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Priority BAP Habitats in the South West and Targets

The table below shows the targets for the maintenance, restoration and expansion of priority wildlife habitats within the region. The definition of the maintenance target is to maintain the current extent of resource. These targets are based on the best available data for those priority habitats identified in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP), which occur in the South West. The targets were set following a review of habitats in the South West by BRERC on behalf of Biodiversity South West. The Review of South West Biodiversity Targets (PDF 0.4mb) outlines methodology used. County breakdowns, where possible, were also included as part of the review, and can be downloaded from the list below. It should be noted that these are only a guide and each LBAP and County LRC will have further information.

Review of South West Biodiversity Targets, County Breakdowns:

It is likely that more priority habitat exists in the region than has been recorded so far. All priority BAP habitat should be safeguarded as part of our commitment to the UKBAP. Quantifiable targets cannot be set for some habitats due to lack of information, but it is important that these habitats are safeguarded wherever they occur. Targets for restoration/expansion should be met through active conservation work both within and outside of the Nature Map selected areas. The targets set out above may be revised as initiatives develop and further surveys take place. A major review of the aspirational target for 2020 will be carried out in 2010.

It should be noted that this published list was updated in October 2008 to bring the South West priority habitats list up to date and in line with the revised and updated UK BAP list. "The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has prepared a list as required under section 41(1) of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 which identifies the living organisms (species) and types of habitat which the Secretary of State considers are of principal importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity in England. The England habitat list is available at the BARS website"

Biodiversity Targets Oct 08 Revised (PDF)

Habitat	Existing Priority Habitat to be Maintained (Ha)	Additional Priority Habitat to be Restored and Recreated (ha) by 2010	Additional Priority Habitat to be Restored and Recreated (ha). Aspiration for 2020 (incl. 2010 target)
Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh	29,300	3,140	9,400
Reedbeds	1,000	110	330
Fen, Marsh and Swamp (inc. Lowland Fens and Upland Flushes, Fens and Swamps)	890	70	220
Chalk Rivers	1,060km	Not quantifiable	Not quantifiable
Coastal Saltmarsh	2,100	50 (for both	220 (for both
Intertidal Mudflats	13,000	habitats combined)	habitats combined)
Coastal Vegetated Shingle	120	1	3
Coastal Sand Dunes	2,400	20	60
Sabellaria Reefs (inc. both Sabellaria alveolata and Sabellaria spinulosa)*	20	Not quantifiable	Not quantifiable
Maritime Cliff and Slope**	14,200	50	200
Saline Lagoons	550	2	6
Seagrass Beds	1,170	Not quantifiable	Not quantifiable
Native woodland (inc. Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland, Wet woodland, Lowland Beech and Yew Woodland, Upland Oak Woodland)	95,000	10500	30,500
Lowland meadows	2,500	900	5,630
Lowland dry acid grassland	720	40	180
Lowland calcareous grassland	21,800	2,630	7,900
Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pasture	5,300	200	1,000
Arable Field Margins	180km	No reduction	Not quantifiable
Lowland Heathland (outside of upland areas)	18,400	1,000	3,000
Upland Heath	17,800	4,090	12,270
Blanket Bog	2,180	7,100
Quantifiable targets could not be set with existing data for the following habitats. Retaining the existing extent of these habitats and realising opportunities for their expansion is highly important.
Lowland Raised Bog
Standing Open Water and Canals (Inc. Ponds, Mesotrophic Lakes and Eutrophic Standing Water, Oligotrophic and Dystrophic Lakes)
Hedgerows
Wood Pasture and Parkland
Hedgerows
Inland Rock Outcrop and Scree Habitats
Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land
Traditional Orchards
Rivers - Rivers are an important resource in the SW. There is no quantified targets for all rivers in SW, but there are defined targets for chalk rivers as outlined above.
Maerl Beds
Sublittoral Sand and Gravel
Blue mussel beds
Cold-water coral reefs
Deep-sea sponge communities
Estuarine rocky habitats
Fragile sponge & anthozoan communities on subtidal rocky habitats
Intertidal boulder communities
Intertidal chalk
Saline lagoons
Seagrass beds
Sheltered muddy gravels
Subtidal chalk
Subtidal sands and gravels
Tide swept channels