Pre-consultation information – evidence base for discussion with NE on 12th August
(this page to be changed prior to public consultation)
We have pulled out some of the key elements from the Natural England LNRS checklist (tab 3) below and how these have been addressed in the Devon LNRS. Links to evidence requested by NE are also included below.
Stakeholder engagement (item 1 – also relevant to items 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
The development of the Devon LNRS has been a huge collaboration exercise involving a wide range of partners, groups and individuals. See the Stakeholder Engagement Summary table. We will continue to engage stakeholders through pre-public consultation (to sense check the draft) and through the public consultation (see item 2).
To ensure that the LNRS focuses on what matters most to people the public have been asked to name the top three habitats and species that they think the LNRS should focus on. The initial results are shown in word clouds below and show that the LNRS aligns with public thinking.
Overview of the habitats and species prioritisation process (items 6 and 7)
Species prioritisation: We employed species experts to follow the Defra species prioritisation guidance and to discuss this with key stakeholders, including Devon species groups (Devon Birds, Devon Mammals, Devon Moth Group etc). A species spreadsheet with prioritisation steps was produced for them to use and a guidance paper. Other stakeholder engagement which fed into this included the partner and public questionnaires; liaison, workshops and meetings with species groups and discussions at two large LNP/LNRS Conferences. See the SH engagement table for details (item 1).
The species work resulted in a long list (the Devon Species of Conservation Concern) and a short list of species which need particular action and attention (Focus Species). Where possible these have been grouped together (Focus Groups). All these species are listed in the LNRS Devon Species of Conservation Concern spreadsheet.
Habitat prioritisation: We employed habitat experts to produce profiles for the UK priority habitats found in Devon as well as to work witk partners to identify other habitats which should be prioritised in the LNRS. A number of other habitats are therefore included such as conifer and mixed plantations, arable and green spaces.
National targets: The Targets webpage includes a table of national targets and how the Devon LNRS helps to achieve them. The list of national targets was used to help identify priorities, actions and mapping. Note that the Devon LNRS does not have any new targets for Devon habitats as this is not required.
Areas of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (item 4)
Please see the Viewer under Mapping. This layer is called Designated Sites and Irreplaceable Habitats. The information in the Mapping tab makes it clear that this layer is the APIB layer.
Consideration of other relevant strategies and plans (item 5) – also see Stakeholder Engagement (item 1)
This has been done through wide stakeholder engagement with partners to ensure that we don’t duplicate or conflict and that we include existing relevant information to align priorities and actions where appropriate. An underlying principle of the Devon LNRS has been to use, align with and augment existing information from strategies and plans. We invested time and budget into using the Exeter University Marxan model for the mapping. However one key reason that we decided not to continue with this approach is because it is vital that the LNRS is transparent and understandable. We therefore took a more pragmatic approach which includes data from partner strategies and plans. For example:
Environment Agency / SWW / MMO / IFCA: using mapping from Shoreline Management Plans, NFM high target areas, Drinking Water catchments and relevant existing restoration mapping for intertidal habitats (seagrass beds etc).
Forestry Commission: using existing EWCO layers for woody expansion actions.
National Landscapes: using ENPA priorities (mapped) for heaths and grasslands. Sense checking priorities and data with all Protected Landscapes to align with their nature plans as appropriate.
Local Authorities: consideration of Local Plans and Green Space Strategies. LAs agreed that they do not want their green space mapping or the FC Trees Outside Woodlands layer in the LNRS. Discussion regarding how to align with Plymouth and East Devon Nature Strategies through stating that this is a nested approach.
NGOs: paying Butterfly Conservation to map their target areas for priority butterflies / working with the RSPB to include existing cirl mapping and to map target areas for other priority birds such as Dartmoor ground nesting birds, pied flycatchers and willow tits / working with DWT to include beaver mapping and agree culm mapping priorities.
SW Rainforest Alliance: potentially including their temperate rainforest mapping (needs further discussion with Dartmoor Commoners).
Mapping measures (item 9)
High Opportunity Areas: A detailed methodology will be produced prior to public consultation explaining the mapping in more detail. in brief the mapping process to target actions has aligned with the Lawton principles which underpin the LNRS priorities and actions: Better (wildlife-rich), bigger, joined up and more.
Better: We have included the best available mapping for existing habitats (see Mapping Methodology).
Bigger, joined up and more: Where habitats can only occur in certain places due to physical requirements these have been mapped using factors such as soilscapes / slopes / landscape character types / marine influence etc. Woodlands can largely occur anywhere and so expansion zones have been mapped using the EWCO layers to align with FC priorities for funding. Lowland meadow expansion zones have been mapped around all mapped wildlife-rich grasslands.
The area covered by the High Opportunity Areas, excluding designated sites and irreplaceable habitats (ACPIBs) = 44% of Devon
For more details of the areas mapped see: Percentage cover for Devon LNRS HOAs.
Species Opportunity Areas are mapped to help target the management and creation of habitats for Focus Species. These are mainly large landscapes and are not therefore (on the advice of NE) included as HOAs in the Local Habitat Map. Note: as the area covered by ACPIBs is 44% we may be able to do some targeted mapping of arable and grassland within cirl bunting and arable plant areas and add these areas to the HOA layer…….
Water quality and flood risk Opportunity Areas are mapped using NFM and Drinking Water Catchment areas – following advice from EA. Again these are large areas and (on the advice of the EA) are not included as HOAs in the Local Habitat Map.
A huge number of data sets were assessed during the development of the LNRS and a spreadsheet is available on request (this could be added to the LNRS evidence base)
See the Mapping page for a link to the Mapping Methodology table, a link to the Viewer, further information on the layers and a link to the text for the pop up information boxes that will be added to the Viewer prior to consultation.
Overlapping actions – Wording on the website makes it clear that site survey and expert input is always needed in order to make land use decisions, including when the LNRS gives a number of options for one piece of land. The woodlands pages states that expert advice MUST be obtained before increasing tree cover in certain OAs (listed) due to risks of losing other wildlife-rich habitats. A health warning is given on pop ups and web pages relating to env sensitivities such as SSSI, HE, landscape and where to get advice. We appreciate that this may still not be clear enough and so this issue will be explored further through discussion with partners. If needed wording in pop ups and on the web pages will be refined.
Note that further work will be undertaken to refine the mapping through discussion with stakeholders during the consultation period.
List of measures and how they relate to priorities
A list of priorities and actions (measures) will be produced prior to publication (when we have the final agreed list of priorities and actions) which shows how actions will help achieve multiple priorities (lighting, leave dead wood, reduce pesticides etc)
Wider environmental benefits and co-benefits (item 8)
In discussion with Natural England is was agreed that this should only focus on water quality, flood risk, carbon and connecting people and nature.
Water quality and flood risk: worked with the EA and SWW to agree approach – see water quality and flood risk page and mapping.
Carbon sequestration: worked with DCC climate team to align with the Devon Climate Strategy and their work with Exeter University on habitat carbon sequestration. Currently building in more detailed information on soils and carbon with the EA prior to public consultation. See Carbon page (if up).
Connecting People and Nature: approach agreed with relevant LNP networks (including a various events) – Naturally Healthy, Wild About Devon (WAD) communities network and the Network of Environmental Educators in Devon. See Connecting people and nature page (in draft) and mapping. This element of the LNRS and the approach taken in creating a plain english and user friendly website has had huge support from these groups including the Board and the CEO of Devon Communities Together (also Chair of the WAD group).
Description and a clear narrative – user friendly / accessible (item 11)
Devon is a huge and complicated county. A description has been written for each habitat and species group (birds, bats etc) and for Focus Species/Groups. This includes a list of opportunities and pressures. Each habitat and species group has one headline priority following discussion with NE.
Actions have been developed to show how the priorities will be met and to address the identified pressures and opportunities. These are written for each habitat and each Focus Species/Group.
The mapping shows where actions are most needed. This has been developed in close liaison with a wide range of stakeholders – see above.
An underlying principle of the Devon LNRS has been to ensure that it is as user friendly as possible. In order to achieve this we have created a bespoke website and worked with the web designer from the outset. We have also employed a copywriter to ensure that it is written in plain english (not all pages have currently been proof read but this will be done prior to public consultation). We have also used a new Viewer to ensure that we can have clear pop ups and a ‘near me’ function to ensure that this is as accessible and useful as possible.
The contracts with both the web designer and copywriter include the need for the LNRS to meet best practice with regards to accessibility requirements.
We have been working with our stakeholders (farming group, connecting people and nature groups etc) throughout to sense check the design, viewer, language etc and have had very positive feedback to date. The education group acknowledged that there is a lot of information but that the website is easy to navigate and the different levels of information (in drop downs / Find out more) useful.
We appreciate that we still need to provide an overview of habitats, species and mapping prior to public consultation to ensure a clearer narrative. This will include a summary of the key pressures and opportunities.
Start here page: please note that the user needs to read the ‘start here’ landing page which isn’t clearly shown as a link on the drop down menu on the navigation bar – this is being addressed.
Public Consultation (item 2 and 10)
We are developing plans for public consultation in the autumn – see an overview here.
Public survey
Habitats
Species
