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A new 'Planning and Targeting' map is being developed to replace the existing
Advanced Map. We are in the process of re-developing the Advanced Map so that it
is able to deliver new information on the importance of different areas for
wildlife, particularly in order to assist in targeted action through delivery
mechanisms such as agri-environment schemes. The changes are being developed in
order to coincide with the release of Defra’s new Environmental Stewardship
(http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default.htm#1)
which will be open to new applicants in the spring of 2005. This new information
will however prove valuable to a number of different users who are interested
in the location of wildlife priorities throughout England.
The current features of the Advanced Map, whereby users can design their
own maps and explore an area for habitats and protected sites, will be retained.
This functionality will be supplemented by the ability to explore new wildlife
themes as follows:
- Information on the location of BAP habitats, and the significance of
BAP habitats expressed at different spatial scales (e.g. region, county,
parish). This will retain the current Advanced Map structure and
information sources.
- Data and information relating to 'Priority Catchments'.
English Nature, working closely with the Environment Agency, identified
105 sites (Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and Special Areas of Conservation)
across England that were deemed to be at particular risk of damage from diffuse
pollution sources (see http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/551.pdf for full report).
- Information relating to the importance of different areas across
England for selected farmland Birds. English Nature have been working closely
with partners (the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB),
the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Defra Rural Development Service (RDS))
to develop a resource that identifies key areas in which to promote targeted action
for farmland birds. The project has concentrated on more than a dozen rare, scarce,
localised and range-restricted farmland bird species that are high priority for
conservation action (i.e., are priority UK BAP species and/or appear on the 'red'
list of the recent review of birds of conservation concern in the UK).
Part of the package of changes will also see the development of a new Joint
Character Area (JCA) wildlife reporting function. For any JCA a user will be able
to generate a report which provides information from across all themes i.e. reports
on BAP habitats, Priority Catchments and farmland bird importance.
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