The Kent Biodiversity Action Plan A framework for the future of Kent’s wildlife Produced by Kent Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group © Kent Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group, 1997 c/o Kent County Council Invicta House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XX. Tel: (01622) 221537 CONTENTS 1. BIODIVERSITY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KENT PLAN 1 1.1 Conserving Biodiversity 1 1.2 Why have a Kent Biodiversity Action Plan? 1 1.3 What is a Biodiversity Action Plan? 1.4 The approach taken to produce the Kent Plan 2 1.5 The Objectives of the Kent BAP 2 1.6 Rationale for selection of habitat groupings and individual species for plans 3 2. LINKS WITH OTHER INITIATIVES 7 2.1 Local Authorities and Local Agenda 21 7 2.2 English Nature's 'Natural Areas Strategy' 9 3. IMPLEMENTATION 10 3.1 The Role of Lead Agencies and Responsible Bodies 10 3.2 The Annual Reporting Process 11 3.3 Partnerships 11 3.4 Identifying Areas for Action 11 3.5 Methodology for Measuring Relative Biodiversity 11 3.6 Action Areas 13 3.7 Taking Action Locally 13 3.8 Summary 14 4. GENERIC ACTIONS 15 2.1 Policy 15 2.2 Land Management 16 2.3 Advice/Publicity 16 2.4 Monitoring and Research 16 5. HABITAT ACTION PLANS 17 3.1 Habitat Action Plan Framework 18 3.2 Habitat Action Plans 19 Woodland & Scrub 20 Wood-pasture & Historic Parkland 24 Old Orchards 27 Hedgerows 29 Lowland Farmland 32 Urban Habitats 35 Acid Grassland 38 Neutral & Marshy Grassland 40 Chalk Grassland 43 Heathland & Mire 46 Grazing Marsh 49 Reedbeds 52 Rivers & Streams 55 Standing Water (Ponds, ditches & dykes, saline lagoons, lakes & reservoirs) 58 Intertidal Mud & Sand 62 Saltmarsh 65 Sand Dunes 67 Vegetated Shingle 69 Maritime Cliffs 72 Marine Habitats 74 6. SPECIES ACTION PLANS 77 6.1 Species Action Plan Framework 77 6.2 Species Action Plans 78 Water Vole 79 Otter 82 Dormouse 84 Serotine Bat 86 Nightingale 88 Great-crested Newt 90 Allis and Twaite Shad 92 White-clawed Crayfish 94 Heath Fritillary 97 Pearl-bordered Fritillary 99 Silver Spotted Skipper 101 Early Gentian 103 Late Spider-orchid 105 7. REFERENCES 107 ABBREVIATIONS 109 GLOSSARY 110 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Species of Conservation Concern in Kent Appendix 2: Proposed Group Structure for Implementation Phase Appendix 3: Distribution of Agricultural Land Classes 4 and 5 in Kent Appendix 4: Location of Nationally Rare Plant Species in Kent Appendix 5: Methodology for Determining Relative Biodiversity Across Kent Appendix 6: Summary of 10 and 50 year targets for all habitat and species covered by action plans Appendix 7: List of organisations consulted 1. BIODIVERSITY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KENT PLAN Biodiversity is simply "the Variety of Life". It encompasses the whole range of animals, plants and micro organisms on earth, from the tiniest bug to the mightiest oak, along with the ecosystems in which they live. 1.1 CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY This was the start of the UK Government's commitment to biodiversity and since then there have Conserving biodiversity is not just about rare and been a number of key stages in taking forward threatened species and habitats, but the common-place biodiversity issues in the UK: as well. All those who care about the countryside are appreciating biodiversity. It is important for First edition of "Biodiversity Challenge" issued by maintaining the quality of our lives and is intimately voluntary conservation sector as a discussion bound up with it. document (December 1993) ê Although the countryside may still appear visually UK Government published "Biodiversity: The UK attractive, it has become apparent that much of its Action Plan" (January 1994) and the UK BAP Steering richness and diversity has already been lost, and more Group was set up to prepare costed action plans for is disappearing each year; some plants and animals animals, plants and habitats. that were once familiar are now rare, others have become extinct altogether. This century the UK has ê lost over 100 species including 7% of our dragonflies, Voluntary conservation sector published 5% of our butterflies and more than 2% of our fish and "Biodiversity Challenge - an agenda for action in the mammals. Many more are in danger of disappearing, UK" especially at the local level. Nature has an in-built (January 1995) propensity to change, continually evolving new ê variants and new species, but all of this occurs Publication of "Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group naturally over a length of time. The world is losing Report" which includes costed targets and proposed species at a faster rate now than ever before, as a result actions for over 100 species and 14 habitats of human activity; evolution cannot compensate for (December 1995) losses at anything like the current rate and so ê biodiversity is declining fast. UK Government endorses report (May 1996) ê There are many other reasons why we should conserve Publication of "Biodiversity Action Plan for Kent" biodiversity: (November 1997) · In the context of sustainability we should be handing on to future generations a world The Kent Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is the first that is richer than the one we inherited; step in the County's response to these national · Species which evolved over thousands of initiatives and is an important milestone for the years may be lost very quickly, and cannot County and its wildlife. It is a chance to set out what be re-created; is of regional, national and international importance · Natural processes help to protect our planet, in Kent and is intended to take the UK Plan forward at e.g through regulating climate and air a local level, addressing many of the challenges set by quality; the national plan, drawing on local experts across the · In maintaining the productivity of our crops conservation spectrum. It is hoped that it will make a we rely upon a reservoir of their wild visionary but practical contribution to the relatives and the pool of genetic material implementation of the UK Plan. that they hold; · In conserving the biodiversity of Kent not 1.3 WHAT IS A BIODIVERSITY ACTION only will we be taking responsibility for the PLAN? quality of our local environment, we will be contributing to global biodiversity. The primary aim of this plan is to enable the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in Kent 1.2 WHY HAVE A BIODIVERSITY ACTION and so contribute to the maintenance of national and PLAN? global biodiversity. This Local BAP identifies where action needs to be taken to implement national targets In June 1992 more than 150 heads of government for habitats and species, and it also identifies attended the "Earth Summit" (United Nations appropriate delivery mechanisms. Conference on Environment and Development) in Rio de Janeiro. One important outcome of this gathering The Kent BAP summarises the information which is was the Convention on Biological Diversity, signed currently available regarding the county's by 153 countries including the UK and the EC. biodiversity and the areas of deficiency in our knowledge. The Plan identifies those species and 1 habitats most under threat, and sets out an agenda for There is a long history of successful partnership action. It takes all habitats and some of the most action in Kent and the BAP builds upon this tradition. important species in Kent and sets out targets for the Following the successful model partnership which future, with proposed monitoring to assess results and undertook the Kent Wildlife Habitat Survey between record progress. 1990 and 1995, the information from which largely underpins this document, a similar approach has been There are four key elements in the preparation of a adopted for the development of the Kent BAP. BAP: The partnership which convened to prepare and · Audit - to assess which species and habitats are implement this plan includes members of all most significant for nature conservation in Kent organisations which are key players with a and establish their current status responsibility for the conservation of biodiversity · Defining goals - objectives for species and within Kent, including representatives of land habitats, and measurable targets for their managers. The partnership was established at the conservation outset to encourage the development of a shared vision, and to encourage full commitment to the · Deciding priorities - identifying specific targets development and implementation of the plan. and defined areas for action (accepting that there are limitations, in terms of finance and time, to The partnership process is essential to generate a what can be achieved). sense of ownership of the plan. If all organisations · Implementation - requires member groups in the and individuals, for whom this is a responsibility, Partnership to take responsibility for work together, real and measurable improvements can implementing the actions identified in the plans, be achieved. including the monitoring and review process. The partnership currently includes: The Kent BAP includes targets which are based on the Government bodies: English Nature, Environment range of local conditions and thereby reinforce local Agency, Forestry Authority, MAFF, GOSE. distinctiveness - promoting the conservation of Local Government: Kent County Council, Dover, species and habitats characteristic of the local area. Tonbridge & Malling, Swale and Canterbury District This approach complements the 'Natural Areas Councils (nominated by KPOG to represent all Kent Strategy' currently being developed by English Local Authorities). Nature, consolidating existing character. Independent wildlife organisations: Kent Wildlife Trust, RSPB Many of the proposed actions also complement the Land owners and managers: Country Landowners landscape guidelines for the different character areas Association, National Farmers Union in the county and the aims of heritage conservation, since biodiversity, landscape and heritage are all Representatives from these bodies formed a steering inextricably linked.