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