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The UK Common Standards Monitoring programme
More specific prescriptions for monitoring coastal vegetated shingle than are
given in this guide are not available. Approaches which provide guidance on
monitoring geomorphological characteristics are also not well documented. However,
the Habitat Restoration Monitoring Handbook (Mitchley
et al. 2000) provides a general, systematic approach to recording change,
which is largely concerned with terrestrial areas. The UK government conservation
organisations (English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council
for Wales and the Environment Heritage Service in Northern Ireland) have been
working on producing a Common Standards Monitoring (CSM) programme for designated
sites, under the direction of JNCC (more details on CSM can be found on the
JNCC website @ http://www.jncc.gov.uk/idt/csm/default.htm).
This includes assessing Favourable
Condition in relation to candidate Special Areas of Conservation
and Special Protection Areas by:
The reporting unit
In is recommended that the assessment should be applied to the reporting unit,
which is at present an SSSI site unit. In addition to producing species lists
for each site the vegetation should be recorded using the DAFOR
scale. The countryside agencies will supply separate field recording forms that
fit within the objectives detailed in this guidance.
| General guidance: It is advisable to record as much information
as resources and time allow in a consistent manner during different visits
and to keep all the records in a file. This will provide a track of the
history of the condition of the site in relation to management. Mark the
route of your 'W' walk and your transects on a map and take photographs
(fixed
point are probably best), especially of the more dynamic parts
of the habitat. Lists of species should be produced on a site-specific basis,
and the assessment should be carried out based on the particular conservation
objectives tables or management plans.
Guidance is given via the links above to help the assessment of the condition
of the site and of the designated features, using a series of attributes,
appropriate to coastal vegetated shingle.
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References
Mitchley, J., Burch, F., Buckley, P. & Watt, T.
2000.
Habitat restoration monitoring handbook.
English Nature Research Report, 378
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