working with wildlife for the construction industry
DESCRIPTION
Slides from our introduction to wildlife for professionals working in the construction industry.TRANSCRIPT
Construction and Ecology,
Working with Wildlife
Aaron Grainger
Senior Ecologist - The Ecology Consultancy
Objectives
• Key considerations for wildlife & development• Legislation & Planning Policy• Protected Species • Enhancements
Bio-what?
Construction and wildlife
Direct habitat and species loss
Fragmentation Disturbance – Light/Noise BUT - Opportunities/benefits Landscape design and
management
Legislation – principal acts relevant to the UK
Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (WCA) The Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulations 2010
WCA 1981
Protects the most important habitats as SSSIs (e.g. Hampstead Heath)
All species of wild bird (Sch 1) Various species of wild animal (Sch 5) Some plant species (Sch 8)
Can be hard to navigate…
Conservation of Habitats & Species Regs 2010
Implements both the Birds and Habitats Directives.
Designate and maintain the ecological integrity of a network of protected sites – SACs and SPAs.
Protection of listed species (GCN, Bats, Otter etc).
Wild Birds Directive
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) Thames Basin Heaths Langstone Harbour
Annex I Species Nightjar Dunlin Northern Shoveler
The Habitats Directive Gives greater protection to a variety of native
animals including bats, dormice, great crested newt, and otters.
Important sites are designated SACs. E.g. Solent Maritime
The costs of getting it wrong
A successful prosecution for a wildlife offence may lead to a £5000 fine or six months’ imprisonment per offence.
For example the destruction of a barn owl’s nest with three eggs could result in two years imprisonment (six months for destruction of the nest and for each of the three eggs).
Other important legislation Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 Hedgerow Regulations 1997 NERC Act 2006
Planning system
National Planning Policy Framework
Minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity where possible
contributing to the Government’s commitment to halt the overall decline in biodiversity
establishing coherent networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures.
Convention on Biodiversity (Rio Conference 1992) Biodiversity : the UK Action Plan BAPs at the regional, local and corporate levels
comprisingHabitat Action Plans (HAPs)Species Action Plans (SAPs)Cambridge & Peterborough BAP
Biodiversity Action Plans - BAPs
Habitats and Species of Principal Importance for Biodiversity
Priority species include bats, skylark, song thrush, great crested newt etc
Section 41 List Material Consideration
UK BAP
Scoping survey Look for:
designated areas;habitatprotected species;habitats that are subject to a
HAP;species that are subject to a
SAP;
Ecological Survey
Ecological Survey
Phase 1 Habitat Survey
Identifies habitatsProvides ‘target-notes’ Best done in spring or summerExtended Phase 1 surveys
Ecological Survey
Phase 2 Surveys Detailed studies of the important plant and animal groupsRequire specialist inputHave to be undertaken at:
- right season of the year- over a specific number of days,- in appropriate weather - right time of day- and possibly over a period of several years.
When to survey?
Spring and summer Well in advance of any
planning submission or works
Survey Calendar
European Protected SpeciesDerogation Tests
No satisfactory alternative
Favourable conservation status maintained
For overriding public interest or public health and safety
Licensing?
Method Statement and Reasoned Statement
Natural England take 30 working days to process
Be Aware
What have we got here then?
Be Aware
Any ideas?
Be Aware
Badger Sett
Great Crested Newt
Largest of three species native to the UK. Widespread but habitat is fragmented
Associated with ponds, woodland, scrub and grassland
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 + Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010
Offence to kill/injure a GCN Offence to damage or destroy
a breeding or resting place
Bats There are 18 species of bats in
the UK. All native species are insectivorous feeding over hibernate during Nov-March.
Roosting spaces include: attic spaces and crevices in buildings, barns, mature trees, caves and bridges
W&C Act & Cons Regs 2010 Offence to kill/injure or disturb
a bat Offence to damage, destroy or
obstruct access to a bat roost
Otter
Dramatic recovery distribution and abundance
W&C Act 1981 & Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (+Annex II)
Otters are protected from killing or injury and it is an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct their breeding/resting places
Offence to disturb an otter whilst it is occupying a holt
Badgers
Badgers are widely distributed in the UK, with occurring in both rural and sub-urban areas.
Protection of Badgers Act 1992
Illegal to kill/injure badgers or interfere with their setts
Reptiles
6 x Species in UK
Prefer rough grassland, scrub and heathland
Common Lizard, Slow Worm and Grass Snake are the most frequently encountered
Protection under the W&C Act 1981
Sand Lizard/Smooth Snake – EC Habitats Directive
Invasive Species
Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed, Cotoneaster etc.
Schedule 9 of the W&C Act 1981 (as amended)
Illegal to plant or cause to grow in the wild i.e. spread from your site to adjacent land
Controlled waste
Survey licence - surveyors of protected species will need to hold a survey licence.
Development licence - required if capturing, disturbing, uprooting or re-locating, or damaging the habitat of, a species protected under the Habitats Regulations 2010.
Conservation licence – for works to conserve any species on Sch. 5 WCA 1981 (as amended)
Licensing and protected species
BREEAM & Code for Sustainable Homes
BREEAM New Construction 2011
CfSH - Mandatory for new homes since 2008
Ecology is one of nine sustainability categories in the assessment process (10-12% of total score)
Aim – To mitigate the impact of the built environment on ecology/enhance the site
BREEAM & Code for Sustainable Homes
Ecologist undertakes site assessment
Prepares ecology report and/or completes template
Likely number of achievable credits is detailed in the report along with associated recommendations/enhancements
Based on ecological value of both the existing site and proposed development
Mitigation Solutions
Creative Ecology
Creative Ecology
Living Roofs – Right Roof In The Right Place
Creative Ecology
Integral Swift Nest Boxes
(Photo. copyright Erich Kaiser / courtesy London's Swifts")
Invertebrates
Invertebrates
Bat Boxes
BCT / ECL Briefing
Bird boxes
The Future?
Landscape Scale Conservation
Ecosystem Services
Biodiversity Off-Setting
Green Infrastructure
What do we offer? Experience & expertise Commitment to working with
the client Fostering good relationship
with consultees and stakeholders
Value for money Team of 35+ Ecologists in
offices in London, Lewes, Norwich and Edinburgh
Questions?
www.ecologyconsultancy.co.uk