2005 - Communicating the Pan-European Ecological Network - ECNC

Some respondents thought a map was vital in order to communicate what existed at present and to identifywhere the gaps were, to ensure easier promotion of the ecological network concept to the UK stakeholders.Others questioned the importance of having a map, in respect of whether it would really expediateany more action.One thing that is clear is the need for communication between the variety of stakeholders at the nationallevel in the UK, whether it is via a map, a framework or some other means. It was evident that currentlythere is confusion as to what exists, what should exist, and therefore how a national strategy on ecologicalnetworks should proceed. Some type of instrument such as a map can be important for communicationpurposes.An issue to arise from the interviews was that there was seen to be a lack of modelling on a landscapescale, with basic site scale information, within the UK. This was seen as a problem as it means that thereis a lack of evidence to support the concept of ecological networks by using modelling to determineimportant aspects of policy such as the potential socio-economic benefits of ecological networks.As mentioned above there does appear to be confusion or a lack of clarity amongst UK stakeholders asto what officially exists on ecological networks. One respondent confirmed that, “the concepts of ecologicalnetworks in the UK are very much at the conceptual stage, that is predominantly where they are interms of implementation.” All of the UK respondents agreed in principle with the known UK “LandscapeScale Concept” or “Wider Countryside Approach’’, however the details as to what it actually meant differedbetween stakeholders. “I think that you need to have a landscape scale approach and so in that sensethe only thing which I have come across is the “Country Character Area Map”. … “even at that scale I donot think we have any planning to show how the species in the South connect with those further up.”However some respondents would argue whether it really matters if there is no definite agreement on thedetail of this concept, as one respondent asked, “I think this was because of all these different agendasout there on landscape scale thinking. There is no real definite agreement although we all agree with theconcept of ecological networks so does it really matter? I am not sure that it does.”Lack of clarity as to the concept of ecological networks amongst stakeholders could stem from lack ofclarity by the differing government agencies working on this issue, as one respondent said, “I think that itis still developing [the ecological network concept] there is not disagreement but understanding amongstthe [government] agencies is not complete.” Another respondent supported this comment, “At a governmentagency level there is confusion as to whether they should focus on those areas most vulnerable, mostfragmented….., or whether they should focus on areas that are most intact. There is confusion as to theextent of focus on physical connectivity compared to functional connectivity. There is confusion in termsof the science and also saleability of the idea to the public.”Depending on the different stakeholders being asked about ecological networks, the interpretation willvary according to their opinion of the concept and what actions they have been taking on ecological networks.For example the Highways Agency in England may argue that they have an official ecological networkthrough their networks of road verges (what is known as the ‘soft estate’). This network of naturalarea is part of a management system, it is controlled and protected, and guidelines are provided as to howeach part of the network is to be managed. Whilst this is clearly not a sufficient network for the whole ofbiodiversity in the UK (and some would argue that infact it is the highway that has destroyed the linkagesand the biodiversity in the first place), this network does however reflect how one agency tries to createand maintain a network, at this point it is not clear from the research as to whether this work by theHighways Agency was taken into account by the government agency responsible for nature in their ecologicalnetwork framework.If the farming stakeholders were asked about networks they could argue that the network of hedgerowsthat farmers in the UK protect, are a network that provides connectivity and protection to biodiversity.Furthermore the agri-environment schemes that promote aspects such as hedgerow protection could be37