PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The conservation of river systems is a complex and challenging task. They are subject to a wide range of manmade pressures, with the result that many associated habitats and species deemed to be of importance at a European level have declined across their natural range. Yet, compared to other habitat systems, relatively little is known about the ecological dynamics and requirements of rivers and the species that live in them. This project focused on 7 pSCI rivers in different parts of the UK, totalling around 872 km. Together, they harbour 13 species of Annex I, including such diverse inhabitants as the otter Lutra lutra, crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes, salmon Salmo salar and freshwater pearl mussel Margaratifera magaratifera. They also represent a typical cross section of the different land uses, socio-economic users and threats associated with rivers in the UK, and indeed in the rest of Europe. This LIFE project, run by a partnership of government agencies responsible for water quality and the protection of fresh water habitats, had several objectives. The primary one was to produce river conservation strategies for each of the seven pilot SAC rivers, as a means of delivering on Article 6.1 of the Habitats Directive. Once established, the strategy would provide a mechanism for initiating conservation actions along each river, in agreement with the local authorities, user groups and landowners. It would also create a model for developing similar strategies on the other pSCI rivers in the UK. First, it was important to understand the ecological requirements of the Annex I animals and plants. New work was undertaken in order to plan and develop conservation objectives for each species and habitat type. This was supported by practical experiments such as breeding trials of fresh water pearl mussels, the reintroduction of freshwater crayfish into one river, otter studies and vegetation control for the benefit of fish populations. Ultimately, the project aimed to develop techniques for addressing key issues associated with river conservation and demonstrate best practice which could then be widely disseminated within the UK and other Member States.
OBJECTIVES
The project aimed to establish a framework for achieving sustainable management of seven river SACs in the UK, based on knowledge of ecological requirements of Annex I and Annex II habitats and species, methods for assessing their condition, and appropriate management techniques. This framework and knowledge-base would be made available for application on river cSACs elsewhere in the UK and the European Union. The specific objectives were: Natura 2000 River Conservation Strategies for seven river cSACs in the UK which would provide catchment-based mechanisms to implement Article 6.1 of the Habitats Directive. They would be extended to all river cSACs in the UK. Development of conservation objectives based on the ecological requirements of the Annex I habitats and the 13 species on Annex II which occur on UK rivers. Favourable condition and attributes would be defined for each habitat and species. Development of cost-effective techniques for assessment of the status of wildlife features on river SACs and of improvements resulting from implementation of conservation objectives. Development of techniques for addressing key issues through management studies and experimental work on endangered species. Disseminate best practices by producing handbooks for Objectives 1, 2 and 3 and for each of the species covered in Objective 4. Establish a web site for the project.
RESULTS
The aim of the project was to establish a framework for achieving sustainable management of seven river SACs in the UK. The intention was that this framework would be based on knowledge of the ecological requirements of Annex I habitats and Annex II species, methods for assessing their condition and appropriate management techniques. Objective 1: River Conservation Strategies Five project officers were appointed in early 2001 to develop river conservation strategies – management plans under the terms of the Habitats Directive – for seven SAC rivers: • The River Avon in southern England • The River Eden in Cumbria, north-west England • The River Teifi in west Wales • The River Endrick in central Scotland • The rivers Borgie, Kerry and Moidart in north and north-west Scotland Each river conservation strategy identifies the conservation measures necessary for its SAC, describes appropriate safeguards against deterioration or disturbance, and represents an aid to assessing any plan or project affecting the SAC. Key stakeholders, such as wildlife organisations, farmers, landowners and fisheries groups, worked with the statutory agencies to produce the plans. From this work a number of new partnerships have arisen. The five Project Officers worked with others to scope and draft conservation objectives for each river based on the generic guidance produced by the Project. This enabled key issues to be identified for each rivers, which in turn formed the basis of the River Conservation Strategies. The conclusions of this work, written in a ‘model guidance’ document are: in order to provide a framework for conservation management, a river conservation strategy is likely to be essential. As a minimum, it should include: • conservation objectives for the habitat and species; • a summary of main issues and potential impacts; • a timetable for management actions by relevant bodies; • mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the strategy. Objective 2: Defining ecological requirements and initial conservation objectives An understanding of the ecological requirements of river plants and animals is an essential pre-requisite for setting conservation objectives for river pSCIs. The project published reports on the ecological requirements of: White-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes Freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera Allis shad Alosa alosa and Twaite shad Alosa fallax Bullhead Cottus gobio River lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis, brook lamprey Lampetra planeri and sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus Desmoulins' whorl snail Vertigo moulinsiana Salmon Salmo salar Southern damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale Floating water-plantain Luronium natans Otter Lutra lutra Rivers with water crowfoot Ranunculus habitats These documents are a collation of best available scientific knowledge about each species and describe the conditions necessary for the reproduction and long-term survival of populations. For each species and habitat, information is published about what can be considered as ‘favourable condition’ for attributes such as water quality, nutrient levels, flow conditions, river channel and riparian habitat, substrate, access for migratory fish, and level of disturbance. Favourable condition is taken to be the status required of Annex I habitats and Annex II species on each Natura 2000 site to contribute adequately to ‘favourable conservation status’ across their natural range. Objective 3: Assessment techniques and monitoring protocols Monitoring protocols were produced to allow assessment of the conservation status of the species and habitat targeted by the project. This information is necessary to enable the statutory authorities to fulfil their duty under the Habitats Directive to compile six-yearly reports on the status of sites, habitats and species. These protocols address both the techniques for monitoring and the sampling strategies to be used. They were completed following a review of available techniques and a programme of field-testing and they should be robust, repeatable and cost-effective methods for assessing the condition of populations and their supporting systems. In addition to the protocols, the project has also produced a review of the techniques available for assessing siltation in SAC rivers and a field identification key for lamprey. The following documents were submitted with the final report; Monitoring white-clawed crayfish Monitoring freshwater pearl mussel Monitoring Allis and Twaite shad Monitoring bullhead Monitoring river, brook and sea lamprey Monitoring Desmoulin’s whorl snail Monitoring salmon Monitoring southern damselfly Monitoring floating water plantain Monitoring the otter Monitoring Ranunculion fluitantis/Callitricho Batrachion vegetation Identifying lamprey: A field key Siltation in rivers: monitoring techniques Objective 4: Development of techniques for addressing key issues The project developed a number of techniques designed to address important practical conservation issues. These have been presented in a series of publications on conservation techniques. The poor reproductive success of freshwater pearl mussel was addressed by a study of captive breeding techniques and an investigation into its relationship with salmonids. A guide to the reintroduction of the native white-clawed crayfish was produced, and captive breeding and reintroduction trials conducted. A study of breeding sites for the otter was undertaken to improve understanding of factors determining their location, and guidance was produced on maintaining or re-creating such sites. Geomorphological audits, comprising fluvial and channel assessments, as techniques for the condition assessment of physical habitat within river channels were tested. Overall the main result of the project are the tools to set objectives and plan actions for Natura 2000 rivers. It also provides the means to assess conservation condition and status. At a local level, the river conservation strategies set the scene for the implementation of measures to achieve favourable conservation status. The practical techniques - fluvial audit, silt management, crayfish re-introduction - are already in general use. A better insight into the breeding ecology of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera has been gained, which may help to assure its survival in the EU.