A4a.1 Biodiversity, Habitats, Flora and Fauna A4a.1.1 Regulatory Context
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Onshore SEA – Oil & Gas Licensing A4a.1 Biodiversity, Habitats, Flora and Fauna The purpose of this section is to provide an overview of the natural environment with respect to the various habitats and species present in each of the SEA areas. Each SEA area is summarised in section A4a.1.2, with attention paid to relevant conservation designations, their location and qualifying habitats and species in section A4a.1.3. A4a.1.1 Regulatory Context There is a wide range of international treaties and conventions, European and national legislation and other measures which have application in relation to the protection and conservation of species and habitats in the UK. These are summarised below as a context and introduction to the site listings which follow in section A4a.1.3. Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2nd April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive), and Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive) have together formed a backbone to EU internal policy on the protection of biodiversity. The Habitats Directive requires the creation of a network of protected areas (“European Sites”) known as “Natura 2000” sites. This network consists of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect habitats and species listed under the Habitats Directive and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) to protect wild birds as set out under the Birds Directive. The Directives also contain requirements for the protection of listed species (“European Protected Species”). The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) transpose the Habitats Directive into legislation in England, Wales and Scotland. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (WCA) is one of the principal pieces of legislation relating to nature conservation in Great Britain. The WCA is supplemented by various other pieces of legislation including the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000 (in England and Wales), and the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (in Scotland). This legislation provides for the protection of species and the designation of nationally important sites known as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in England, Wales and Scotland. Many SSSIs are also designated as European Sites. A4a.1.2 Environmental Summaries of Relevant Regions of England, Wales and Scotland A4a.1.2.1 Scotland (Natural Zones) Scottish Natural Heritage identified a series of Natural Zones as part of their Natural Heritage Futures initiative, and used these areas to describe a vision for sustainable use of local natural heritage. Twenty one areas were identified in total, each having their own identity resulting from the interaction of geology, landforms, wildlife and land use. For the purposes of this SEA, these Natural Zones provide a suitable level at which to describe relevant aspects of the Scottish Midlands environment. Relevant Natural Zones are highlighted in Figure A4a.1. Table A4a.1 below provides details of the general character of each zone and identifies key habitats and features. July 2010 Page 1 Appendix 4a Onshore SEA – Oil & Gas Licensing Figure A4a.1 – SNH Futures Natural Zones in Relation to SEA Area 1 Table A4a.1 – Relevant SNH Futures Natural Zones in SEA Area 1 Natural # Summary Zone Scottish Midlands 16 Eastern The low coastline is backed by broad, flat farmed carseland, leading up to the Lowlands sharply defined, steep sides of the major geological fault lines in the north and west. To the south, the boundary is softer with a more gradual transition to the rolling hills of the Borders. The east coast is deeply incised by the Firths of Tay and Forth. These rivers, along with the Tweed, are the largest in the region, running through wide flood plains to provide the area with rich arable land, allowing extensive areas of intensively managed farmland. The underlying geology and surface deposits in the region give great fertility to the soils of the Mearns and Strathmore, with rich coal and aggregate resources around Fife and the Firth of Forth. Plugs of volcanic rock form the isolated uplands characteristic of the Sidlaws, Ochils, Lomonds and Lothians. Coastal areas are characterised by a wide range of habitats including sandflats, mudflats, saltmarsh, brackish lagoons and reedbeds, offshore islands and cliffs. Other water resources include rivers, burns, lochs, small areas of standing water and mires. The largest areas of semi-natural habitat are found in upland areas with heather moorland and unimproved grassland. Woodland is absent from many areas where it would once have been extensive. The largest conurbations are Edinburgh and Dundee with industrial sites located along the coast and estuaries. Outside of these densely populated centred, the area is characterised by smaller towns and villages. 17 West Beyond the Greater Glasgow conurbation, the dominant impression is that of a July 2010 Page 2 Appendix 4a Onshore SEA – Oil & Gas Licensing Central well-populated, intensively managed, working landscape. It is predominantly Belt lowland, but with discrete upland areas of grassland, heath, mire, oak/birch woodland, and scrub. Geological features of the region include productive coal measures, ironstones, limestones and oil shales which have been extensively worked. The human influence on the landscape is very apparent with field boundaries, stone dykes, hedgerows, and boundary trees all abundant. Agriculture is typically based on mixture of improved pasture and rough grazing, with more intensive agriculture restricted to drier parts such as Ayrshire. The River Clyde along with its estuary and tributaries is a key feature with broadleaved woodland associated with the principal river systems. Freshwater lochs, many of which are used as reservoirs, are widespread and there are numerous and extensive canals in the area. The Inner Clyde Estuary is heavily urbanised and industrialised but opens out into extensive mudflats, sand and shingle, interspersed with coastal grassland and saltmarsh which are important for wintering wildfowl and waders. The area is the hub of the country’s transport infrastructure. The industrial heritage of the region has resulted in a large number of closed mines, waste tips, coal and oil-shale bings, leaving contaminated, vacant and derelict land. 19 Western The landscape is characterised by large, smooth, domed hills dissected by steep- Southern sided valleys and broader glens. Undulating foothills have gently rounded summits Uplands in the east and craggier peaks to the west. Plateau moorland in the west is and Inner typically bleak, with waterlogged soil, nutrient poor lochs and numerous streams. Solway Woodland is dominated by large-scale conifer plantations, with remnants of native oak, ash and elm woodland remaining in upland areas. The coal measures of southern Ayrshire and southern Lanarkshire support open-cast mining. Small settlements are mainly located along river valleys or in mining districts. Open ground is typically acid grassland or heather moorland with bracken and blanket bogs, important breeding habitats for birds of prey and waders, abundant. Mountain heath, with characteristic arctic/alpine flora, is found on the highest ground. Several important rivers including the Clyde and the Doon have sources in the uplands. 20 Border Narrow valleys with steep sides cut through rounded hills along with and areas of Hills high level plateau are typical of the border region. Heather moorland, blanket bog, grass heath and modern conifer forests cover hilly ground, while more productive grasslands and native woodland are present in river valleys. Characteristic landscapes are of hill farms, valley, forests and the large houses of landed estates. The border region includes the largest area of montane plateau ground over 600m in southern Scotland and associated arctic-alpine flora is present. Blanket bog occurs above 500m on flatter hill slopes with occasional species rich calcareous flushes. At lower altitudes, more freely draining valley slopes support heather moorland. Below unenclosed uplands, most semi-natural habitats are fragmented by intensively farmed land. Most native woodland area has been lost although small pockets remain, restricted to steep slopes. In their place, extensive conifer plantations have developed. Rivers in the region include the Tweed, Annan, Esk and Liddel, which are important habitats for salmon and trout. Most areas of human habitation are concentrated along the valleys with the upland areas relatively undeveloped, except for a growing number of windfarms. Source: Gordon et al. (2002), SNH (2002a-d) A4a.1.2.2 England (Natural Areas) Natural England (previously English Nature) has defined 120 (97 terrestrial, 23 marine) geographical areas of the English countryside, distinguished on the merit of their wildlife and other natural features, and also on historic land-use pattern. The boundaries of these zones should be considered as broad transition zones rather than hard, defined edges. The July 2010 Page 3 Appendix 4a Onshore SEA – Oil & Gas Licensing purpose of these areas is to characterise areas of England for their natural features outside, but inclusive of, the network of protected, designated sites (e.g. SPAs, SACs, SSSIs). Natural Areas have been formally defined as “biogeographic zones which reflect the geological foundation, the natural systems and processes and the wildlife in different parts of England, and provide a framework for setting objectives for nature conservation” (UK Biodiversity Steering Group 1995). Figure A4a.2 highlights those Natural Areas of relevance to the current SEA. Table A4a.2 below provides details of the general character of each area. Figure A4a.2 – English Nature Natural Areas Relevant to SEA Areas July 2010 Page 4 Appendix 4a Onshore SEA – Oil & Gas Licensing Table A4a.2 – English Nature Natural Areas Relevant to SEA Areas 2, 3 and 5 # Natural Area Summary SEA area 2: West Midlands, North West England and Southern Scotland Intensively cultivated area situated between the Cumbria High Fells and Dales, the Eden Valley and the Border Uplands to the south and east, and the Solway Firth.