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Habitats
In June
1992 the UK signed up to Agenda 21 and the Biodiversity
Convention at the Rio Earth Summit. At this conference,
environmental issues and concerns were addressed including
the loss of the worlds Biodiversity. The UK Government
was one of these signatories and as a result has produced
action plans, for many species and habitats detailing
how they should be protected, sustained and increased.
Many of these plans have been interpreted into local action
at county level. Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex all have their own
Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP). Organisations such as the Environment
Agency (the Agency) have signed up to these plans at both National
and local levels and is the lead for many freshwater and coastal
species and habitats. On the coast, inter-tidal habitats such
as mudflat, saltmarsh and saline lagoons are being lost at alarming
rates.
In order to halt this loss and fulfill the aims of the
Plans the Agency is committed to replacing BAP habitats
lost as a result of our own works and “natural”
change resulting form global climate change.
Such is the nature conservation importance of the East Anglian
coast, many coastal sites have been designated as SSSIs (Sites
of Special Scientific Interest). SSSI status affords valuable
protection to a site ensuring damage does not occur through
inappropriate management or development. SSSIs are of national
importance, and much of the coast is also considered to be of
international significance, especially for the wintering waterfowl
population.
In recognition of this importance some SSSI's have also been
designated under the EU Habitats Directive as candidate Special
Areas of Conservation (cSACs), which support certain natural
habitats or species, and under the EU Birds Directive as Special
Protection Areas (SPAs), which supports wild birds of European
Union interest.
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Saltmarsh
These European Directives have been translated into UK law
by Habitats Regulations. The Habitat Regulations places a
legal requirement on organisations such as the Environment
Agency to replace designated habitat features lost (either
directly or indirectly) as a result of flood defence works.
CHaMPs
Coastal Habitat Management Plans (CHaMPs) form an important
link in the coastal planning process for managing European
sites. The CHaMP tries to predict what will happen to designated
species and habitats as a result of long-term changes on the
coast and in our estuaries.
The CHaMP identifies the necessary measures to ensure that
future Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) and Flood and Coastal
Defence Strategies are compliant with the Habitats and Birds
Directives. This is achieved by predicting the total area
of inter-tidal and freshwater habitat to be re-created, and
whereabouts on the estuary this should be done.
The Suffolk Coast and Estuaries ChaMP has recently been published
and can be found here.
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