Supplementary Memorandum from Defra
When I appeared before your Committee on 15
July there were two issues on which I said that I would take some
follow-up action. One was Joan Walley's query (Q142-144) about
mapping biodiversity across the country, and the second was Martin
Horwood's question (Q155) about regional spatial strategies. The
answers are as follows:—
On Joan's point, we have programmes in place
in the UK to map biodiversity across the country as a whole at
different levels of detail, including the use of data from satellites.
As part of Countryside Survey 2007 we are currently
working with the Natural Environment Research Council and other
partners to update the national Land Cover Map (LCM). The LCM
is a digital dataset constructed by a combination of satellite
data and Ordnance Survey digital maps which will show the distribution
of broad habitat types (eg Crops, grassland, heath and woodland
etc) at a field-by-field resolution across the whole of the UK.
The next LCM is due for completion in 2009. Further details are
available at http://www.countrysidesurvey.org.uk/land_cover_map.html
The Countryside Survey also provides information
about the extent, composition and condition of habitats from a
representative sample of one kilometre squares. This field survey
provides detailed ecological information not available from satellites.
The results of the field survey completed in 2007 will be published
later this year. Further details are available at http://www.countrysidesurvey.org.uk/field_survey.html
In addition, Natural England has produced comprehensive
maps of known semi-natural habitats across the whole of England
based on targeted survey and intelligence from local conservation
bodies and biological recording organisations. This information
is made available through Natural England's "Nature on the
Map" webpages http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/.
Species records are largely collected by National
Schemes and Societies, such as Butterfly Conservation, or by Local
Record Centres, both of which gather information through large
networks of volunteers. Access to species records for the UK,
including maps of their distributions, is provided by National
Biodiversity Network which has been supported by Defra. Further
details are available at htt:\\www.nbn.org.uk/.
In the marine environmental, the broad overview
of habitats is provided by the UKSeaMap http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2117.
The UKSeaMap provides details of seabed landscape and water column
features for UK seas. The Data Archive for Seabed Species and
Habitats (DASSH) provides access to datasets via an on-line catalogue
of both metadata and data via this Web site and via the mapping
tools on the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). Defra is a major
funder of both UKSeaMap and DASSH.
As far as possible, and subject to licensing
issues, Defra aims to make these data available to the public
and to other research and voluntary bodies where they may be used
to raise awareness and inform decisions that may help to conserve
biodiversity.
On Martin's questions, he referred in particular
to "one regional spatial strategy with which I am familiar
in which essentially all the mapping is of maps of where houses
are going to be built and noting else". I assume that he
was referring to the South West regional spatial strategy (RSS)
since this is the one which covers his constituency.
The position on this is that the draft RSS,
prepared by the SW Regional Assembly and submitted to the Secretary
of State in June 2006, contained a significant number of references
to landscape and biodiversity, both in the policies covering sustainable
development as well as in specific policies covering the enhancement
of the region's distinctive environments. Following the report
of the independent panel that examined the draft RSS in public
sessions in Spring/Summer 2007, the Secretary of State has published
her proposed changes for consultation.
In this latest version (published 22nd July
2008) there is a free-standing section (7.2) on the theme of "protecting
and enhancing the region's distinctive environments: conserving
and enhancing the South West's environmental assets" which
sets out the importance that is attached to these mattes in the
draft revised spatial strategy. It includes a number of maps,
including a nature map, and supporting text. Many of the references
to and policies for the protection and enhancement of the region's
landscape and biodiversity have been retained from earlier drafts—and
some strengthened (for example, the policy for the South East
Dorset area now includes a specific reference to protecting internationally
significant habitats). Independent consultants have also undertaken
a habitats regulation assessment of the strategy, and their recommendations
have been taken into account.
I should add that our statutory agencies, Natural
England and the Environment Agency, have a chance to comment on
the content of all RSSs as they are being developed and will have
raised any concerns they have with regard to landscape or biodiversity
for the strategy. In addition, the RSS will have undertaken a
strategic sustainability assessment (incorporating the requirements
of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive) as it was
developed, which again would have highlighted any shortcomings
over landscape or biodiversity impacts of the strategy.
I hope that this answers Martin's question.
If of course he was referring to a different spatial strategy
then please let me know, but on the basis of this one I am satisfied
that these issues have been properly taken into account and that
the contact between the necessary officials has been as it should
be.
18 August 2008
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