Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Frome Catchment, Purbeck District, United Kingdom

A map for valuing ecosystem services in the 480 km2 Frome catchment, to investigate scenarios of change in land use, was internet crowd-sourced. Scouts mapped deer habitats in 15% of the 30 km2 Arne Parish, while 143 residents volunteered data on deer sightings in the 5-year community survey.

Guidelines and Recommendations

Policy guidelines and recommendations were derived from direct and indirect sample surveys of stakeholders in most European Union countries and some others and from related analytical work. They call for rationalisation of the high level environmental assessment systems in Europe, greater sharing of data derived from them, more research into the information needs of stakeholders, especially local stakeholders, who take key decisions about the environment, recognition of the value of participation in biodiversity-related activities by ordinary users of the countryside, promotion of citizen capability to use electronic mapping tools for biodiversity monitoring and management, analysis of the links between land-use changes and success in biodiversity conservation, and support for progress towards a comprehensive decision-support system via an internet portal providing a one-stop site for ideas and knowledge.

Identification of Priority Areas for Conservation in Lake Egirdir and Lake Kovada, Turkey

The second Turkish case study was implemented in Lake Egirdir and Lake Kovada which are in the southwestern part of Turkey. Both lakes are surrounded by agricultural areas and are located in the same basin with high biodiversity. The focus of the case study in Lake Egirdir and Lake Kovada was identification of priority areas for conservation.

The Case Study in Zator, Poland

The mapping of aquatic vegetation in the 461 ha Przyreb fishpond complex at Zator, in Poland’s Carp Valley, was to help balance restoration of multifunctional aquaculture with biodiversity conservation. Strong local support has encouraged proposals for a geoportal to give map-linked decision support.

Census of the Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) at Leveste, Municipality of Gehrden, Germany

The case study used spotlight strip census routes to estimate Brown Hare numbers in a 793 ha hunting district. The habitats, dominated by intensively farmed arable land were also mapped. This is part of a Germany-wide long-term monitoring program of game populations which is carried out by hunters and was initiated by the German Hunters’ Association and the Hunters’ Association of Lower Saxony in 2001.

Pan-European Survey and Database of Environmental Assessment Factors

In order to design TESS, it was necessary to determine how and what information is utilized across Europe when decisions affecting the environment are made at present, and which systems now in place appear to be working in terms of environmental protection and conservation. The authors used a Pan-European survey to determine not only which systems are currently in place but also what further information is needed by national and local governments as well as stakeholders. Results from this survey, together with published information from previous projects, the European Union and the United Nations, were collated into a database for further analysis. Here, the authors describe both the Pan-European survey methodology and also the database.

Database of Environmental Decision Support Tools

This chapter investigates modeling and data sources for environmental decision support for local authorities and private managers. A metadatabase of 198 computerized environmental decision tools was collected using a questionnaire with two sequential web-pages of 4+16 questions (http://tess.ttu.ee/). Half of the software applications are freely downloadable and well described online. The database contains 42 references reported as forestry tools, 50 as agriculture or apiculture tools, and 15 targeting to either amenity areas or tourism and access-based recreation. The most domain-general toolbox, InVEST, integrates models which support management of natural capital, including pollination of crops and production of timber, but is limited in types of natural capital and management situations. Agricultural toolboxes DSSAT and MicroLEIS cover soil quality issues well but ignore management of agricultural landscapes where natural and semi-natural habitats provide wild crop pollination, biocontrol of pests, and other services. The most prominent sustainable forestry toolboxes are UBC-FM and NED-2. The latter contains simulation models and qualitative knowledge bases, but complex forest management conditions require more flexible metamodeling approaches. For the management of recreational sites, no integrated toolkit exists. As most of the existing environmental tools support option assessment, future development should address also earlier decision-making steps.

Central Information Flows and Decision-Making Requirements

Information needs of government for SEA, EIA, and other aspects of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development are studied and reported in this chapter. This includes needs related to biodiversity for land use planning, for operation of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, for agricultural policy more generally, and for Biodiversity Action Plans. Legislation and its implementation are considered at European Union and member state level by direct enquiries and a preliminary questionnaire survey in project partner countries. Preliminary conclusions are drawn and lessons learned for a Pan-European survey.

Assessment Report

This chapter describes the evaluation processes required by European Commission and added internally, including the strengths and weaknesses identified. Recommendations are made for removal of such weaknesses, and for building on strengths, in future projects.

Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) Conservation in Holm Oak Montados of Southeastern Portugal

Five volunteers mapped wild rabbit latrines along transects, as a prey index for endangered Iberian Lynx, in the Municipality of Barrancos, a Natura 2000 area. High capability and local knowledge suggest that conservation employment could offset declining rural activities with alternative income.