Habitat Map of Wales Resurvey
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) commissioned Keystone’s GIS team to undertake an assessment of remote sensing techniques as a means of updating the Habitat Map, which is based on surveys undertaken between 1979 and 1997.
Keystone’s ecologists undertook UK Habitat Classification surveys (Panks et al. 2021) and condition assessments (Natural England 2023) of all 150 sites, as well as MoRPh surveys and condition assessments of watercourses on and within 10 metres from the sites, as required for BNG.
Information collated was processed using the latest available BNG Metric and results were assessed to identify suitable habitat enhancement measures to achieve the best ecological outcome, as well as the best BNG yield.
Arboricultural surveys and condition assessments were also undertaken and management recommendations were compared with BNG measures to identify potential cost efficiencies and prevent conflicts, such as by programming tree veteranisation work to replace dead wood features that would otherwise be lost during tree felling.
Habitat enhancement work has commenced on several of the sites, in accordance with Keystone’s designs.
Challenge
- Undertaking surveys of a large number of sites, spread over an extensive area required logistical planning of survey schedules and teams to minimise travel time and costs to the client, and ensure that data was collected at appropriate times of the year.
- Both the UK Habitat Classification methodology and the BNG Metric were updated during the contract period. In addition, the requirement for a Modular River Physical Survey (MoRPh) and condition assessment for BNG was also introduced. As a result, Keystone updated our survey methodologies (including incorporating additional surveys by MoRPh accredited surveyors) and data analysis methods to comply with the updates.
Approach
- Keystone’s ecologists undertook biodiversity baseline surveys of all 150 sites over two survey seasons, in accordance with the UK Habitat Classification methodology and Natural England’s Habitat Condition Assessment criteria (Panks et al. 2021; Natural England 2023).
- In addition, our MoRPh accredited surveyors completed surveys and condition assessments of watercourses on and within 10 metres from the sites, in accordance with the MoRPh methodology (Gurnell and Shuker, 2022), utilising the Cartographer mobile application (version 1.0).
- Information collated was processed through the latest available BNG Metric to quantify the biodiversity baseline of each site, and results were assessed to identify suitable habitat enhancement measures to achieve the best ecological outcome, as well as the best BNG yield.
- Although not recognised in the BNG calculations, as a measure of good practice and to maximise the ecological value of the BNG strategies proposed, Keystone assessed the potential value of the sites to protected species. The results of these assessments informed recommendations for species-specific enhancement options, as well as measures required to ensure legal compliance during habitat management
- Finally, arboricultural surveys and condition assessments were undertaken, and management advice was provided. The results of the assessments were compared with the BNG recommendations to identify any overlaps and, therefore, opportunities to achieve cost efficiencies, and prevent conflicts such as by programming artificial veteranisation of trees to replace required dead wood features that would otherwise be lost during arboricultural work. The arboricultural reports were also supplemented with the findings of the protected species assessments, to identify where additional measures would be required to ensure legal compliance in relation to bats.
- Reporting for each site included Habitat Conditions Assessment tables, UK Habitat Classification baseline and BNG proposals maps, and the BNG Metric calculator.
Outcomes
- Site enhancement in accordance with Keystone’s BNG designs has now commenced, and our contracting team has been commissioned to undertake habitat enhancement and/or arboricultural work on ten sites to date.
- Works completed by our contracting team include artificial veteranisation of trees and the creation of standing deadwood to benefit invertebrates and roosting bats, arboricultural work, woodland enhancement, and grassland creation and enhancement.
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