Human activities are having a major impact on biodiversity,
seen clearly at the levels of habitats and ecosystems. The four
primary global change drivers are land use, climate change, N
deposition and biotic exchange. All are likely to increase in
intensity during the 21
st Century.
These drivers of change, together
with neglect, the continued impacts of previous fragmentation, and
other land-use changes, will continue to impact on the quantity and
quality of biodiversity in the UK. Behind many of these drivers are
economic, social, political and technological factors, driven
themselves by population growth and increases in the demand for the
quantity and quality of goods.
The likely future pressure on
biodiversity from drivers of change re-emphasises the continued
importance of UKBAP and the need for HAPs (and SAPs) to deliver
their objectives. One of the limitations on HAP delivery is the
availability of relevant knowledge and information on which to base
appropriate action.
The purpose of this Research
Strategy is to highlight priority research themes which have been
identified by the BRAG Habitat & Ecosystem Management sub-group
as representing the most important knowledge gaps limiting progress
for the 45 HAPs in the UKBAP; as well as identifying a number of
generic research issues applicable across a range of spatial (and
temporal) scales.