Helping UK's threatened mammals with new guidelines 29/06/2012
Eight of the UK's mammals are high priorities for conservation action, but there was very little published guidance on how to best protect them, until now. The Mammal Society and Cresswell brought together recognised experts to produce urgently-needed comprehensive guidelines, published in June 2012 [1].
Designed for land managers, planners, local authorities and wildlife groups, they cover standard survey protocols and guidelines for impact assessment and mitigation for the eight terrestrial mammals added to the Biodiversity Action Plan list in 2007.
They are: red squirrel; harvest mouse; brown hare; mountain hare; European hedgehog; wildcat; pine marten and polecat.
"Mammals such as the red squirrel and wildcat are among our most threatened species. In 2007, the government decided that they and a further six mammals were priorities for conservation action. But, creating priorities without providing guidance is somewhat meaningless. Our guidance will finally enable the necessary action to be taken to remove them from the list and give them a future."
Marina Pacheco, CEO of The Mammal Society
The publication includes an introduction explaining the need for standard survey protocols and guidelines for impact assessment and mitigation in the context of EcIA, and will consider factors for each BAP species, such as their status, background biology and research requirements. Additionally, it provides a brief summary of already-existing sources of relevant information for the bats, otters, water voles and dormice.
These are called interim guidelines, as there is the need, in some cases, for further research on appropriate survey methodologies and for assessing the outcome of recommended mitigation strategies. We pose the questions that still need answering in the guidance, to encourage more research to be undertaken. All updates will be published on the website.
"Conservation handbooks have existed for some years for some UK terrestrial mammals, such as the dormouse and water vole. However, species added to the UK BAP list in 2007, were not receiving adequate attention. So The Mammal Society and Cresswell have collaborated to address this gap by producing this new publication endorsed by the national Statutory Nature Conservation Organisations of England, Scotland and Wales and the Institute of Ecologists and Environmental Managers."
WIll Trewhella, Cresswell Associates.
ENDS
Editors notes
[1] The Mammal Society and Cresswell (a Hyder Consulting group company) launched BAP Mammals: Interim Guidelines for Survey Methodologies, Impact Assessment and Mitigation on 29th June at The Cole Museum, University of Reading.
Eds: W.J. Cresswell, J. Birks, M. Dean, M. Pacheco, W.J. Trewhella and D. Wells
Very little guidance has existed up till now for the mammals that were added to the UK BAP Mammals list in 2007.
Each of the chapters has been written by recognised authors, including: red squirrel (John Gurnell & Peter W. W. Lurz); harvest mouse (Simone Bullion); brown and mountain hare (Phil Wheeler, Stephanie Wray & Derek Yalden); European hedgehog (Pat Morris); wildcat (Andrew Kitchener); pine marten (Johnny Birks); and polecat (Johnny Birks)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Marina Pacheco (CEO) 023 8023 7874
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