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Coastal Vegetated Shingle - Habitat Action Plan
The UK biodiversity action plan has identified a number of key habitats, species
and local areas where action is to be taken to improve biodiversity. National
Habitat Action Plans (HAP) include one specifically concerned with Coastal vegetated
shingle. Details can be found on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan web sites @
http://www.ukbap.org.uk/. Within the
Coastal vegetated shingle Habitat Action Plan there are a number of specific
targets:
HAP
Target 1 - "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.)
HAP
Target 2 - "Prevent, where possible, further exploitation of,
or damage to, existing vegetated shingle sites through human activities.
HAP
Target 3 - "Maintain the quality of existing plant and invertebrate
communities which are currently in favourable
condition. Revised"
HAP Target
4 - "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. Revised"
Comment: For each of these an attempt is made to assess the future
direction of management and restoration actions. In addition to guidance on
achieving these targets, where appropriate, specific recommendations are made
when new or extended work is thought necessary.
| General guidance: Taking action to achieve these targets is not
always easy. As a general rule, from a nature conservation perspective,
shingle structures should be left entirely alone. In the majority of circumstances,
geomorphological change promotes environmental diversity (Randall
& Doody 1995). Given the historical reliance on engineering approaches
to protection this approach will require considerable persuasion, not least
amongst the local population. The examples of Porlock,
Orfordness
and Cley
may provide important pointers for a changing paradigm, which includes 'letting
nature take its course'. |
Recommendations: A number of recommendations are
made against each of these habitat targets, which will help to promote the conservation
of this resource. Included in these is the need for a more concerted national
effort to raise the profile of shingle areas both among the general public and
those with responsibility for the management vegetated shingle sites. The initiatives
taken by the West Sussex Vegetated Shingle project provide a possible model.
Funding
opportunities include those provided by European
Union legislation.
References
Randall, R.E. & Doody, J.P.
1995.
Habitat inventories and the European Habitats Directive - the example of shingle beaches.
In: Directions in European Coastal management, ed.Healy, M.G. & Doody, J.P.Samara Publishing Ltd. Cardigan, 19-36.
Abstract...
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