| Coastal Floodplain & Grazing Marsh- SW |
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SW Resource Breakdown:2
1Action for biodiversity 2SW Biodiversity Audit (1996) |
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Definition1 Seasonally waterlogged grassland which forms part of a wetland system; including lowland wet grassland and floodplain meadows which may be agriculturally improved or unimproved. Grazing Marsh occurs in inland and coastal situations, although this plan excludes salt marshes which are covered in the estuaries HAP. Current Extent1 Nationally the exact extent of this habitat is not known but it is estimated that there may be 300,000 ha. The South West total of c76,339 ha represents about 25% of the national total. This is a maximum estimate. A review of all the sites >50 ha in the South West revealed that only 25% of the area consisted of regularly flooded unimproved grassland of existing conservation interest. This amounts to approximately 22,000 ha for the region. An accurate figure of the area of botanically rich grassland is not available. However, in the Somerset Levels and Moors ESA, out of 23,695 ha of grassland, only 1,686 ha of traditional grassland remains i.e. grassland with >40 higher plant species within each field (ADAS pers. comm.)Examples of important sites in the South West1
Habitat Loss1 Has largely been due to agricultural intensification and associated drainage.Associated Species1 Mammals
Birds
Invertebrates
Vascular Plants
Current
factors affecting the habitat in the SW
UK biodiversity objectives and proposed targets UK Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh Costed Habitat Plan Rehabilitate 10,000 ha of grazing marsh habitat which has become too dry, or is intensively managed, by the year 2000. Half of this within specified ESAs (Somerset Levels and Moors and Avon Valley) and half elsewhere. Create 2,500 ha of new grazing from arable land in targeted areas,
in addition to that which will be achieved by existing ESA schemes,
with the aim of completing as much as possible by the year 2000 South-west biodiversity objectives and proposed targets OBJECTIVE 1 Maintain extent of existing wet grassland and ditch systems OBJECTIVE 2 OBJECTIVE 3 Improve the management of core sites to enhance populations of species of conservation concern. TARGET: 50% of area by 2000, 75% of area by 2005, 100% of area by 2010. OBJECTIVE 4 Expand the core resource by rehabilitating degraded habitat and providing corridors between core sites TARGET: ongoing OBJECTIVE 5 OBJECTIVE 6 Secure public support for conservation management work TARGET: by 1998 Approximately 10,500 ha of floodplain and grazing marsh are designated
as SSSIs. Most of the larger sites, e.g. Somerset Levels and Moors and
the Avon Valley, are potential SACs and/or SPAs. Several sites are SNCIs
or CWS and some sites are managed as nature reserves by local authorities
and/or voluntary conservation organisations such as the RSPB, Wildlife
Trusts, and the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust. A framework for resolving conflicting water management objectives on
important sites has recently been initiated with the production of Water
Level Management Plans (WLMP). EN and the Drainage Authorities are working
together to complete WLMP for the most important sites in the South
West by 1998. Some sites have been well studied e.g. Somerset Levels and Moors, with
ongoing monitoring of bird numbers, botanical interest, aquatic plants
and invertebrates. Specialised research projects on the Somerset Levels
and Moors on the effects of fertilizers on unimproved meadows, wetland
restoration and plant responses to water level management have been
carried out and are reviewed annually. Unfortunately most sites do not
have the benefit of such detailed studies. Across the region, bird information is the most comprehensive due to the Wetland Bird Survey.# Some restoration work is already ongoing in the region e.g. creation
of raised water level areas within ESA (Somerset Levels and Moors, Avon
Valley); implementation of a WLMP on part of Exminster Marshes; and
wetland restoration on privately owned land through Countryside Stewardship
and Habitat scheme (water fringe option). Policy and legislation
Influence national/regional policies on flood defence land use and water resources ('97-'05/ongoing) LEAD: EA, LAs, MAFF PARTNERS: EN, NGOs Management
Ensure all core sites are recognised on all strategic plans
(by 00) Ensure existing core sites are recognised on all strategic plans (by '00) LEAD: LAs PARTNERS: EN Ensure ELMs (ESA, CS, WES) are available within all core sites and ditch systems (by '00) LEAD: MAFF PARTNERS: EN Secure positive conservation management
on core sites (50% by 2000) (75% by 2005) (100% by 2015) Where appropriate, continue programme of reserve acquisition
(ongoing) Secure appropriate hydrological management for core sites through
WLMPs (all SSSIs by 1998), (other core sites by 2000), (5,000 ha of
rehabilitated land by 2005) Review abstraction licenses on key sites e.g. Kennet and Wylye
(ongoing) Advisory Establish four demonstration sites (two best management practices and two showing rehabilitation) (-'05)LEAD: MAFF, EN PARTNERS: FWAG, RIs, LOs Research
and monitoring
Continue audit to quantify extent of the actual and potential
coastal and floodplain grazing marsh resource (-'98) Identify and prioritise suitable areas for rehabilitation (-00) LEAD: EA, EN, MAFF PARTNERS: WTs, IDBs, LOs Rehabilitate degraded wet grassland through appropriate conservation management (1,00 ha by 2000), (50000 ha by 2005) LEAD: EN,LOs, MAFF PARTNERS: EA, IDBs, LOs Create permanent grassland by reversion of arable leys (250 ha by 2000), (500 ha by 2005) LEAD: MAFF, LO PARTNERS: EN Set up an integrated monitoring programme on four sites in the region and provide effective routes fro disseminating the results (by 2005) LEAD: EA, RIs, LOs PARTNERS: EN, MAFF Education and awareness
raising
Produce an annual programme of visitor days for five sites
in the region (by 1998) Produce an audit report and summary information for landowners
on this habitat every five years by 2000
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