managing wetlands for wildlife and people
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Managing wetlands for wildlife and people. Tricia Henton 19 April 2010. The Environment Agency – what we do. England and Wales remit £1.24 billion budget 13,000 staff Environmental regulator, operator, adviser. Our biodiversity responsibilities. Legal duties - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Managing wetlandsfor wildlife and people
Tricia Henton19 April 2010
The Environment Agency – what we do
• England and Wales remit
• £1.24 billion budget
• 13,000 staff
• Environmental regulator, operator, adviser
Our biodiversity responsibilities
Legal duties Help protect nationally and internationally important wildlife sites.Help conserve and enhance priority habitats and species.
ObligationsLead role for several water and wetland habitats and species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.Ministerial and government targets for improving and creating habitats to support the 2010 biodiversity target.
How we deliver biodiversity outcomes
Environmental regulation Pollution control Regulating water abstraction
Flood risk management Habitat creation Water level management
Partnership workingNational and local projects
River basin management planning
River basin management plans
Achieving good ecological status or potential in water bodies
Restoring sustainable abstraction
Tackling diffuse pollution
Priorities for ‘Protected Areas’ to benefit people and wildlife
What we have helped to deliver 2004-2010
2000 ha of new habitat (1350 ha from flood risk management work)60,000 ha of improved SSSI land
Frieston shore, Lincolnshire
Jubilee River flood scheme
Jubilee River – Maidenhead to Windsor
Rural and urban habitat gain
Sladesbridge - Cornwall
River Quaggy – Lewisham, South London
Estuary management
Humber Estuary Strategy - protecting 400,000 people
Alkborough Flats coastal
realignment scheme - 440ha
of new habitat created
Water level management
Installing structures to raise and control water levels
Water level management
Somerset Levels and
Moors
Water level structures operated by the Environment Agency and Internal Drainage Boards
Improving river habitat Includes:• river restoration• instream
enhancement• removal of weirs• buffer zone creation• riparian tree planting • extensive pollarding• wetland creation
within 10 metres of channel
• large scale invasive plant removal
Improving and creating ponds
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
ANG MID NE NW SO SW TH WA
166 ponds created in 2007-08 and 2008-09Flood Risk Management: 97 Other/partnership work: 69
Habitat gain through Flood Risk Management work
0100200300400500600700
2000
/01
2001
/02
2002
/03
2003
/04
2004
/05
2005
/06
2006
/07
2007
/08
2008
/09
2009
/10
2010
/11
1233 ha total
993 ha freshwater
240 ha intertidal
Controlling non-native species
GB Non-native Species StrategyFlood risk and recreational benefitsPreventing spreadRapid response to new problems
Floating pennywort
Looking ahead – large scale habitat creation
Great Fen Project site, Cambs
• Delivered through Regional Habitat Creation Programmes
• Contributes to the Wetland Vision• Developing ecological networks
Learning points
Clear, realistic targets – absolutely essentialMinisterial commitment and guidance – high level expectationEffective delivery mechanisms - avoids disappointmentFunded work programmes – secures actionDemonstrate benefits of work – engenders support and momentum
Future uncertainties
Changing climateEconomyPolitical situation