Biodiversity and environmental change: the evidence base · Biodiversity and environmental change:...
Transcript of Biodiversity and environmental change: the evidence base · Biodiversity and environmental change:...
Biodiversity and environmental change: the evidence base
Susan DaviesDirector of Policy and Advice,
SNH
What does SNH do?“All of Nature for all of Scotland”
– or “Looking after all of Scotland's nature and landscapes,
across all of Scotland, for everyone”
Our role is to
•Secure the conservation and enhancement of Scotland’snatural heritage
• Foster understanding and enjoyment
• Encourage sustainable use
Key work within SNH …
Advise Government on policiesDevelop and advise on good practiceCarry out and fund research
Provide advice on management Deal with casework, issue licences
Look after protected areas…NNRsAward grantsCommunicate and share knowledge…
Why do we need science in SNH?• To provide the environmental evidence
base for our work…and that of Government
• To provide baseline information to measure environmental change
• To meet Government environmental targets; assessing the state of protected areas and trends in their features
• To underpin development of policies and practices which care better for nature
• To provide new and emerging ideas and understanding to manage protected areas to a high standard
• To advance our understanding of nature…for the public, politicians, agencies, NGOs, land and water managers, researchers…
…and across the Scottish Government agencies we are working in partnership within CAMERAS (Coordinated Agenda for Marine, Environment and Rural Affairs Science) to share and use this knowledge
OutlineOutline……the evidence basethe evidence base• Biodiversity
2010…targets• The current
state…examples• Looking
ahead…working with students
Biodiversity – the variety of life
Wildlife in Scotland…how many…
species?
habitats?90,000?
286?
Great Spotted Woodpecker© Jill Pakenham
International Biodiversity Year 2010
1992conservation, sustainable use, equitable sharing of benefit2010slow / halt biodiversity loss…the targetCOP 10 - Nagoyalife in harmony into the future
UK Biodiversity Action Plan 2008
BARS
Species…
Habitats…
38% increasing / stable
22% declining
32% unknown
43% increasing / stable
33% declining
20% unknown
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment of drivers of ecosystem change
Concerns:- biodiversity under serious
pressure
- over-exploitation of marine fisheries
- invasive non-native species
- potential impacts of climate change
European Biodiversity 2010Key messages
EEA
SOME EFFECTS ON THE NATURAL HERITAGE
CLIMATE CHANGE
- Some Losses – (Lichens)- Slower colonisation/less movement
(Beech regeneration)- Flower earlier
SOIL
BIRDS
HABITAT CHANGE- Coastal- Peatlands- Woodland Tiree- Species – Pine/Beech
BUTTERFLIES
Faster NutrientCycling – Releaseof carbon-microbes
Loss of SynchronyDisruption of processesNew species/ pests/diseases
Southern Brown Seaweed
New Species to ScotlandChanging Patterns ofMovements/Migration
New Species to ScotlandEarlier Appearance
Holly Blue Brimstone
New Species – NuthatchEarlier NestingChanging Migration Patterns(Globally 48% of waders in decline of known data)
ECOSYSTEM
MARINE
PLANTS
So, what do we know?
…start with terrestrial habitats and species…
Scotland’s land cover 2000
CEH
bog, heath, montane
grassland
woodland
arable
other
26 bog
12 acid grass12 conifer wood11 heath11 improved grass7 arable6 neutral grass3 fen, marsh, swamp3 broadleaved wood2 built2 bracken
% Scotland
Countryside Survey land cover 1990 - 2007
CEH
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1990 1998 2007
Spec
ies
rich
ness
Countryside Survey changes in plant diversity 1990 - 2007
Arable 92
Coniferous Woodland 93
Fen 80Broadleaved Woodland 87Acid Grassland 95Neutral Grassland 88Bracken 101Bog 92Heath 88
Improved Grassland 93
CEH
Great Spotted Woodpecker© Jill Pakenham
Terrestrial breeding birds sample survey
Sea and coast…major challenges
Changes in Distribution
Seabird population changes 1986 - 2008
%
Abundance 79
Productivity 58
JNCC et al
Overall, what is happening to our environment?
-60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Grasslands
Low land Heath
Woodland
Upland
Wetland
Coastal
Freshw ater
Geological Features
Marine
All Habitats
Hab
itat C
ateg
ory
% Unfavourable % Favourable
Unfavourable
Destroyed (Totally/Partially)
Unfavourable Recovering
Favourable
Results of SNH Site Condition Monitoring 2009…protected areas
Since 2006, the percentage of features in a ‘favourable’ or ‘unfavourable recovering’ condition has increased from 63% to 68%
Management measures are being put in place to to continue this trend
Problems sites face…at UK level
SoSo……..we are developing a robust evidence base of what we are developing a robust evidence base of what is happening in Scotlandis happening in Scotland’’s environment and how s environment and how to manage it betterto manage it better……
But, can we do more?But, can we do more?
Did Queen Victoria wonder how SNH might work more Did Queen Victoria wonder how SNH might work more closely with students or, was something else on her mind?closely with students or, was something else on her mind?
PhD studentships
• We have funded 15 PhD studentships since 2005 (since 2009, jointly with SEPA).three each year
• We have also funded 7 CASE PhD studentships• Topics include…
* restoration of montane heaths * conservation genetics of rare plants * wind farm effects on seabirds * socio-economics of species re-introductions* mink ecology * micro-organism diversity in peatlands * acoustic effects of tidal turbines on marine mammals
Peatland responses to fire: the consequences to vegetation and greenhouse gas balanceDr Alan Gray and Dr Colin Legg (Edinburgh University), Dr Peter Levy (CEH), Dr Neil Cowie (RSPB Scotland), Dr Graham Sullivan (SNH)
Developing adaptation and mitigation strategies to minimise the impacts of climate change on the conservation interests of Scotland's standing watersDr John Rowan and Prof. Chris Spray (University of Dundee), Dr Richard Jeffries (SEPA), Dr Mary Hennessy (SNH)
Prediction of morphological adjustment and societal response to channel instability resulting from increased flood frequency in ScotlandProf. David Gilvear and Dr Bob McCulloch (Stirling University),Dr Richard Jeffries (SEPA), Prof. John Gordon (SNH)
SNH-SEPA PhD studentships 2010-13
And thank you for all the excellent applications…
Our challenge is to develop the evidence base
…undertake the necessary research, survey and monitoring
…report clearly on what is happening
…identify policies, management, activities and opportunities to improve the environment
…work closely with universities and researchers, and have our fingers on the pulse
…make sure the work reaches and impacts on the work of the Scottish Government (and indeed, UK and EU)
…make sure the work has real positive outcomes for Scotland’s environment
An offer… well, questions…
• Do we have datasets that would be of interest to you for research BSc / MSc / PhD projects?
• Should we identify analytical projects for students to undertake as part of these projects?
• Should we/you make more use of NNRs for research and demonstration?
• Can we do more to assist student studies…what about placements?
We want to work more closely with universities and research institutes to develop our understanding of what is happening in and to Scotland’s environment…
We need your ideas, talent, energy and help …please