beyond May the following Therefore, to take another person into year? All she now wants to do is get A difficult ethical decision, on the other account when you make a decision implies planning permission so that she can hand, is where we find that there are at that you put some value on the way they leave the barns, as a legacy, to her least two possible courses of action. From see things, on what is important in their daughter and three grandchildren. terms different perspectives either might seem eyes, on what benefits or harms them. equally justifiable and appear to be the After your initial inspection, you have right thing to do – but each appears to be A Difficult Scenario found evidence that bats are present but have not established the number completely incompatible with the other. So how does ethical decision-making work present nor the status of the roost. Without going into lots of ethical theories in practice? Let’s consider the following at this stage (we will return to those in scenario (in the box to the right) where you Finally, you also know that you have later articles), for the practical purpose of are acting as an ecological consultant. an opportunity to work with a very sympathetic architect to achieve an overall biodiversity enhancement. But you won’t have time to do all the necessary surveys recommended by good practice guidance.
59 Internal Articles
So, from your own ethical standpoint, Consequently, as Kant observed, wisdom what should you do? And be honest with and skill in judgement can never be References yourself. You don’t have to tell us, but try reduced to a book of rules. You still need Klempner, G. (2008). Ethical dilemma unit 1. to really work out what you would do. to use judgement in applying the rules. Business Ethics – Creating a Thinking Board. Does Ethical Theory Help? Is There an Answer to This Fewsings, P. (2009). Ethics for the Built Environment. Taylor and Francis Group. One branch of ethics (Consequentialism) Dilemma? would suggest that one’s actions should In our next article we will reflect on the be judged according to the outcome – issues that this scenario raises; what in other words, the end may justify the questions it raises under CIEEM’s Code of Acknowledgements means. Following this approach, if there Professional Conduct; and also how we The views expressed in this article are the authors’ is a good biodiversity outcome with the might be able to arrive at a wise judgement own personal views, although we would like to barn conversions, in terms of overall gains that is both pragmatic and apparently thank Jenny Neff and Liza Booth for the for bats and a new wildflower meadow, acceptable to fellow professionals. invaluable comments made on its scope, we may take the view that this is the most shape and content. important thing. But is it that simple? New ‘Professional Ethics’ LinkedIn Discussion Thread However, an opposing school of thought (Deontology) suggests that the judgement We do not claim to have all the answers of rightness or wrongness of any action (not yet anyway!), but we hope to stimulate is independent of the outcome. Instead, your thoughts and initiate a discussion we should be guided by the intrinsic amongst a wide range of members. So goodness of the action, in and of itself. if you would like to share your response Following this approach, we may feel that to this scenario, or read about how other an exception should not be made for the people would tackle it, we have started a farmer and that both the planning and new CIEEM LinkedIn Thread – dedicated to licence applications should be submitted in exploring ethical issues as faced by CIEEM due course, and should be informed by all members. Go to: http://www.linkedin.com/ necessary surveys in accordance with good groups?gid=4306428 professional practice guidance, especially as this could be more easily justified under About the Authors CIEEM’s Code of Professional Conduct. Lisa Kerslake is Managing Director of Swift Finally, would your perspective be Ecology and has previously held senior roles in a local authority, a wildlife trust, different, and therefore how would your and a biological records centre. She is a reaction change, if you were an ecologist member of CIEEM’s Governing Board, actually working for the local authority Vice-Convenor of the West Midlands who receives the planning application; Geographic Section and a former member or alternatively, if you were the licensing of the Professional Standards Committee. officer with the relevant SNCO that has to Contact Lisa at: deal with the EPS Licence application? [email protected] Klempner says: “Sometimes we face ethical Mike Oxford is the Project Officer for decisions which are difficult, not because the Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) and a serving member of something we lack – the required of CIEEM’s Professional Standards knowledge or expertise, but rather because Committee. He is also one of the principal the nature of the situation which we are authors of BS42020 Biodiversity – Code of dealing with is such that no amount of practice for planning and development. expertise would be sufficient to determine Contact Mike at: the one and only ‘correct’ answer. This is [email protected] the characteristic of a true ethical dilemma.”
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61 Internal Articles
What Use is CIEEM to an Academic or, Indeed, an Academic to CIEEM? A Dialogue Between Two University Lecturers
Eirene Williams CEnv FCIEEM Rtd benefit but for that of our students. I was ex-students are now MCIEEM, CEnv and previously of Plymouth University teaching ecology and habitat management advancing in seniority in their careers yet on BSc courses. The first destinations of remain grateful for the introduction to the graduates were often ranger and professionalism through CIEEM. Roland Randall CEnv FCIEEM warden jobs, but we could truthfully say I was however surprised that so few Cambridge University they could be anything from accountants university lecturers had joined IEEM. As to zookeepers. One common factor was I conducted the first IEEM membership that they were very likely to be or be Dr Roland Randall introduces the survey in the early 1990s I was in a dealing with the natural world and the topic: Ecology and environmental position to confirm the suspicion that management are applied aspects of the environment, and with other professionals IEEM was initially a consultants’ club. biological sciences, albeit underpinned such as planners and engineers. Thus the Now that CIEEM has come of age there by an increasingly rigorous body of existence of a professional institute in the have been long-awaited developments theory. It is therefore very likely that ecology and environmental management such as accreditation of degrees and the students specialising in these areas and area, and all that that implied for career awarding of student dissertation prizes. those academics teaching them will not development, was greatly to our students’ In order to be considered for degree only need to acquire a good grounding advantage. This has turned out to be true accreditation, a university course or in ecological theory but will also spend and is the first reason why an academic pathway must have at least one lecturer some part of their careers in practising or should consider belonging to CIEEM. who is MCIEEM and preferably others who advising on environmental management. In Roland adds: In my case, my head of are eligible and who might be persuaded order to get onto the career pathway, most department did not see a value in an to apply for membership. So the third students will be required to gain work involvement with non-academics (Eirene reason for a lecturer to join is again for experience during vacations and are likely surmises this might be difference between the sake of students, who benefit later to carry out a dissertation which includes a a Russell Group University and an ex- when seeking employment in the ecology practical aspect. For all of these reasons, it Polytechnic?!) and I have been the only and environmental management sector is advantageous both to enrol as a Student member of my department to join CIEEM. from having taken an accredited course. member of CIEEM and also to continue However, a large number of my students The fourth reason is for the lecturer’s with membership in later life even if one have benefitted from the links I have made department, which benefits from being stays in academia. and have been grateful for the introductions able to market an accredited course. Dr Eirene Williams interjects: Like many which led to dissertation opportunities or, in Roland adds: It is interesting that, in university lecturers in our subject area I was some cases, career pathways. the last few months since the Institute a member of the British Ecological Society Eirene continues: Once IEEM (now CIEEM) has achieved Chartered status, several of (BES) for many years. This was in the days was established my head of department my colleagues have now expressed more before online subscriptions so my office agreed to pay my annual membership interest in what we are about! was necessarily lined with copies of the and facilitate relevant CPD activities. Even Both agree: Many lecturers do also act relevant BES journals. Somehow amongst now, one professional subscription is as consultants so may have non-altruistic all this paper I noticed that there was to often payable by a lecturer’s department reasons for joining CIEEM. Reading In be a meeting at the Royal Geographical and this is a second reason for choosing Practice is a good way of keeping up to Society to discuss the formation of a CIEEM. In the early days of IEEM there was date on legal and professional issues such professional institute for ecological no specific student membership and no as BS42020 that may not appear in the practitioners. My head of department websites so I would pass round my copy of academic or research literature. There are agreed to pay for me to go to this! In Practice and any news about conferences also guidelines and articles published by The rationale I had put forward for this and events of interest for which there CIEEM about tendering and pricing work was that it was not so much for my own was a student discount available. Many which may not often come through normal 62 university channels. CIEEM conferences with a more applied focus may also be relevant. Membership of CIEEM (and maybe CEcol status in due course) will add credibility when evidence has to be presented at a public enquiry. As there is always pressure on academics to publish their work the occasional article in In Practice may also count for something. Roland concludes: There is little doubt in our minds that CIEEM membership is of great value both to academics and their students. CIEEM also benefits from academic input in maintaining a thorough grounding in theory and in providing a wider base of membership from the student body – a win-win situation. The next step therefore, is for CIEEM to initiate a recruitment drive in universities and colleges, promoting the advantages both of student membership and membership of more senior staff. Advertisements in the ecological journals may be a start but leaflets posted out to all relevant academic About the Authors departments extolling the values of CIEEM membership may also be necessary to Roland has retired from lecturing in Eirene has retired from lecturing in Biogeography and Conservation and Countryside Management at Seale-Hayne reach the critical mass required to make Management at Cambridge University College (Plymouth University) and spends membership de rigeur. but continues in research on coastal much of her time doing voluntary work vegetation as a Life Fellow at Girton for CIEEM! Her career started in Malawi College, Cambridge. He is also involved as a VSO at the Tea Research Foundation, with voluntary work for CIEEM. His career then lecturing at the Malawi Polytechnic. began as a lecturer at the University Back in UK a PhD in Ecological Genetics of Ulster after completing an MSc on at Exeter University followed, and she the coastal vegetation of Barbados at bought a beef farm in Devon combining McGill University, Montreal and a PhD her academic and practical interests in at Cambridge on the vegetation of the agriculture and the environment. She Monach Isles, Outer Hebrides. He then has also been active on behalf of CIEEM returned to Cambridge University where he within the Society for the Environment has combined lecturing and research with and contributed to CIEEM being granted running a livestock farm and exporting Chartered status in 2012. livestock throughout the world. He became Contact Eirene at: a Fellow of the Institute in 2009. [email protected] Contact Roland at: [email protected]
Supervision at Girton College, Cambridge 63 New Publications
The Mammals of Cornwall Nature in the Balance: The and the Isles of Scilly Economics of Biodiversity Editor: David Groves Editors: Dieter Helm ISBN: 9781902864105 and Cameron Hepburn Price: £9.99 ISBN: 978-0199676880 Available from: www.nhbs.com Price: £24.00 This comprehensive distribution atlas Available from: http://natureinthebalance. has been published four years after the org/ launch of the Atlas Project. The Cornwall This book sets out the building blocks of Mammal Group (CMG) began by working towards filling in some an economic approach to biodiversity, of the gaps through targeted surveys, appeals for records and and in particular brings together conceptual and empirical work encouraging the collation of existing records. The Group also on valuation, international agreements, the policy instruments, wanted to produce a book which went further than just a series and the institutions. The objective is to provide a comprehensive of maps and wanted to use the opportunity to educate and overview of the issues and evidence, and to suggest how this entertain anyone with an interest in natural history and encourage very urgent problem should be addressed. Whilst there has been them to find out about some of our more intriguing wildlife. The an enormous growth and research focus on climate change, atlas is a starting point, providing a baseline against which to less attention has been paid to biodiversity. This collection of measure change; perhaps as a consequence of climate change high-quality chapters addresses the economic issues involved or development. It also gives us some ideas about how to target in biodiversity protection. This book focuses on the economics, survey work – where to look, and what to look for. Not only with but incorporates the science and philosophy, combining the the more established methods of traps and binoculars; but also application of a number of theoretical ideas with a series of exploring novel approaches such as tracking tunnels and trail policy cases. cameras, encouraging community recording, and searching for old records amongst the files and libraries of other organisations.
Ecosystem Services: Global Biosecurity: The Socio-Politics Issues, Local Practices of Invasive Species and Editors: Sander Jacobs, Nicolas Infectious Diseases Dendoncker and Hans Keune Editors: Andrew Dobson, ISBN: 9780124199644 Kezia Barker and Sarah L. Taylor Price: £36.74 ISBN: 978-0-415-53477-2 Available from: http://store.elsevier.com Price: £32.99 This book covers scientific input, Available from: www.routledge.com socioeconomic considerations, and In this introductory volume, biosecurity is governance issues on ecosystem services. presented as a governance approach to a set of concerns that span It provides hands-on transdisciplinary reflections by administrators the protection of indigenous biological organisms, agricultural and sector representatives involved in the ecosystem service systems and human health, from invasive pests and diseases. community. The book develops shared approaches and scientific It describes the ways in which biosecurity is understood and methods to achieve knowledge-based sustainable planning and theorised in different subject disciplines, including anthropology, management of ecosystem services. Professionals engaged in political theory, ecology, geography and environmental ecosystem service implementation have two options: de-emphasise management. It examines the different scientific and knowledge the ecological and socioeconomic complexity and advance in practices connected to biosecurity governance, including legal the theoretical, abstract field, or try to develop research that is regimes, ecology, risk management and alternative knowledges. policy relevant and inclusive in an uncertain environment. This The geopolitics of biosecurity is considered in terms of health, book provides a wide overview of issues at stake, of interest for biopolitics and trade governance at the global scale. Finally, any professional wishing to develop a broader view on ecosystem biosecurity as an approach to actively secure the future is assessed service science and practice. in the context of future risk and uncertainties, such as globalisation and climate change.
64 New Publications /Journals
The Hydro-Politics of Dams: A Field Key to Common Engineering or Ecosystms? Churchyard Lichens Author: Mark Everard Author: Frank S. Dobson ISBN: 9781780325408 ISBN: 9780954232474 Price: £21.99 Price: £14.99 Available from: www.zedbooks.co.uk Available from: www.nhbs.com This publication charts the troubled waters This publication is the result of three years of ‘heavy engineering’ approaches to of extensive testing by various lichen ecosystem management, exploring the groups with all degrees of experience. It history, benefits and problems of large is fully illustrated throughout and enables nearly 255 species of dams. It then explores diverse ecosystem-based approaches lichen to be identified in the field. It covers lichens on stone, soil to management of human interactions with the water cycle, and wooden structures such as gates, fences and benches. In the concluding that a synthesis of approaches is needed in future. The second edition the species names have been updated and a some book also addresses political, economic and legal dimensions of minor corrections made. It includes a few new species in the main water management. Featuring case studies from China, India and key but the most important change is in the supplementary key South Africa, this insightful new book argues that there are more to species on wood. This is based on the much extended key in appropriate physical and social technologies that can help Lichens on Trees. The book is now 50 pages in length and includes to sustainably provide access to clean water for all. 255 species against the 190 in the previous edition.
Reappraising the effects of habitat structure on river macroinvertebrates. Barnes, J.B., Vaughan, I.P. and Ormerod, S.J. Freshwater Biology 2013, 58: 2154-2167. Although rivers are highly structured physically, generalisations about the consequences for macroinvertebrates remain elusive. © Wildstock.co.uk In part, this reflects the difficulty of quantifying structure per se as well as differentiating the effects on organisms of complexity Hen harriers on a Scottish grouse moor: (i.e. the total abundance of structural features), heterogeneity (i.e. the composition and spatial arrangement of different structural multiple factors predict breeding density features) and surface area. Three hypotheses about habitat and productivity. structure were tested at the patch scale (<0.1m2) in tributaries of the Rivers Wye and Usk, mid-Wales: (i) greater habitat Baines, D. and Richardson, M. heterogeneity and surface complexity alter macroinvertebrate Journal of Applied Ecology 2013, 50: 1397–1405. assemblage composition and increase diversity, richness and The authors compared numbers and productivity of hen abundance, (ii) the effects of complexity on macroinvertebrates harriers Circus cyaneus, a protected specialist predator of are distinct from those of increased surface area, and (iii) conservation importance, in relation to a change in generalist habitat structure (heterogeneity and complexity) is a major predator management at Langholm, a moor managed for red determinant of variations in macroinvertebrates among habitat grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus shooting in southern Scotland types (bedrock, silt, sand, gravel, pebbles and cobbles). Bedrock between 1992 and 2007. During 1992–1999, the moor was was the least complex habitat, whilst pebbles were the most managed for grouse and keepers legally controlled predators, complex. Habitat mosaics surrounding cobbles had the most thereafter keepering ceased. Following full protection being variable patch sizes, whilst those around gravel or bedrock were given to nesting harriers, their numbers increased from two the most even. Complexity (but not heterogeneity) increased breeding females in 1992 to 20 in 1997, when predation by macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance independently of harriers limited numbers of grouse available for shooting. After surface area, but independently accounted for <5% of the grouse management stopped in 1999, carrion crows Corvus variation in macroinvertebrates. Complexity and surface area corone and red foxes Vulpes vulpes increased and numbers also independently increased taxonomic richness, but rarefaction of female harriers dropped to below five from 2002 onwards. showed that this was an artefact of increased abundances. Numbers of breeding harriers were negatively correlated Habitat type explained more of the variation (up to 21%) and with meadow pipit Anthus pratensis, crow, and July grouse rendered complexity and surface area redundant in our models. abundance during the keepered period and positively with Bedrock, silt and sand typically had reduced diversity, richness and spring grouse abundance. Harrier clutch size was positively abundance of (mostly) Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera, correlated with vole abundance. Harrier clutch survival and whilst silt had abundant Chironomidae. The results support the productivity were higher when the moor was keepered. first two hypotheses, but only in part. Habitat heterogeneity did Predation by foxes was the main cause of harrier breeding not affect macroinvertebrates, whilst the effects of complexity failure. The authors consider this study to be the first that were weak. The major implication is that habitat type affects quantifies how control of generalist predators as part of macroinvertebrates through factors other than structure alone. The grouse moor management can benefit harrier productivity. authors advocate a wider reappraisal of the processes involved. Correspondence: [email protected] Correspondence: [email protected]
65 Journals
Seasonality, weather Opportunistic citizen science data of and climate affect animal species produce reliable estimates home range size in of distribution trends if analysed with roe deer across a wide occupancy models. latitudinal gradient van Strien, A.J., van Swaay, C.A.M. and Termaat, T. within Europe. Journal of Applied Ecology 2013, 50: 1450–1458. Morellet, N. et al. The authors investigated whether occupancy models can Journal of Animal Ecology correct for the observation, reporting and detection biases 2013, 82: 1326–1339. in opportunistic data. Occupancy models use detection/non- © Wildstock.co.uk detection data and yield estimates of the percentage of occupied The authors evaluated how sites (occupancy) per year. These models take the imperfect home range (HR) size of a large detection of species into account. By correcting for detection herbivore, the roe deer Capreolus capreolus, varies in relation to bias, they may simultaneously correct for observation and seasonality, latitude (climate), weather, plant productivity and landscape reporting bias as well. The authors compared trends in occupancy features across its geographical range in Western Europe. As roe (or distribution) of butterfly and dragonfly species derived deer are income breeders, expected to adjust HR size continuously to from opportunistic data with those derived from standardised temporal variation in food resources and energetic requirements, the monitoring data. All data came from the same grid squares and baseline prediction was for HR size to decrease with proxies of resource years, in order to avoid any geographical bias in this comparison. availability. Among populations, HR size decreased with increasing Distribution trends in opportunistic and monitoring data were values for proxies of forage abundance, but increased with increases well-matched. Strong trends observed in monitoring data were in seasonality, stochastic variation of temperature, latitude and snow rarely missed in opportunistic data. Opportunistic data can be cover. Within populations, roe deer HR size varied over time in relation used for monitoring purposes if occupancy models are used for to seasonality and proxies of forage abundance in a consistent way analysis. Occupancy models are able to control for the common across the seven populations. The findings were broadly consistent biases encountered with opportunistic data, enabling species across the distributional range of this species, demonstrating a strong trends to be monitored for species groups and regions where and ubiquitous link between the amplitude and timing of environmental it is not feasible to collect standardised data on a large scale. seasonality and HR size at the continental scale. Overall, the variability Opportunistic data may thus become an important source of in average HR size of roe deer across Europe reflects the interaction information to track distribution trends in many groups of species. between local weather, climate and seasonality, providing valuable insight into the limiting factors affecting this large herbivore under Correspondence: [email protected] contrasting conditions. The complexity of the relationships suggests that predicting ranging behaviour of large herbivores in relation to current and future climate change will require detailed knowledge not only Intraspecific functional differentiation suggests about predicted increases in temperature, but also how this interacts local adaptation to long-term climate change in with factors such as day length and climate predictability. a calcareous grassland. Correspondence: [email protected] Ravenscroft, C.H., Fridley, J.D. and Grime, J.P. Journal of Ecology 2014, 102: 65–73. Impact of plant invasions on local arthropod Populations of the common perennial herb Plantago lanceolata communities: a meta-analysis. have been exposed to nearly two decades of summer drought at the Buxton Climate Change Experiment (BCCIL), a controlled van Hengstum, T. et al. manipulation of climate factors in a species-rich limestone grassland Journal of Ecology 2014, 102: 4–11. in northern England. The authors used a common garden approach The authors present a meta-analysis of 56 studies on the impact to test for evidence of selection for different suites of functional traits of plant invasions on abundance and richness of local arthropod in P. lanceolata populations exposed to chronic summer drought and communities. They also study the role of five invader and across a soil depth gradient. The main axis of functional variation habitat attributes to assess their influence on the direction and reflected a trade-off between reproductive and vegetative allocation, magnitude of effect on arthropod communities: the time since consistent with drought avoidance and competitive strategies, introduction; woody vs. herbaceous invaders; presence of native respectively. Avoidance strategies were more prominent in droughted congeners; canopy cover of the invader; and single vs. multiple populations, whereas competitive strategies were more prominent invaders. The authors found that overall invaded habitats had a in populations from control treatments. Treatment differences were 29% lower arthropod abundance and a 17% lower taxonomic more pronounced in shallower soils. Deeper soils in both control and richness compared with non-invaded habitats. Woody invaders drought treatments promoted functional differentiation associated had a stronger negative impact on arthropod communities than with competitive strategies, suggesting that selective pressures herbaceous invaders, reducing abundance and richness by as imposed by different climate treatments are modified by fine-scale much as 55% and 21%, respectively. The study demonstrates edaphic heterogeneity. Results suggest that population-level shifts that arthropod communities are negatively affected by plant can be a mechanism of resistance to local climate-induced extinction. invasions, which may have substantial effects on other ecosystem Trait differentiation with respect to fine-scale variation in soil depth features, such as pollination, food web dynamics, decomposition suggests that edaphic heterogeneity fosters high local genetic as well as habitat heterogeneity. Loss of arthropod diversity is diversity, which provides a range of local phenotypes upon which generally directly associated with loss of plant species richness. drought-based selection may act. Correspondence: [email protected] Correspondence: [email protected]
66 When and where does mortality occur The importance of landscape and spatial in migratory birds? Direct evidence from structure for hymenopteran-based food webs long-term satellite tracking of raptors. in an agro-ecosystem. Klaassen, R.H.G. et al. Fabian, Y. et al. Journal of Animal Ecology 2014, 83: 176–184. Journal of Animal Ecology 2013, 82: 1203–1214. In migratory animals, mortality might occur not only during the Understanding the environmental factors that structure stationary periods (e.g. breeding and wintering) but also during the biodiversity and food webs among communities is central to migration seasons. However, the relative importance of population assess and mitigate the impact of landscape changes. Wildflower limiting factors during different periods of the year remains poorly strips are ecological compensation areas established in farmland understood, and previous studies mainly relied on indirect evidence. to increase pollination services and biological control of crop Here, the authors provide direct evidence about when and where pests and to conserve insect diversity. The authors describe results migrants die by identifying cases of confirmed and probable deaths from experimental wildflower strips in a fragmented agricultural in three species of long-distance migratory raptors tracked by landscape, comparing the importance of landscape, of spatial satellite telemetry. The authors show that mortality rate was about arrangement and of vegetation on the diversity and abundance six times higher during migration seasons than during stationary of trap-nesting bees, wasps and their enemies, and the structure periods. However, total mortality was surprisingly similar between of their food webs. The proportion of forest cover close to the periods, which can be explained by the fact that risky migration wildflower strips and the landscape heterogeneity stood out periods are shorter than safer stationary periods. Nevertheless, more as the most influential landscape elements, resulting in a more than half of the annual mortality occurred during migration. The complex trap-nest community with higher abundance and authors also found spatio-temporal patterns in mortality: spring richness of hosts, and with more links between species in the food mortality occurred mainly in Africa in association with the crossing webs and a higher diversity of interactions. The authors conclude of the Sahara desert, while most mortality during autumn took that in order to increase the diversity and abundance of pollinators place in Europe. The results strongly suggest that events during the and biological control agents and to favour a potentially stable migration seasons have an important impact on the population community of cavity-nesting hymenoptera in wildflower strips, dynamics of long-distance migrants. The authors speculate that more investment is needed in the conservation and establishment mortality during spring migration may account for short-term of forest habitats within agro-ecosystems. annual variation in survival and population sizes, while mortality Correspondence: [email protected] during autumn migration may be more important for long-term population regulation (through density-dependent effects). Correspondence: [email protected] Insights into population ecology from long-term Why is timing of bird migration studies of red grouse advancing when individuals are not? Lagopus lagopus scoticus. Gill, J.A. et al. Martínez-Padilla, J. et al. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2013, 281: 20132161. Journal of Animal Ecology 2014, Recent advances in spring arrival dates have been reported in 83: 85–98. many migratory species but the mechanism driving these advances is unknown. As population declines are most widely reported Red grouse research has combined © Wildstock.co.uk in species that are not advancing migration, there is an urgent long-term studies of marked individuals need to identify the mechanisms facilitating and constraining with demographic studies over wide these advances. Individual plasticity in timing of migration in geographical areas and replicated individual- and population-level response to changing climatic conditions is commonly proposed manipulations. A main focus has been on understanding the causes to drive these advances but plasticity in individual migratory of population cycles in red grouse, and in particular the relative timings is rarely observed. For a shorebird population that has importance of intrinsic (behaviour) and extrinsic (climate, food significantly advanced migration in recent decades, the authors limitation and parasite) mechanisms. Separate studies conducted show that individual arrival dates are highly consistent between in different regions initially proposed either the nematode parasite years, but that the arrival dates of new recruits to the population Trichostrongylus tenuis or changes in male aggressiveness in autumn are significantly earlier now than in previous years. Several as drivers of population cycles. More recent experiments suggest that mechanisms could drive advances in recruit arrival, none of parasites are not a necessary cause for cycles and have highlighted that which require individual plasticity or rapid evolution of migration behavioural and parasite-mediated mechanisms are interrelated. Long- timings. In particular, advances in nest-laying dates could result in term experiments show that parasites and aggressiveness interact. advanced recruit arrival, if benefits of early hatching facilitate early Two outstanding questions remain to be tested experimentally. First, subsequent spring migration. This mechanism could also explain what intrinsic mechanism causes temporal variation in patterns of male why arrival dates of short-distance migrants, which generally aggressiveness? The current favoured mechanism is related to patterns return to breeding sites earlier and have greater scope for advance of kin structuring although there are alternative hypotheses. Second, laying, are advancing more rapidly than long-distance migrants. how do the dual, interacting mechanisms, affect population dynamics? Correspondence: [email protected] Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected]
Looking forward through the past: and priority research areas for palaeoecology, which reconstructs identification of 50 priority research past ecological and environmental systems on time-scales from decades to millions of years. The authors adapted a well- questions in palaeoecology. established methodology to identify 50 priority research questions Seddon, A.W.R. et al. in palaeoecology. Using a set of criteria designed to identify Journal of Ecology 2014, 102: 256–267. realistic and achievable research goals, they selected questions Priority question exercises are becoming an increasingly common from a pool submitted by the international palaeoecology research tool to frame future agendas in conservation and ecological community and relevant policy practitioners. science. There has been no coherent synthesis of key questions Correspondence: [email protected]
67 Diary
Forthcoming Events For information on these events please see www.cieem.net.
Conferences Date Title Location 18 March 2014 Biodiversity Offsetting: From Theory to Practice Birmingham
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69 ENVIRONMENT MANAGER Required to join the senior team managing a 23,000 acre estate in Suffolk. This is a senior position to suit an experienced professional with a practical and commercial background in forestry, who is able to demonstrate strong leadership and the ability to take on a broad range of responsibilities. For more information about Elveden, visit our website at www.elveden.com. To apply, please email with a covering letter and CV to [email protected]
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