creating environmental improvements through biodiversity

Sustainable Aggregates Creating Environmental Improvements through Biodiversity
Points out that site design often does not include specific, measurable biological aims
States that a study on development of a site, looking at initial aims, would provide valuable information on
the effectiveness of advice given in best practice guides
Points out that the available guides are well researched and useful, but do not address ‘aerodrome
safeguarding’ as a planning consideration
States that aerodrome safeguarding should be taken into account at an early stage
States that after-use of minerals sites has been increasingly considered with awareness of BAPs being raised
in the UK by statutory and other conservation bodies
States which species are considered to pose a more significant risk to aircraft – generally medium to large
birds that form flocks
Summarises each reference reviewed
Lists key sources of technical information
Points out that aerodromes often occupy the flat land of river valleys, which is similar to many sand and
gravel extraction sites
States that details on specific restorations are mostly within the non-scientific literature in a case study
format
Points out that restorations are generally not classified into ecologically meaningful categories, and that BAP
habitats should be considered
Summarises UK BAP targets for habitat creation
States that ‘the UK BAP targets for habitat creation therefore favour woodland, heathland and grassland over
wetland creation where possible’ and that ‘there is not even a target amount of wetland habitat specified’
– clearly this refers to standing open water rather than wetland - it goes on to state that guidance is left
open on amounts of standing open water created
States that water bodies of varying size are the main wetland type found in the UK
States that the study deals with some of the most interesting and simple relationships of bird populations
with water bodies, and that more detailed study is needed
Lists some important factors influencing waterfowl use of water bodies from the scientific literature,
including: history, management, age, size, basin shape, water source, water quality, stability, depth, ratio of
open water to vegetated areas, shore line slope and contour, ratio of shore length to open water, plant
species diversity, nearest neighbouring water body, recreational disturbance, fish stocks, islands, pH, bed
characteristics, soils
States that there is limited long-term monitoring of bird populations on minerals sites
Identifies the following gaps in knowledge:
• Bird abundance and species diversity in relation to different mineral site restorations
• Movements of different bird species on and between water bodies or within larger water body
complexes – addressed in the associated bird movement study
• Details of waterfowl and gull movements in this context, in a range of seasons and weather conditions,
over a 24 hour cycle and at relevant scales
Provides list of references
Impacts (Actual):
The study brought together information from a variety of sources, which will be useful as a reference for
future work. It identified a knowledge gap on the relationships of bird populations with different types of
water bodies, which the next stages of the study went on to address
Impacts (Potential):
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