3.4: Evaluation
of conservation features
Through the Habitats Directive, there
is clear guidance on the features of nature
conservation importance for individual sites. The majority of features in this plan are
habitat related. Exceptions are made where a species assemblage (e.g.waterfowl
populations) receives an international designation in its own right or where a species in
addition requires a separate management scheme or input of resources (little tern).
Elsewhere, it is assumed that the species and communities that are characteristic of the
habitat features will be maintained through broad-spectrum habitat management.
Nonetheless, there are many such instances when the importance of such species or
species assemblages are highlighted for their importance and management
considerations. These are flagged up as factors and examples include assemblages of
solitary wasps or the assemblages of scrub nesting birds - many of which are BAP
listed. In other plans the term sub-feature has been adopted to deal with such
relationships. The natterjack toad is another BAP species, which occurs at nationally
important level and much species - specific management has been necessary to re-
establish it on the reserve. It could be argued that it would constitute individual feature
status as a result, although it is anticipated that for the species to attain favourable
conservation status in the future, specific intervention will be minimal, i.e. the population
should be naturally self- sustaining.
Where habitats (or habitat creation schemes)
fall outside of the designated site, they are
treated is individual features to rationalise their management, for example coastal
pasture/saline lagoon/reedbed. These habitat creation works target BAP priority habitats
and it is possible that future conservation designations may be applicable to these sites.
Coastal waters are included because of the inter-relationship between the coastal
habitats and species features on the NNR and the overlap at high tides.
Although receiving individual recognition
as internationally important, Gibraltar Point
makes a significant contribution to the Wash European Marine site in terms of habitat
and species resource. For some species, criteria falls short of the threshold for
individual recognition at international level, for example roost numbers of dunlin and
oystercatcher, which for the Wash as a whole are internationally important. (Such
species may attain nationally important numbers and are thus listed in the features
table). Nevertheless, Gibraltar Point is recognised for four separate populations of water
bird at internationally important levels and regularly occurring numbers of over 20,000
waterfowl. The same concepts relate to common seal, which is also taken as a factor
of a wider habitat and is thus listed in the features table. Little ringed plover and avocet
are included in the species table because they are internationally and nationally
important breeding species respectively. However, numbers of breeding pairs are not
sufficient for international or national acknowledgement of the site.
The features table details species and
habitats of international, national and
regional/local significance. For many of the invertebrates group, the listings may be
incomplete, as archive records are still being processed and entered onto the 'recorder'
system.
Species status for most invertebrate groups
is taken from 'recorder'. In addition to those
listed, there are many more species recorded that have a 'local status'. Some of these
have been selected where there are particular concerns over the stability of the
population. Ammophila sabulosa is an example of a species, which is considered by the
LWT Endangered Species Panel. An obvious species, whose habitat preferences are
largely known, it provides a good indication of habitat quality/quantity. Also with the
invertebrates efforts have been made to select only those species presumed to be
resident on site and dependent upon its habitats. Obvious migrants have therefore been
excluded. Where there is some uncertainty, this is qualified in the key.
In addition to the nature conservation
features, it is important to manage for other
'features' of the site and its administration/management. Where these other items are
covered, they are generally referred to as facilities.
