FINAL VERSION 27/02/2008 CASE STUDY TO DEVELOP TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES TO DELIVER AN ECOSYSTEMS APPROACH – HEYSHAM TO M6 LINK DEFRA RESEARCH PROJECT NR0110 FINAL REPORT December 2007 Peter Ashworth BSc Hons, Sarah Bolton BSc Hons, Robert Edwards MSc AMIEMA, Alison Mole BSc Hons, Carol Somper BSc Hons MSc, Simon Weldon BSc Hons MRes FINAL VERSION 27/02/2008 Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Study context............................................................................................... 1 1.2 Case study objectives.................................................................................. 3 1.3 Project structure and report outline.............................................................. 5 1.4 The Case Study area................................................................................... 6 1.5 Environmental Impact Assessments............................................................ 8 1.5.1 EIA strengths and weaknesses ............................................................ 8 1.5.2 Further limitations of the EIA process ................................................. 10 2 Defining The Problem ....................................................................... 14 3 Evaluation of the Heysham EIA process against Ecosystems approach Tasks........................................................................................... 17 3.1 Evaluation of Task 1: Societal Choice ....................................................... 18 3.1.1 Summary............................................................................................ 18 3.1.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 19 3.1.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 20 3.1.4 Scores................................................................................................ 27 3.2 Evaluation of Task 2: Decentralised Management..................................... 28 3.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 28 3.2.2 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 30 3.2.3 Scores................................................................................................ 32 3.3 Evaluation of Task 3: Effects on Adjacent Ecosystems.............................. 33 3.3.1 Summary............................................................................................ 33 3.3.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 33 3.3.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 34 3.3.4 Scores................................................................................................ 39 3.4 Evaluation of Task 4: Economic Context ................................................... 40 3.4.1 Summary............................................................................................ 40 3.4.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 41 3.4.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 42 3.4.4 Scores................................................................................................ 46 3.5 Evaluation of Task 5: Maintain Ecosystem Services.................................. 47 3.5.1 Summary............................................................................................ 47 3.5.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 48 3.5.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 49 3.5.4 Scores................................................................................................ 55 3.6 Evaluation of Task 6: Limits to Ecosystem Function .................................. 56 3.6.1 Summary............................................................................................ 57 3.6.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 57 3.6.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 57 3.6.4 Scores................................................................................................ 61 3.7 Evaluation of Task 7: Appropriate Spatial/ Temporal Scale ....................... 62 3.7.1 Summary............................................................................................ 62 3.7.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 62 3.7.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 63 3.7.4 Scores................................................................................................ 67 FINAL VERSION 27/02/2008 3.8 Evaluation of Task 8: Long-term Management .......................................... 67 3.8.1 Summary............................................................................................ 68 3.8.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 68 3.8.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 68 3.8.4 Scores................................................................................................ 71 3.9 Evaluation of Task 9: Adaptive Management............................................. 72 3.9.1 Summary............................................................................................ 72 3.9.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 72 3.9.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 73 3.9.4 Scores................................................................................................ 75 3.10 Evaluation of Task 10: Integration of Conservation and Use...................... 76 3.10.1 Summary............................................................................................ 76 3.10.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 77 3.10.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 77 3.10.4 Tools .................................................................................................. 81 3.10.5 Scores................................................................................................ 82 3.11 Evaluation of Task 11: Consider All Forms of Knowledge.......................... 83 3.11.1 Summary............................................................................................ 83 3.11.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 84 3.11.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 88 3.11.4 Scores................................................................................................ 89 3.12 Evaluation of Task 12: Involve Science and Society.................................. 90 3.12.1 Summary............................................................................................ 90 3.12.2 Introduction ........................................................................................ 92 3.12.3 Assessment of Guidelines .................................................................. 94 3.12.4 Scores................................................................................................ 97 4 Analysis of Review findings............................................................. 99 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 99 4.2 Assessment Of Action And Tools Used For Each Task ............................. 99 4.3 Assessment of tasks; scope and technical content.................................. 101 4.4 Strengths and Weaknesses..................................................................... 102 4.5 Conclusions............................................................................................. 104 5 Using the CBD operational guidance for applying an ecosystems approach to EIA......................................................................................... 106 6 Embedding the ecosystems approach into planning and the EIA process ...................................................................................................... 116 6.1 Aspects of the EIA process that would need little change........................ 116 6.1.1 Environmental Statement ................................................................. 116 6.1.2 Assessment of Impacts .................................................................... 117 6.1.3 Impact Significance .......................................................................... 118 6.1.4 Determining Impact Significance in the Heysham M6 case study ..... 118 6.2 Additional or alternative tools and approaches for applying an ecosystems approach to EIA ................................................................................................. 120 6.2.1 Using Appreciative Inquiry for putting the concept of goods and services at the core of the planning and EIA process ....................................