MESH UK Workshop 19 October 2006MESH UK Workshop 19 October 2006

IntroductionIntroduction

Dr Paul GillilandDr Paul GillilandMarine Policy AdviserMarine Policy Adviser

and MESH Partner Leadand MESH Partner LeadNatural EnglandNatural England

MESH PartnersMESH Partners

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OverviewOverviewContext Habitat mapping in general Policy interest and commitments

The Project Development, aims, objectives Structure and deliverables Relationship to other projects

The Workshop Aim and objectives Audience Structure

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What are ‘habitat maps’What are ‘habitat maps’

A ‘habitat’ means the physical and biological environment that supports a particular ecological community.

It is described in terms of both physical and biological characteristics.

Surrogate information and data.

Maps show the distribution of habitats as defined by a classification system

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Why habitat mapping? Why MESH?Why habitat mapping? Why MESH?

Multiple pressures and uses on marine environment

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Why MESH..?Why MESH..?

Effective management of the marine environment requires information on the spatial distribution and the quality of seabed habitats.

Legally permitted activities in the Irish Sea

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Why habitat mapping? Why MESH?Why habitat mapping? Why MESH?

Multiple pressures and uses on marine environment

Ecosystem management needs spatial data on habitats and species

Underpin marine spatial planning

Context for environmental assessment

International obligations to protect seabed habitats

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Why MESH: problems preventing Why MESH: problems preventing progressprogress

Available data were not readily accessible

Data were not collected to internationally agreed standards

Lack of international and national seabed maps in a common language

Un-coordinated effort in seabed mapping initiatives

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Policy interestPolicy interest

Safeguarding our Seas Build on existing mapping Publicly accessible integrated mapping

Defra ‘Evidence and Innovation Strategy 2005-2008’

Marine Bill Value of habitat and ‘landscape’ maps MESH and UKSeaMap

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What is MESH?What is MESH?

Development of a framework for Mapping European Seabed

Habitats

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MESH and UKSeaMapMESH and UKSeaMap

MESHMESH

INTERREG areaINTERREG area

From landscapes From landscapes to biotopesto biotopes

Range of UK and Range of UK and other partnersother partners

UKSeaMapUKSeaMap

UK watersUK waters

Landscapes onlyLandscapes only

Defra/SE/CCW/Defra/SE/CCW/DTIDCLG/CE/DTIDCLG/CE/RSPB RSPB WWF/NE/(JNCC)WWF/NE/(JNCC)

Funding Methods Outputs

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Number of Partners by countryNumber of Partners by country

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MESH Project: facts & figuresMESH Project: facts & figures

Twelve partners from five countries

Partner legal status National Public Body 6 Research Institution 4 University 1 Private Enterprise 1

Budget: € 8,125,575

Duration: four years (May ‘03 – April ’07)

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MESH - GoalMESH - Goal

To establish a framework for mapping the marine habitats of north-west Europe

through the development of internationally agreed protocols and guidelines for seabed habitat mapping and the generation of the first compiled marine habitat maps for the

north-west Europe Interreg III B area.

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MESH ActionsMESH Actions

Collate and harmonise existing habitat maps

Develop standards and protocols

Field studies

Develop predictive mapping tools

Case studies on uses for maps

Communication and dissemination

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MESH deliverablesMESH deliverables

Harmonised habitat map of seabed habitats for north-west Accompanying ‘confidence maps’ Evaluation of EUNIS for habitat mapping

A metadata catalogue of mapping studies for north-west EuropeA website that includes an interactive webGISGuidance on habitat mapping based on a set of internationally agreed protocols and standards New mapping studies to test protocols and

models

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Review of standards and protocolsReview of standards and protocols

http://www.searchmesh.net/Default.aspx?page=1442

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MESH deliverables (cont.)MESH deliverables (cont.)Models for the prediction of habitat typesPublished case studies on the practical application of habitat mapsNational networks of habitat mapping stakeholders A stakeholder database

Follow on strategy ..continued collation and improvement of

habitat mapping at the national and international scale

Physical data

Sample data

‘Modelling’ to infer habitat

distribution

Predicted habitat distribution map

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Links to other workLinks to other work

Contribute to strategic programmes, eg Marine Data & Information Partnership Marine Monitoring & Assessment

Facilitate delivery of initiatives, eg Habitats Directive FCS, SEA/REA,

OSPAR MPAs

Complement or link to other projects, eg BALANCE, CHaRM, HabMap

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UK seabed mappingUK seabed mappingNew survey, eg UK National Seabed Survey developing proposal

Overall package Collate and present existing data Interpret as far as possible

Underpinning Data management Standards and protocols Utility of mapping

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Workshop – 1Workshop – 1

Views on MESH and specific outputs Understanding of the project Demonstrate utility of outputs and habitat

maps Case studies

Audience advisers, decisions makers, industry,

managers, planners, policy makers

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Workshop – 2Workshop – 2Structure > 50% discussion Different forms of feedback Web demonstration and posters Mix of target audience and MESH

speakers

MESH partners webGIS Modelling - UKSeaMap Guidance document Follow on strategy

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Workshop – 3Workshop – 3User perspective Scale Different uses Organisations

Delegates input

Outputs

………………….Outcomes?