© University of Reading 2009 www.reading.ac.uk/tsbe

8th March 2017

GIS construction solutions supporting net biodiversity gain Engineering Doctorate 2014-2018 By Katie McCausland

Problem: •  Nature is complex:

–  It is difficult to quantify

•  Current offsetting is under scrutiny: –  Voluntary procedure –  “Damage control” once a design has been made –  An excuse for developer to destroy irriplacable habitats

•  A lot of information about nature –  Lack of understanding as to what it means –  How can it be incorporated into decision making

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Objectives

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To use GIS to visualise areas of high ecosystem sensitivity to aid in biodiversity offsetting, and to identify local areas that would benefit from restoration. 1. To create an early planning tool that uses GIS and spatial analysis tool to provide relevant information to the decision making process.

The aims of the tool A 3-stage tool to assist with environmental impact assessments by contributing the following information:

–  Conservation Designations – Regulations and Restrictions –  Previously recorded EU Protected Species –  Habitat guidance – maintaining sustainable environments

Providing an effective method of visualisation

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The Data •  Natural England/Countryside Council for Wales

Conservation Designations •  Species Distributions from the National Biodiversity

Network •  Phase I (Wales) and Mastermap Land cover habitat

data •  Literature

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Stage one…

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Stage 2…

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Lesser horseshoe Bat Lesser horseshoe Bat Soprano Pipestrelle

Lesser horseshoe Bat Soprano Pipestrelle Noctule Greater horseshoe Bat Brown long eared Bat Bechsteins Bat Barbastelle Bat Dormouse Great Crested Newt Smooth Snake (more to be added)

Stage 2…

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Stage 2…

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Stage 2…

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Stage 2…

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Stage 3 •  Let’s take the Lesser Horseshoe Bat and read some

papers…

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Stage 3…

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The stage 3 analysis of the landscape aggregates three factors into a three digit code of “Distinctiveness”, “Restoration Potential” and “Condition”. Using this code, the end user will not only see “sensitive” areas, but also understand why and how.

Stage 3

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These were then stacked upon each other giving one composite value. Thus providing a quantification to inform planners and decision makers. Only Habitats with a distinctiveness of medium and high were analysed

Stage 3

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So a parcel of land that as a score of “321” has a high distinctiveness, a medium restoration potential and low condition

Other/Future Work •  One part of a bigger project

–  Ecological framework for qualitative analysis –  Visualisation tools

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Questions?

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