Vegetated shingle - biodiversity target

There are three principle targets for Coastal Vegetated Shingle identified in the Habitat Action Plan, namely:

• Prevent further net loss of existing vegetated shingle structures totaling about 5800 ha. (However local gains and losses due to storm events occur sporadically and should be accepted provided that the national and regional resources are maintained overall.);
• Prevent, where possible, further exploitation of, or damage to, existing vegetated shingle sites through human activities, and maintain the quality of existing plant and invertebrate communities which are currently in favourable condition.
• Achieve the restoration, where possible, of degraded or damaged habitats of shingle structures, including landward transitions, where such damage has been extensive and natural recovery is not likely to be initiated, by 2010.

Actions to reach the Biodiversity targets relevant to this restoration guide include:

• Permit the natural dynamic including the landward movement of shingle banks;
• In pilot areas promote rehabilitation techniques where appropriate in a wider programme;
• Promote and develop demonstration sites for the management and rehabilitation of shingle structures;
• Take account of the possible loss of other habitat, e.g. lagoons, reedbeds and grazing marsh when landward movement of shingle is allowed.

Comment: The national biodiversity targets are revised from time to time and updated by the JNCC at http://www.ukbap.org.uk/.