Developing Result Based Scorecards in Ireland

and Spainand Spain

Caitriona Maher, EFNCP

Developing scorecards

1. Biodiversity output selected

2. Known distribution (& limited budget) decided

spatial targeting

3. 10 point scoring system

4. Assessment criteria for payment levels4. Assessment criteria for payment levels

1. Current ecological condition

2. Threats and Future prospects

RBAPS Ireland and Spain

In Navarra, Spain,

i. Biodiversity of the traditional perennial crop

mosaic (multiple outputs)

In Shannon Callows, Ireland

i. Breeding Wader Bird Habitat

ii. Species-rich Flood Meadow plant communitiesii. Species-rich Flood Meadow plant communities

iii. Ground-nesting birds with Species-rich Flood

Meadows (dual output, species & habitat)

In County Leitrim, Ireland

i. Species-rich grasslands (target is wider

biodiversity)

ii. Marsh Fritillary butterfly habitat with Species-rich

grassland (dual output)

• Within Navarra, RBAPS focus is on Mediterranean Region

RBAPS: Navarra, Spain

Soil tillage

• Targeting:

– Almond groves

– Olive Groves

– Vineyards

– Mosaic of these &

grazed areas

Biodiversity focus in Navarra

Traditional olive groveVineyards

Mosaic of vineyards & almond Rough grazing & almond

Trends in Navarra

Abandonment of almond grovesIntensification of arable areas

Intensification of vineyards Intensification of olive groves

Duarte et al. 2014, Arlettaz et al. 2012Saxicola torquatus

Scoring almond, olive and vinyard

A. Herbaceous cover under the crop (7 points)

1. Number of plant species (2 pt)

2. Area of herbaceous cover (2 pt)

3. Period of herbaceous cover (2 pt)

4. Type of management (grazing, 1 pt)

5. Scrub cover (max 0 pt)

Eco

log

ical co

nd

ition

Threats & 5. Scrub cover (max 0 pt)

6. Damaging activities (0 pt, CC)

B. Condition of built and natural structures with

biodiversity value within the plot (4 points)

Eco

log

ical co

nd

ition

Threats &

Future

prospects

Evaluating the scoring system in Navarra

Monitoring plants, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and birds...

RBAPS score RBAPS score Abundance

Abundance

A. Current Ecological Condition (9 points)

– Number of selected positive indicator plants

– Cover of positive indicator plants

– Species diversity of canopy layer

– Cover of negative indicators

B. Threats & future prospects (1 points, high negative weighting)

Scoring species-rich Flood Meadows

B. Threats & future prospects (1 points, high negative weighting)

– Level of litter and encroaching scrub

– Damaging activities

Assessed along a continuous path through the field

• Indicators of physical structure:

Breeding Waders

LapwingRedshankSnipeCurlew

• Indicators of physical structure:

- Sward height (1.5 points)

- Tussock coverage (1.5 points)

- Rush (1.5 points)

- Wet features (1.5 points)

- Predator habitat (3 points)

Evaluating the scoring system for Breeding Waders

LapwingRedshank SnipeCurlew

Leitrim Biodiversity Targets

Species rich grassland

Species-rich grassland suitable for Marsh

Fritillary butterfly

Leitrim Species-rich Grassland Assessment Criteria

A. Current Ecological Condition (6 points)

– Number of Positive indicators

– Cover of Positive indicators

– Cover of Negative indicators

B. Threats & future prospects (4 points)B. Threats & future prospects (4 points)

– Vegetation structure

– Plant litter level

– Encroaching scrub

– Cover of Bracken

– Damaging activities

– Supplementary feeding

Leitrim Species-rich Grassland & Marsh Fritillary

Ab

un

da

nce

of

Ma

rsh

Fri

till

ary

La

rva

l w

eb

s

• Same indicators as Species Rich Grasslands

• With indicator for structure specific to MF butterfly requirements

• Targeting decided by previous records

• Sufficient cover of the food plant

• Butterfly is an additional output on species-rich grasslands

Species-rich grassland suitable for Marsh

Fritillary butterfly

5 7 8 9 10

RBAPS score

Species-rich habitat & target species

Ab

un

da

nce

of

Ma

rsh

Fri

till

ary

La

rva

l w

eb

s

• A range of scorecards designed in a relatively short timeframe...

• Same principles: current condition, future prospects

Conclusions from initial evaluation

condition, future prospects

• Preliminary results in evaluation of the six scorecards indicate that these succeed in reflecting variation in the status of the biodiversity targets

RBAPS score