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Keeping It Local:Shared Solutions for Sustainability

Biodiversity Summit

7th July 2011

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Welcome

Richard MooreThe University of Northampton

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Dr Jeff Ollerton

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Why biodiversity is Why biodiversity is important! important!

A summary of global and A summary of global and national issues national issues

Dr Jeff Ollerton

Landscape and Biodiversity Research Group

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What is biodiversity?

“The variety of life in all its forms and at all levels, including genes,

species and ecosystems”

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Modern technology allows us to study how demands on resources are destroying the natural world:

Deforestation in Borneo:

Credit: hugo Ahlenius, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

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Deforestation in Borneo Twyford Down SSSI

c. 90% of UK lowland grassland destroyed or “improved” in last 100 years:

Credit: Jim Champion

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Source: Department for Communities and Local Government - www.communities.gov.uk

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Source: Department for Communities and Local Government - www.communities.gov.uk

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Why does this really matter? Is it purely of aesthetic or academic concern?

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“The first analysis of the UK’s natural environment in terms of the benefits it

provides to society and our continuing prosperity”

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“Ecosystem Services”Supporting services:

e.g. soil formation, photosynthesis, primary production, nutrient cycling and water cycling.

Provisioning services: e.g. food, fibre, fuel, genetic resources, biochemicals, natural medicines, ornamental resources and fresh water.

Regulating services: e.g. regulation of air quality, climate, water quality, soil erosion, pests and

diseases, pollination, natural hazard regulation.

Cultural services: e.g. non-material benefits such as spiritual enrichment, cognitive

development, reflection, recreation and aesthetic experiences.

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Carbon storage

Pest control e.g. birds, wasps

Pollination of fruit and vegetable

crops

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Biodiversity of wetlands enhances water quality - £1.5 billion p.a.

Worth at least £30 billion per year – some examples:

Source: UK National Ecosystem Assessment 2011

Health benefits of living with a view of a green space - up to £300 per person per year.

Amenity benefits of living close to rivers, coasts and other wetlands -£1.3 billion p.a.

Wild pollinators are worth £430 million p.a. to British agriculture. [an underestimate…]

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Approximately 250 species of bees

Images courtesy of Hilary Erenler, University of Northampton, ©2010.

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British bee extinctions:Lasioglossum leave - pre 1800 Hoplitis leucomelana - pre 1800 Hylaeus punctulatissima - 1840 Chalicodoma ericetorum - 1844 Megachile lapponica - 1847Halictus subauratus - 1850s Bombus pomorum - 1864 Andrena nanula - 1877Rhophites quinquespinosus - 1878Coelioxys afra - 1892 Melecta luctuosa - 1912Andrena nana - 1930Halictus maculates - 1930 Andrena polita - 1934Andrena floricola - 1939 Bombus cullumanus - 1941Andrena tridentate - 1944Andrena vaga - 1946 Dufourea halictula - 1953Bombus distinguendus - 1981Nomada errans - 1982Bombus subterraneus - 1990 Osmia xanthomelana - 1998

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• other bee species have reduced numbers in 50% of areas surveyed since the 1980s.

• about 70% of our commonest moths have declined since 1970s.

• 25% of hoverfly species have reduced in numbers since the 1980s.

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There are multiple reasons for this:

• loss of habitat such as unimproved grassland.

• increased use of pesticides and other chemicals.

• removal of hedgerows and native woodland.

• urban expansion.

• climate change (?) All factors which broadly affect biodiversity

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Thank you for listening

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Dr Janet Jackson

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Keeping it local!

Reassessing Biodiversity: sharing knowledge and expertise

from ‘our’ doorstep

Dr Janet Jackson

Senior Lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Management

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Park Campus~15 hectaresgrassland

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Where do the badgers live?

Park Campus

Wider landscape

Spatial and historical context

Connectivity – paths, corridors and patches

Islands – suitable habitat, meta-populations

Resources - foraging, outliers, territories

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Avenue – industrial

Fragments of ‘old habitat’, bats, badgers, fruit trees

New ‘listed’ Newton Building

Future planned development of campus

Influencing best practice????

Avenue Campus~ 2 hectares of grassland

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Grafton Street

Industrial Park

Round Spinney

Industrial estate

Moulton Industrial

Park

Morrison

PARK

Kingsthorpe Golf Club

AVENUE

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Weston FavellShops

Northants Cricket Ground

NorthamptonCollege

Potential for collaborative action for biodiversity

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Biodiversity and Ecosystem services

• On-site habitats and species - what role can they play?

• Pollination, production (food, fibre, fuel), nutrient recycling, pest control, pollution control, carbon capture, improvement of air quality......................etc.!

• Storm-water control, wetlands, SUDS?

• Wider linkages – watershed, river catchments, drainage

• Adaptation/resilience to climate change

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Biodiversity and Ecosystem services

• Do we need a simple method of assessment and tools to measure value?

• How does ‘our’ location ‘fit’ with others?

• Do we need to talk to neighbours and the wider community?

• Are we contributing to or reducing flood risk and overall habitat loss?

• How can we do things differently?

• Can biodiversity come back?

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Can we rescue and retrofit biodiversity?

Istanbul, Turkey

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Learning from others

Murrey Edwards College (formerly New Hall)University of Cambridge

Increase in porous surfaces

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Sustainable Urban Environments

The Netherlands: Imaginative use of urban space with green roofs

There are many examples and techniques out there!

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Government decentralisation of storm water management

http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/umwelt/landschaftsplanung/lapro/index_en.shtml

Increasing area of porous surfaces and rainwater harvesting which provides city cooling and other social benefits

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Biodiversity, WFD and CSR

Berlin Senate for Urban Development (2010)

Sustainable urban drainage: [SUDS at Upton, Northampton]

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Local businesses and communities need to say “yes, let’s do it”.

BUT we need tools and investment into halting the loss of biodiversity and creating new opportunities for wildlife now!

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Gareth Thomas

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The Biodiversity Index: aspirations for a new tool for

biodiversity assessment

Gareth Thomas

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Current drivers for the conservation of biodiversity

International/European drivers:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (2010)

• Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020

• Birds Directive (2009)

• Habitats Directive (1992)

• Water Framework Directive (2000)

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Current drivers for the conservation of biodiversity

National drivers:• National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)

– UKBAP (setting out action plans for specific habitats and species

• Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)

• Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW) (2000)

• Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act (2006) "Every public authority must, in exercising its function, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity"

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Current drivers for the conservation of biodiversity

Non-regulatory drivers• Corporate Social

Responsibility

• Consumer ethics/choice

• Ecosystem services

• Environmental Management Systems

– ISO14001

– EcoCampus

– IEMA Acorn Scheme

• Biodiversity offsetting

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Tools for assessing biodiversity

• Phase 1 and 2 habitat surveys

• National Vegetation Classification (NVC)

• Wildlife Trust Biodiversity Benchmark

• National Biodiversity Network (NBN)

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The Biodiversity Index

Biodiversity:

“the variety of life including genes, species, and ecosystems”

Index:

• “Something that serves to guide, point out or otherwise facilitate reference”

• “A number derived from a formula, used to characterise a set of data”

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An example of a freshwater biotic index

• Ecological Quality Index (EQI)

• Based on the number of macro-invertebrate taxa

Biological Class

EQI for ASPT

EQI for Taxa

   

A (Very Good)

1.00 or above

0.85 or above

B (Good) 0.90-0.99 0.70-0.84

C (Fairly Good)

0.77-0.89 0.55-0.69

D (Fair) 0.65-0.76 0.45-0.54

E (Poor) 0.50-0.64 0.30-0.44

F (Bad)less than 0.50

less than 0.30

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Developingthe Index

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The initial survey of UoN campus

• Habitat recorded using a 1:1250 scale map of the campus

• Observational survey of the site identifying distinct areas of habitat

• Assessment of easily identifiable indicators of biodiversity

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Avenue Campus GIS map

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Interpreting the results

• Using aspects of the Ratcliffe Criteria (1977), assuming that one continuous block of habitat is able to support more species than the same total extent split over several areas

• Using Phase 1 habitat classifications as an initial basis for ascribing habitat characteristics

• Developing a set of values for each habitat type based on their approximate biodiversity value

Source: Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey

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Scoring

Habitat Grade Score Area1 (m2) Area2 (m2) Sum

Grassland Mono 5  1425  600 10125

Grassland <5 spp 50  385   19250

Grassland >5 spp 500    

Grassland with Con trees Mono 6.5    

Grassland with Con trees <5 spp 65    

Grassland with Con trees >5 spp 650    

Grassland with BL trees Mono 8.5   492  532 8704

Grassland with BL trees <5 spp 85    

Grassland with BL trees >5 spp 850    Biodiversity Index = 38079

Habitat grade score x sum of area = Biodiversity Index for the habitat

The sum of all habitat scores = Biodiversity Index for the site

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Adding value – considerations for biodiversity outside of the survey scope

• Incorporation of known fauna/flora into the scoring system

• A sliding scale of value depending on provision for species (e.g. bat boxes) and success of such provision (e.g. survey establishing roosts in boxes)

• Rapid assessment of pond habitat value and a relevant scoring system

• Recognising and valuing connectivity through corridors

• Increased scoring for identified BAP species and habitats

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Considerations for presenting the results

• Web based• Spread sheet

based tool • Inclusion of GIS

data outputs• Visual

representation

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Workshop questions• What mechanisms do

you currently use to assess biodiversity?

• What are the challenges?

• Do/can you budget for biodiversity?

• Is there a demand for this index and what should it include?

• Who would be its audience?

• Which format would be useful?

• Does it need to stand alone or combine with other systems?

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Thank you for listening!

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Focus Groups

• RED - ROOM 008 - DR JEFF OLLERTON

• BLUE - ROOM 102 - DR JANET JACKSON

• GREEN- MAIN PLENARY GARETH THOMAS

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Samantha Raggatt & Richard Moore

Local shared solutions forSustainability project –

Overview

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Keeping It Local: Shared Solutions for Sustainability

Samantha Raggatt & Richard Moore

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Rationale

• Regional Programme of Action for 2009-2011: ‘Tackling Climate Change in the East Midlands’.

• Northamptonshire Sustainable Communities Strategy

• Northamptonshire Local Area Agreement (LAA)

• HEFCE’s Sustainable Development Strategy

• UUK/GuildHE leaders’ statement of intent on sustainable development

• The University of Northampton’s Strategic Plan 2010-15

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Aims

1. To reduce carbon emissions in Northamptonshire by

engaging strategic partners to work holistically to

positively impact on the environmental, social and

economic sustainability of the County.

2. To increase area-based sustainable development by developing a model of inter-organisational best practice to be disseminated across sectors.

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Objectives1. Identify sustainability aims, objectives and targets

common to all partners.

2. Identify shared solutions that positively impact on the environmental, social and economic sustainability of Northamptonshire.

3. Create an action plan for implementing these shared solutions between the partners.

4. Ensure the model of inter-organisational working is replicable as an example of best practice.

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Deliverables

• 5 Carbon Summits

• 8 Think Tanks

• Resource Efficiency Training Programme

• Biodiversity Index

• Big Green Challenge

• Keeping It Local: The Northamptonshire Action Plan for Shared Solutions for Sustainability

• Toolkit

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Resource Efficiency Training

• This is training aimed at public sector organisations such as County council, District councils, NHS, Housing Associations, Police etc. The training will take the form of a 1 day training session followed by a half day practical session.

• Dates:

• 13th June Kettering

• 11th July NCC, Northampton

• 18/19th July CBC, Corby

• 25th July NCC, Northampton

• 28/29th July NCC, Northampton

• 28th September Kettering (1/2 day session)

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Carbon Summits & Think Tanks

• These key events for gaining input from a broad range of groups/individuals on each of the different focus from areas of the project. These are aimed at attracting 60+ participants and are followed up with smaller think tanks (10+) where experts will discuss and agree on key lessons learnt.

• 7th July Biodiversity Summit; Newton Building, University of Northampton

• Sept 2011Biodiversity Think Tank; tbc

• 6th Sept Transport Summit; Rockingham Raceway, Corby

• 20th Sept Transport Think Tank; tbc

• 12th Oct Waste Summit, Icon Building; tbc

• 27th Oct Waste Think Tank, Icon Building; tbc

• Feb 2012 Energy & Water Summit; tbc

• Feb 2012 Energy Think Tank; tbc

• Feb 2012 Water Think Tank; tbc

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Key Milestones

• Recruit Project Manager

• Establish Core Team

• Steering Group Meeting

• Carbon Summits

• Resource Efficiency Training Development

• Biodiversity Index Development

• Big Green Challenge (Low Carbon Business Challenge Competition)

• Resource Efficiency Training Delivery

• Website Development

• Think Tanks

• Sign Collaboration Agreement

• Biodiversity Index Testing

• Delivery of the Action Plan for Northamptonshire

• Develop Toolkit; Launch Toolkit, inc Community of Practice.

• Regional Training Events; Conference Presentations; HEFCE LGM Annual Conference Presentation

• By Start November 2010.

• October 2010.

• Quarterly from September 2010.

• November 2010- April 2012.

• October 2010 & November 2010.

• September 2010- August 2011.

• November 2010.

• November 2010 onwards.

• December 2010- July 2011.

• February 2011 onwards.

• September 2010.

• April 2011- August 2012.

• August 2011.

• September-November 2011; December 2011.

• December 2011-August 2012; September 2011-July 2012; January 2012.

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Thank you

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Feedback

Focus group results and summary

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THANK YOU

LUNCHServed in room 101