HAP Target 3 - maintain 'Favourable Condition' for coastal vegetated shingle and its associated species

HAP Target 1 and HAP Target 2 are concerned more with the conservation of the location, scale and structure and function of the resource as well as the control damaging activities, respectively. This target relates to the quality of both the habitats and species associated with coastal vegetated shingle. As such it has been interpreted, for the purposes of this Guide, as being primarily concerned with traditional management, which can de directed towards maintaining 'Favourable Condition' within Natura 2000 sites.

A number of issues have been identified, namely:

1. the importance of developing comprehensive management strategies;
2. the implications of 'shingle squeeze' and and 'managed realignment' for the conservation of shingle and shingle related related habitats, particularly as they affect 'Favourable Condition' of Natura 2000 sites;
3. the relationship between habitat, management, vegetation structure and plant species composition and the invertebrate fauna;
4. the importance of 'patch dynamics';
5. the need for plant autecology studies;
6. the ecology and distribution of shingle shoreline vegetation;
7. the significance of transitions.

Note: 'Managed realignment' is considered in detail in the Guide "Coastal Habitat Restoration, towards good practice".