| Lowland Heathland - SW |
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SW Resource Breakdown:2
1Action for biodiversity 2SW Biodiversity Audit (1996) |
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Definition1 Definition: Open, uncultivated nutrient-poor (usually below 250m); dominated by ericaceous heather and gorse Current Extent1 The South West contains a significant proportion of the remaining UK lowland heathland resource. The region has some 14,500 ha which represents 25% of the UK total (c58,000 ha). The figure for the South West includes both wet and dry heaths, coastal heaths, and associated flush & mire systems. Southern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix and all dry heaths are listed in Annex I of the EC Species and Habitats Directive.Examples of important sites in the South West1
Habitat Loss1 Loss of habitat has occurred on most of the main heathland blocks in the South West over the last 200 years, particularly to agricultural improvement and afforestation.Associated Species1 Birds
Reptiles
Invertebrates
Plants
Current
factors affecting the habitat in the SW
UK biodiversity objectives and proposed targets UK Lowland Heathland Costed Habitat Action Plan: Maintain, and improve by management, all existing lowland heathland (58,000 ha) Encourage the re-establishment by 2005 of a further 6,000 ha of heathland with the emphasis on the counties of Hampshire, Cornwall, Dorset, Surrey, Devon, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk in England and Pembrokeshire, Glamorgan, West Gwynedd in Wales, particularly where the links separate heathland areas. South-west biodiversity objectives and proposed targets OBJECTIVE 1 Maintain the integrity of all existing heathland blocks through ensuring that they are protected from damage and loss TARGET: ongoing Lowland heathland is a rare and threatened habitat nationally, having suffered large scale losses in the last two centuries. The South West is a stronghold of this habitat in the UK. This reflects the UK target of maintaining all existing lowland heathland. Existing heathland must be protected from direct and indirect loss through statuary (e.g. site designation, protection and favorable management) and non-statutory means. OBJECTIVE 2 Ensure that all heathland blocks are managed appropriately to restore and enhance biodiversity. TARGET: by 2005 Neglect and inappropriate management have been identified as having an adverse effect on many sites. Countryside management schemes should be targeted to areas supporting lowland heathland and the funding should be at a sufficient level to encourage such management. Management must maintain a low nutrient ecosystem, which will in turn provide niches for dependent species, and aid regeneration of a diverse heathland vegetation structure. Restoration of degraded heathland on all sites/complexes in the region, particularly the key sites, is essential. * Restoration in this context refers to the removal of invasive scrub, bracken and self-sown trees from heathland. OBJECTIVE 3 Re-establish 3,500 ha of lowland heathland in the region, consolidating the existing major blocks/complexes. TARGET: 2,000 ha by 2005, 3,500 ha by 2010. The figure presented in this plan is based on those sites judged to have 'high' re-establishment potential and feasibility given resource and landownership constraints. Further work is required to identify and agree specific sites and areas for re-establishment*, but this plan gives an indication of the potential for delivery of the UK target in the region and to address part losses. A significant proportion of the UK target of an additional 6,000 ha can potentially be delivered in the Region. The timescale of 2010 is longer-term than that in the UK action plan, reflecting the timescale required in forward planning and implementation by relevant agencies. * re-establishment is used in this HAP to refer to the establishment of open heathland from, for example, forestry plantation with or without heathland vegetation and seedbank present, grassland and arable land with or without seedbank, and where heathland has been lost through encroachment by invasive species. The term reflects the terminology of the lowland heathland habitat action plan set out in Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report. Re-establishment targets therefore refer to new/additional areas of heathland over and above those subject to restoration/scrub removal, as referred to in objective 2. OBJECTIVE 4 Achieve an increase in community awareness and appreciation of heathlands and their conservation requirements in all key heathland complexes. TARGET: by 2000 There is scope for more provision for better public appreciation of many sites. Public awareness is necessary for conservation work and priorities to be understood and supported, and may also reduce adverse effects of human use e.g. inappropriate recreational use, fires
Some of the large sites in Dorset benefit from ownership by local authorities
and NGOs, and from management by, for example, the RSPB Dorset Heathland
Project, A large proportion of the East Devon pebblebeds is managed
by the RSPB with co-operation from the landowners. Much of The Lizard
is managed by the National Trust and English nature. Management is funded through English Nature WES and RES schemes, MAFF Countryside Stewardship, and heathland re-establishment in Dorset by the National Trust. Stewardship target areas fro 1996/97 include heathland in: Helston - St. Breock (Cornwall) ESAs cover Dartmoor, Exmoor, Blackdowns and West Penwith, including
approximately 2,775 ha of 'rough land' in West Penwith ESA, most of
which is heathland, under agreement in 1995. Individual strategies have been produced for some areas of heathland
e.g. East Devon (Devon Wildlife Trust and East Devon District Council),
Dorset (the Dorset Heathland Strategy produced by the Dorset Heathland
Forum) and some provisions have been made in the Forest Enterprise Forest
Design Plans e.g. in the Forest of Dean. Forest enterprise Forest design
Plans e.g. in the Forest of Dean. Forest Enterprise is developing its
own 'Endangered Habitats Plan' for lowland heathland and its ownership
or control, which is due for completion this year. Policy and legislation
Review countryside management schemes to ensure appropriate prescriptions, adequate funding and uptake to achieve management, restoration and reestablishment (ongoing) LEAD: MAFF, EN PARTNERS: NGOs Management
Ensure that safeguarding of all heathland through statutory
of all heathland through statutory (county wildlife sites) recognition
(by 1998) Ensure safeguarding of all heathland through statutory (county
wildlife site) recognition (by 1998) Ensure that appropriate countryside management schemes are targeted
towards heathland management, restoration and re-establishment in the
key areas identified in this HAP (by 2010) Develop appropriate mechanism for funding for heathland management,
restoration and re-establishment through UK government and/or EU (by
2000) Secure funding for heathland management, restoration, and re-establishment
(ongoing) Ensure that site action plans include management restoration and
re-establishment, and are agreed for all publicly owned sites (ongoing) Facilitate issue of felling licenses for removal of trees from
heathlands where future management can be ensured (by 2000) Seek Lottery/Heritage funding for heathland management, restoration
and re-creation including acquisition fro heath and landswap (by 2000) Pursue acquisition of existing or potential heathland sites, particularly
where management problems and opportunities exist or policy gains are
not possible (use criteria given at the end of this plan: by 2000) LEAD: NGOs, LAs
LEAD: ALL Ensure that after-use of mineral workings within heathland areas enables heathland re-establishment (ongoing) LEAD: LAs PARTNERS: FE, NGOs, EN, MCos, DoE, EA Advisory Provide management advice
to heathland landowners and managers (ongoing) Research and monitoring
Disseminate findings from research into management practice, techniques,
impacts and problems (ongoing) Ensure that monitoring of effects of heathland management techniques, and habitat and species surveys are co-ordinated throughout the region (by 1998) LEAD: ALL Education and awareness raising
Ensure that heathland conservation messages are delivered
at existing interpretation/education facilities (by 1998) Develop education/profile raising programmes at each key heathland
complex.
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