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Biodiversity (Environment, State of the South West 2011)

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7.8.1 The South West Nature Map, produced by Biodiversity South West (formerly 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 in 2006. It selects landscape scale blocks of land, known as Strategic Nature Areas, to improve habitat networks and to sustain wildlife within them at a landscape scale, thus improving ecosystem functioning and potential climate change adaptation.

7.8.2 The South West Nature Map was published in 2006. Since then progress has been made to realise this 50 year vision. There are a large number of biodiversity delivery projects within Nature Map areas maintaining, restoring and creating BAP habitat . An example of this would be The Living Landscape Projects run by the South West Wildlife Trusts, of which there are 14 Living Landscapes Projects in the South West. This gives an indication of the level of delivery of BAP priority habitats within Nature Map areas. Whilst this only indicates activity it does highlight the increasing trend towards landscape scale working and the scale of ambition to achieve Nature Map aspirations .

7.8.3 More information about the South West Nature Map as well as county level maps can be downloaded from Biodiversity South West
7.8.1.1 Information in this section is provided by the Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust.

7.8.1.2 There are 261,000 ha of woodland in the South West, covering about 9% of the region’s land area (an area equivalent to over three times the area of Exmoor National Park), similar to the English average. This area of woodland has almost doubled over the last 100 years, and further woodland creation adds to the many benefits that trees, woods and forests contribute to improving the quality of life in the South West region: amenity, recreation, health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, landscape, the local economy, and green infrastructure.

7.8.1.3 Around half our woodland is broadleaved, 21% conifer, and the rest is mixed. Around 18% is ancient semi-natural woodland. Over half (15,000) of the region’s woodlands are small in size (under 2 ha), but these account for only 3% of the wooded area. More than half of these woodlands are not being actively managed (Forestry Commission).

7.8.1.4 Many trees in the South West lie outside of woodlands, such as urban street trees, and also ancient, veteran or culturally important specimens in historic parks and gardens and the wider countryside, of which nearly 10,000 have been recorded in the South West.

7.8.1.5 The South West’s woodlands and forests are an important economic asset. It is estimated that they contribute over £500 million per annum to the region’s economy, with timber production and processing accounting for around £150 million of this total. Around 700,000 cubic metres of timber is harvested annually, of which 30% is produced by the Forestry Commission who own around 17% of the woodland resource. The production of woodfuel is rising rapidly, as woodfuelled boilers make an increasing contribution to renewable energy production in the region (Forestry Commission).

7.8.1.6 Ancient woodland and trees represent a living cultural heritage, a natural equivalent to our great churches and castles. They are also our richest wildlife habitat and are highly valued by people as places of tranquillity and inspiration. The South West contains over 20% (around 73,000 ha) of England's ancient woodland resource and its protection, restoration and management is a high priority identified in the South West Regional Woodland and Forestry Framework. A number of Ancient Woodland Priority Areas have been identified, including Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Forest of Dean, the Cotswolds, and Cranborne Chase in Dorset. These priority areas identify networks of ancient woodlands in the region where landscape connectivity and permeability offer exceptional opportunities to link and extend ancient woodlands by new planting, and to improve the condition of existing woodland through management.

7.8.1.7 There are 243 woodland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), covering around 17,250 hectares, and a number of woodland nature reserves managed by the Woodland Trust, county wildlife trusts and the RSPB among others. Much management is supported financially by the Forestry Commission; grant applications in 2009/2010 covered over 13,500 ha. Targeted woodland creation throughout the UK is also a key element of the Government’s wider climate change strategy and the South West will be expected to play its part in delivering this on the ground.

7.8.1.8 Further information can be found at Forestry Commission; Woodland Trust; Ancient Tree Hunt). The SW Regional Woodland and Forestry Framework (2005) is available for download.

7.8.1.9 Find out more about 7.11 'SSSI conditions' in the South West.
7.8.2.1 Butterflies are well-documented, recognisable and popular with the public.

7.8.2.2 Data is available for 42 of the 50 regularly occurring butterfly species in the South West since 1990, from annual abundance data collected at 300 monitored sites.

7.8.2.3 The species can be divided into two categories: habitat specialists that are largely restricted to blocks of semi-natural habitat and wider countryside species that can utilise a broader range of habitats, including linear features across intensively managed countryside (Asher et al., 2001). Butterfly indicators can play an important role in assessing habitat diversity, habitat fragmentation and the impacts of climate change.

7.8.2.4 Butterfly numbers have fluctuated greatly from year-to-year largely according to weather conditions and the assessment is based on an analysis of an underlying 'smoothed' trend. This analysis shows that both habitat specialist and wider countryside species have declined substantially since 1990.

7.8.2.5 For habitat specialist species, the smoothed index in 2008 was significantly lower than over the period 1990-2007, with the 2008 index 65% lower than in 1990. Similarly for wider countryside species, the smoothed index was significantly lower in 2008 than from 1990-2007, with abundance halving since 1990.

7.8.2.6 For 15 of the 42 species assessed, the trend was classed as a rapid decline, including for seven habitat specialists. One species increased rapidly (the calcareous grassland specialist, the Adonis Blue), whilst 26 species
had a stable trend. The habitat specialists in significant decline were High Brown Fritillary, Grayling, Duke of Burgundy, Wood White, Chalkhill Blue, Silver-studded Blue and Grizzled Skipper.

7.8.2.7 This indicator is a multi-species index compiled by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and Butterfly Conservation, primarily from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Annual indices for each species at each site
were calculated from weekly counts over the season (Rothery and Roy, 2001).

7.8.2.8 The indicator has potential to be updated annually.
7.8.3.1 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 index of wild bird populations is one of the Government's 20 framework indicators for sustainable development.

7.8.3.2 The latest trends in wild bird populations covers the period 1994 - 2007 is available from the Defra, RSPB and BTO. Over this period the population of all native birds in the South West, including farmland and woodland species, decreased by around 2% which is classed as showing no significant change. This was equal to the drop in all native birds in England. The South East experienced the highest declines of -10% , whilst Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and the North East regions increased by more than 10%.

7.8.3.3 The regional breakdown shows that both farmland and woodland populations show a north and south divide, particularly in woodland bird populations. The South East showed the most significant declines in all populations, followed by the South West.

Figure 7.8.3.1 Populations of wild birds in the South West region

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Populations of wild birds in the South West region (FIg 7.8.3.1)
7.8.3.4 Between 1994 and 2007, the population of woodland birds in the South West showed the index decreasing by 7% between 1994 and 2007, broadly in line with the national decline of 6%. The North West recorded the
largest increase with 42%, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber with 30% and the North East with 14%.

7.8.3.5 Previously published long term trends showed woodland birds in the South West generally falling faster that the national average, declining by 32% between 1970 and 1994. Sixteen out of the 26 species covered by the index declined over the period, with a large decline for Tawny Owls. Comparisons between the two periods need to be approached with care, due to differences in methodology and species composition.

7.8.3.6 Populations of farmland birds in the South West showed significant change between 1994 and 2007, with the index decreasing by 14%, similar to the 13% decline experienced nationally. In the East Midlands, West Midlands, the South West, South East, and the East of England, the farmland bird population fell by more than 12%. There was no significant change in any of the other English regions.

7.8.3.7 Previously published long term trends showed farmland bird populations in the South West declining by 45% between 1970 and 1994, with 10 of the 15 individual species covered by the old index showing falling populations, with a large decline for Grey Partridges. Due to the differences in species composition and methodology, comparisons between the two periods need to be approached with care.

Figure 7.8.3.2 Regional change in wild bird populations 1994 - 2007

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Regional change in wild bird populations 1994 - 2007 (Fig 7.8.3.2)
Regional change in wild bird populations 1994 - 2007 (Fig 7.8.3.2)
7.8.3.8 More information about trends in bird populations is available on the South West Environment website.