Biodiversity

7.31 This section on biodiversity contains information and trends relating to the South West Nature Map, wild bird populations, fish and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). There is significant effort underway throughout the region to conserve our biodiversity.  However, major challenges lie ahead in order to stop further losses, re-establish lost wildlife and enable it to adapt to the pressures of climate change. 

7.32 The South West Nature Map shows the most appropriate areas to maintain and expand (through restoration and/or re-creation) terrestrial wildlife habitats at a landscape scale. It is important to stress that land outside the Nature Map areas also contain wildlife sites and species that are important in their own right.  There are many different tools and mechanisms in place that contribute to their conservation.

7.33 Birds are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of wildlife and countryside because they inhabit a wide range of habitats, tend to be near the top of the food chain, are popular and have long time series of data. The UK Index of wild bird populations is one of the Government's headline indicators for sustainable development.  Surveys of bird populations are carried out by Defra, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), the most recent of which covers the period of 1994 - 2004.

7.34 Fish are good indicators of the health of the fresh and salt water environment.  The volume of sea fish landed in South West fishing ports can be used as a measure of the state of fish stocks.  Salmon need a certain type of habitat and good water quality to support breeding and maintain stocks.  The number of salmon and coarse fish caught by anglers reflects both the abundance and diversity of fish species and the performance of fisheries.

7.35 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are nationally important nature conservation sites.  They support England's best wildlife and geology and include many of our most spectacular natural assets. Public Service Agreements (PSA) were first introduced to modernise and improve the Government's performance on the issues that matter most to the public (including health, crime, education and the environment).  Ambitious and publicly accountable targets have been set, one of which is to bring 95% of all nationally important wildlife sites (SSSIs) into favourable condition by 2010.

South West Nature Map

7.36 The South West Nature Map, produced by the South West Regional Biodiversity Partnership, was created through regional consultation using the best available biodiversity data, local expert knowledge and the South West Wildlife Trust’s Rebuilding Biodiversity methodology.  It selects landscape scale blocks of land, known as Strategic Nature Areas, to improve habitat networks and to sustain wildlife within them.

7.37 Nature Map can be used by the region’s decision-makers, organisations and businesses to:

  • Identify where most of the major biodiversity concentrations are found and where targets to maintain, restore and re-create wildlife might best be met at a landscape scale.
  • Formulate sustainable choices for development; e.g. through Local Development Frameworks and the Regional Spatial Strategy.
  • Assist in targeting the new Environmental Stewardship Scheme.
  • Develop partnerships and projects for biodiversity in the region.
  • Provide a focus for projects that will help biodiversity to adapt to climate change.

Figure 7.5 South West Nature Map

Figure 7.5 South West Nature Map (Popup full image) 

The South West Nature Map as well as county level maps can be downloaded here. More information about Nature Map is available from the South West Regional Biodiversity Partnership, 2006

Birds

7.38 Birds are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of wildlife and countryside because they inhabit a wide range of habitats, tend to be near the top of the food chain, are popular and have long time series of data.

7.39 The index of wild bird populations is one of the Government’s headline indicators for sustainable development in the UK. The population of all native birds, including farmland and woodland species, in the South West showed no significant change, with the index increasing by just 1% between 1994 and 2004. This was below the national trend, which showed an increase of almost 6% (Defra, RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology, 2006).

7.40 Long term trends show that farmland bird populations declined by 45% in the South West between 1970 and 1994, (Defra, 2003). Comparisons between this and the 1994 – 2004 survey need to be approached with care due to differences in survey methodology and species composition. Between 1994 and 2004, however, farmland bird populations have showed no significant change (over 10%), with the index decreasing by 8%. This was worse than the English average of 5%, (Defra, RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology, 2006).

7.41 Long term trends show that woodland birds declined by 32% between 1970 and 1994, faster than the national average of 15%, (Defra, 2003). Between 1994 and 2004, there was no significant change in the population of woodland birds in the region, with the index decreasing by 8%. This was worse than the English average of –3% and the 2nd highest decline recorded in the regions, behind the South East, (Defra, RSPB, British Trust for Ornithology, 2006). 

Figure 7.6 South West Wild Bird (including Farmland and Woodland) Indicator 1994 - 2004, Index 1994 = 100

Figure 7.6 South West Wild Bird (including Farmland and Woodland) Indicator 1994 - 2004, Index 1994 = 100 (Popup full image) 

7.42 More information about birds is available from the South West Observatory Environment website.  Farmland birds is also an indicator used to monitor progress of the Regional Environment Strategy.

Fish

7.43 The commercial sea fishing industry, although a small sector, is more important to the regional economy than is typical nationally. In 2005, there were 7,017 fishermen in England & Wales, of which 1,020 (14%) were in the South West. Nationally, there has been a 76% decline in the total number of fishermen since 1938 and a 35% decline between 1994 and 2005. The South West region experienced a 9% loss of fishermen between 2004 and 2005, higher than the national average of 6% (Marine Fisheries Agency, 2006).

7.44 Major fishing ports in the South West include Brixham, Newlyn, Plymouth, Falmouth, Looe, Padstow, Poole and Weymouth.  In 2005, 40,134 tonnes of fish & shellfish worth £53.1 million were landed into these major ports by UK vessels. This was a 13% increase on the 35,534 tonnes caught in 2004 and a 5% increase in value. However, since 1999 total fish landings into the region have generally declined, which has predominantly been due to a decline in fish rather than shellfish landings, (Marine Fisheries Agency, 2006).

Figure 7.7 Quantity of Landings at Major Ports in the South West by the UK Fleet 1999 - 2005

Figure 7.7 Quantity of Landings at Major Ports in the South West by the UK Fleet 1999 - 2005 (Popup full image) 

7.45 Salmon are a good indicator of the health of the freshwater environment and are a significant resource in the South West. There has been a long-term national decline in salmon catch, which has been mirrored in this region. Total salmon catch in the South West fell to its lowest point of 2,297 fish in 2005, 78% below the 1994 peak of 10,650. Catch of sea trout also fluctuated in the region between 1994 and 2005. Although total sea trout catch increased by 3% between 2004 and 2005, from 8,147 fish to 8,362 fish respectively, this current level of catch remains 39% below 1994 when 13,681 fish were caught, (Environment Agency, 2006).

7.46 Only 10 rivers in England & Wales currently have a high probability of achieving their conservation maximum, with the majority continuing to be in a depleted state (Environment Agency, 2006). Only three rivers (Fowey, Camel & Lyn) out of the 20 salmon rivers in the South West are predicted to meet management objectives for salmon in 2008. There are 10 rivers predicted to fail (Torridge, Tamar, Tavy, Ply, Yealm, Dart, Axe, Frome, Piddle and Stour) and seven are uncertain (Taw, Lynher, Erme, Devon Avon, Teign, Exe and Hants Avon). This means that there will be insufficient salmon spawning to be able to populate rivers to their maximum capacity. Many factors are affecting salmon populations in the region, although the reason is thought to be poor survival at sea and smothering of eggs in river gravels by fine sediments, (Environment Agency, 2006).

7.47 More information about fish is available from the South West Observatory Environment website

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

7.48 Of the nine English regions, the South West contains the 3rd largest area of land designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), behind the North West and Yorkshire & the Humber (English Nature, 2006).

7.49 In the past two years excellent progress has been made towards the 2010 PSA target condition of being in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition. SSSIs in PSA target condition have increased from almost 68% in 2003 to over 77% in 2005, some way ahead of the national average of 70%. This is a significant improvement which covers nearly 16,000 hectares, however almost 38,000 hectares remain in unfavourable condition. SSSIs in the Former Avon area had the highest proportion in target condition (92%) in the region, closely followed by Cornwall (90%).  With 66% in target condition, Somerset had the lowest proportion in target condition (English Nature, 2006).

7.50 More information about SSSIs is available from the South West Observatory Environment website.  Sites of Special Scientific Interest is also an indicator used to monitor progress of the Regional Environment Strategy.