creating environmental improvements through biodiversity

estoration of aggregate sites. Steering group.
Output:
Reviews literature in the public domain on invertebrate biodiversity and found little available. Highlighted one
informative article written by Roger Key (2002)
Points to www.goodquarry.com and www.mineralbap.com as the main relevant web resources, but states
that they contain few mentions of invertebrates
Describes key habitat features known to be beneficial to invertebrates
Key findings:
• That existing knowledge among stakeholders of invertebrate biodiversity on aggregate sites is limited,
with 85% of those questioned having no specific understanding of how to restore and/or manage sites for
their invertebrates
• That 100% of respondents identified a need for production and dissemination of broad, sound site
restoration and management principles, to highlight easy steps to realising the potential of aggregate sites for
invertebrate biodiversity
• That there is no strategic overview of the role that individual aggregate sites can play in providing habitats
for wildlife; and that habitat creation is currently delivered on a site-by-site basis
• That few in the industry are aware of the potential cost effectiveness of restoring sites for invertebrates
• That restoration practices promoted by the planning process are not currently benefiting – and are often
proving detrimental to – invertebrate biodiversity
• That restoring sites for their invertebrate interest can provide communities with access to an important
recreation and education resource
• That public awareness of the role of aggregate habitats in supporting wildlife, and of the importance of
invertebrate conservation, is low
• That there are a number of perceived obstacles to altering agreed mineral restoration plans, even where
these are likely to provide increased benefit to wildlife
• That schemes often do not consider invertebrates at an early stage – or at all
• That the planning process is focused on UK BAP priority habitats, and that these rarely cater for
invertebrate populations that depend on extraction site micro-habitats
• That existing projects on minerals and nature conservation need to be integrated to prevent duplication
• That managing sites for geodiversity can benefit invertebrate populations
Key Recommendations:
• Knowledge and information needs to be collated, made available and widely disseminated in a best
practice guide
• Best practice should be presented in an easy-to-use and comprehensible format, and
should focus on broad, sound principles for delivering invertebrate biodiversity
• This should be supported by more detailed information on key species, habitats and restoration
techniques on the project website
• There is a need for case studies that demonstrate good practice in managing and restoring habitats for
invertebrates
• Likely cost benefits of restoring sites for invertebrates need to be more firmly established
• More invertebrate surveys need to be carried out on aggregate sites to improve the existing level of
knowledge on key species and habitats
• The project should work with industry to change public perceptions
• A key message should be that invertebrate conservation is not only important for biodiversity and
Sustainable Aggregates Creating Environmental Improvements through Biodiversity
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