It's not all about the cute and cuddly!
Action for lower priority species
For many years there has been a need to fill
gaps in information for the UK’s priority species. Many, but not
all, of these species belong to taxonomic groups that traditionally
have not attracted funding; many are invertebrates or ‘lower’
plants. The absence of basic knowledge has meant that
conservationists struggle to take the correct steps to ensure the
survival of these important species.
In 2007/8, experts in the UK assigned priority
actions to the new UK list of priority species and habitats, which
was established as part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)
Species and Habitats Review. These actions were subsequently
categorised in a process referred to as ‘signposting’. Two of these
categories dealt with the gaps in information about these
species.
Independent ecological consultancy Peak
Ecology Ltd organised a workshop that tried to deal with this
information gap. The workshop was held at Natural England’s offices
in Peterborough in December 2008, and was attended by 30 UK species
experts. Experts were asked to use the signposting work to identify
urgent research and one-off survey actions that were ready to be
implemented immediately.
After two days’ work, 1,300 priority research
and one-off survey actions had been identified as ready to go, with
over 500 regarded as highly important.
One of the difficulties is to get funding for
this work. Because of the nature of research funding both in the UK
and internationally, much of the single species-type research
needed for these UK BAP species is not a priority for mainstream
research organisations. However, a result of the workshop was that
some research actions were placed into cross-taxa, taxa, habitat or
management groups, making them potentially more interesting to
mainstream research. The next step in the process is to send all
the urgent research needs to potential funding organisations. This
task is underway.
JNCC and the project steering group would like
to thank all the experts who have contributed to this workshop.
Thanks should also go to the wider expert community without whom
the Species and Habitats Review would not have been possible. Their
continued interest and input is essential for conservation in the
UK.
Ant Maddock
Senior Biodiversity Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 1733 866827
Email: