This module aims to get you thinking about working with terrestrial habitats, why? where? how? and common problems encountered. Where appropriate a selection of external professionals will provide an in-depth appraisal of techniques and strategies for present-day habitat management.
 
 

As we have a number of external inputs programme details may vary as course develops. In particular we may need to schedule in the evening to accommodate guest lecturer availability.

Programme details may vary as course develops specially to accomodate visiting professionals.

Guided Reading:

Two excellent introductory texts are:

Sutherland & Hill (1995) Managing Habitats for Conservation. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-44776-3

Anderson & Gilbert (1997) Habitat Creation and Repair. Oxford University Press.
ISBN 0-19-854966-0

Multiple copies of both these texts can be found in the library, but you may want to purchase your own copies. Additional recommended reading lists will be given out in individual sessions.

Assessment: 2 pieces

60% Individually produced and fully-referenced review of a selected BAP species. You need to choose a species, obtain some of the proposed BAP documents for this species then review the proposals in light of potential impacts on other species, protected or not.  When choosing your species (http://www.ukbap.org.uk/) aim for a nationally distributed species, below is a list of potentials

e.g.     Lepus europaeus         Nyctalus noctule         Lutra lutra
           Arvicola terrestris        Perdix perdix               Natrix natri
          Triturus cristatus          Bufo calamita               Bombus subterraneus

You need to focus on the critical appraisal of management techniques suggested and potential impact on other species/ habitat areas (ca. 3000 to 4000 words).

Week 2: Provide your first, second and third choice species, the aim being the allocation of species without duplication.
Week 10: You should have produced a skeleton review, which you can present to/ discuss with staff. You may also want to include a sample of text, so that we can comment on style, pitching and level of referencing etc. If your report refers to unpublished documents, e.g. site reviews or old/existing management plans, then copies of these need to be included.

Deadline = 4.00 p.m., Tuesday 20^th January 2004. Hand in to School Office.

40% SSSI Assessment Statement for the University Nature Reserve.
Data is in the LRC Nature Reserve Box File together with Laltkill Dale, SSSI statement. You need to subject the nature reserve to the standard SSSI designation procedures (Amanda Craig's Lecture), and produce the final report/statement. Use LRC and English Nature WWW for examples and further details.

Deadline = 4.00 p.m., Tuesday 18th November 2003. Hand in to School Office.

Subsequent to Amanda’s lecture here are some clarifications, they follow her handouts and should help clarify the material we need.

 Look at the Notification document, not the supporting information.

 We are looking for Reasons for notification (Section 4 and page 10+) – as this is probably not an SSSI use the most noteworthy. Management of the SSSI (Section 6 and page 17+)

 Look at the Supporting Information Document not the Notification document.

 We are looking for something akin to section 3 “Explanation of how …meets selection criteria” - or most noteworthy, remember trying for SSSI status not assuming it is an SSSI. No need to produce comprehensive tables.

 

For further assessment criteria: see your student handbook.

On completion of this module you should:

Have an advanced level knowledge and understanding of British and north west European terrestrial semi-natural habitats, their history, ecology and management.

On completion, you should be able to demonstrate these learning outcomes

• Critical appraisal of alternative management options.
• Know and understand the potential for restorative and creationist approaches, in tandem with more traditional conservation-orientated approaches, in nature conservation and management.
• Be able to produce to a professional standard a detailed conservation review for a selected species, which will demonstrate both (1) and (2) above.

Page published by Dave Skingsley
Author: Kevin Reiling                                                                                                                        This page last updated on 5/11/2003