Wildlife and countryside research projects
Completed research projects
England Leisure Visits Survey
England Leisure Visits Survey - A major year round survey of the volume and characteristics of recreational visits to National Parks based on household interviews within park visitor catchments.
Contractor: Natural England
Contract Manager: John Robbins
Completion date: 31 December 2006
Scoping Study for Countryside Survey 2006
This modular project aims to prepare for the next Countryside Survey by providing a Secretariat and support for a Planning Group, updating requirements and undertaking scoping studies, including field trials, to assess the application of new survey techniques and improvements to data handling and quality control.
Contractor: ADAS Ltd
Contract Manager: Dr Helen Pontier MCIWEM
Completion date: 20 December 2005
Preparing for Countryside Survey 2006 Phase 1
The Preparing for Countryside Survey 2006 Phase 1 project will cover preparatory work which is necessary to determine the detailed specifications for a survey in 2006. The project will provide technical information and advice to assist the scoping study, develop and test efficient, cost-effective and reliable data capture and management systems and undertake pilot studies, including field trials, to test new survey protocols, instruments and analytical procedures.
Contractor: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Contract Manager: Dr Helen Pontier MCIWEM
Completion date: 14 February 2006
Wild Bird Indicators
The Wild Birds Indicators Project involves further analysis of the Common Birds Census (CAC) and Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to produce wild bird indicators used to inform Defra policy. The project will extend previous published indicators: Quality of Life Counts and the farmland birds Public Service Agreement (PSA) and include new England-only indicators to inform the England Biodiversity Strategy. The project will assist Defra in managing the transition between CBC-based indicators and indicators that include BBS derived data and provide background material to aid interpretation of the indicators.
Contractor: BTO/RSPB
Contract Manager: Dr Andrew Stott
Completion date: 16 February 2006
Countryside Information System Support Services
The dissemination and support of the Countryside Information System (CIS) addresses Defra's objective to: protect and improve the rural, urban, marine and global environment and conserve and enhance biodiversity, and to lead integration of these with other policies across Government and internationally.
Contractor: ADAS Consulting
Contract Manager: Mark Stevenson
Completion date: 31 May 2006
DNA Profiling of Birds of Prey
To build on earlier work on micro-satellite DNA markers for CITES enforcement by testing their suitability as components of a fluorescent multiplexing system.
Contractor: Wildlife DNA Services
Contract Manager: Nick Williams
Completion date: 15 April 2007
Molecular Genetic Identity of Basking Shark Population
The proposal for a project to determine movement patterns and the population structure of basking sharks by satellite tagging was approved in 2001/02. This got underway in February 2001 and the information from the research will inform the UK's proposal to list the basking shark on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at the next CITES Conference in November 2002. The intention of the original project was to use satellite tagging and collection of DNA samples for genetic analysis. The project for which approval is now sought will enable the collection and analysis of samples, which will be essential to understand the stock identity/separation of basking shark populations.
Contractor: Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Contract Manager: Sally Cunningham
Completion date: 31 August 2006
Chinese Plants for the Horticultural Trade
To undertake a survey of the trade in Chinese Non-CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) plants in order to assess the species involved and gather information on their conservation status, and thus help preclude the necessity of listing these species on CITES. It will also identify potential detrimental trade and place the UK trade in the global market context.
Contractor: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Contract Manager: Eddie O'Sullivan
Completion date: 30 June 2006
Natural Control of Japanese Knotweed
The project will investigate the use of classical biological control against Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica). This project represents a 4 year biocontrol project involving continued overseas surveys across the seasons with the collaboration of Japanese researchers, the continuation of DNA taxonomic studies and the investigation of the host ranges of selected potential biocontrol agents.
Contractor: Cornwall County Council
Contract Manager: Angela Finch
Completion date: 31 March 2007
Small Cetacean Abundance in North Sea (Scans II)
Repeat SCANS project (conducted in 1994) to estimate the abundance of harbour porpoises and other small cetaceans in the North Sea and adjacent waters including shelf waters west of British Isles.
Contractor: Sea Mammal Research Unit
Contract Manager: Christine Rumble
Completion date: 31 May 2006
Post-Mortem Research on Cetacean Ears
This proposed project would involve the histological examination of stranded cetaceans' ears, removed at post-mortem, for signs of damage, disease or abnormalities. The investigation would look in particular for signs of traumatic and degenerative changes associated with exposure to loud noise and/or blast trauma (e.g. from the use of explosives). The work would build upon the internationally-acclaimed research already being carried out under the DEFRA-funded cetacean strandings project.
Contractor: Institute of Zoology
Contract Manager: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 31 December 2006
Cetacean Strandings Investigation
To manage and carry out investigations into cetacean strandings and by-catches in the UK. To maintain strategies, protocols and arrangements for the collection of samples necessary for studies of cetacean biology and health. The first part of the final report conducted for the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by the Institute of Zoology from 1995 to 2000 was published in 2002.
Contractor: Natural History Museum
Contract Manager: Dr Jo Myers
Completed: 30 June 2006
Conservation of Biodiversity in a Changing Climate
To undertake a review of evidence and prepare an overview paper on climate change and policy adaptations for conservation of biodiversity in Europe, highlighting the knowledge gaps which hinder implementation.
Contractor: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Contract Manager: Dr Andrew Stott
Completion date: 31 March 2006
Biodiversity Research Coordination (CoBRA)
To promote biodiversity research, including cross-cutting and more specific issues; to maintain an overview of research needs and funding opportunities; to support liaison with EU and other international activities; to support research sponsors in developing proposals and forming collaborative partnerships; to facilitate sharing and application of research findings; to maintain the biodiversity research information exchange mechanism; and to provide secretariat support for the BRWG from October 2001.
Contractor: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Contract Manager: Dr Andrew Stott
Completion date: 31 March 2007
Cetacean Bycatch Observer Monitoring System
A bycatch observer monitoring scheme to provide statistical information on the bycatch of cetaceans by fisheries during the normal course of their activities began in February 2005. This project will pilot a multi-fishery bycatch observer scheme for two years. The information obtained will help to identify how well the mitigation measures are working to reduce bycatch to below "unacceptable interaction" levels and assist in designing future conservation measures.
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Contractor: Sea Mammal Research Unit
Contract Manager: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 14 February 2007
Potential Impacts of Future Energy Policy on UK Biodiversity
The project will review the current state of knowledge about impacts on UK biodiversity of future energy polices contained in the Government's forthcoming Energy White Paper. Future energy policies are likely to rely much more on widely distributed renewable sources including offshore and onshore wind, tidal, solar, energy crops etc. The project will identify both positive and negative impacts and make prioritised and justified recommendations for further work.
Contractor: ADAS Consulting
Contract Manager: Dr Andrew Stott
Completion date: 30 November 2005
Marine Biodiversity (MARCLIM)
To address, as part of a consortium, the implications of climate change on marine biodiversity to inform policies and provide a framework for the conservation, management, protection and utilisation of marine biota. Defra's contribution is needed to ensure that the project methods and outputs are relevant to policy, including international commitments to protection of coastal habitats, implementation of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, development of indicators of sustainable development and adaptation to climate change impacts.
Contractor: Marine Biology Association
Contract Manager: Dr Andrew Stott
Completion date: 9 December 2005
Monarch 3
This project aims to model the expected distribution of selected BAP Priority species and a number of key species from selected BAP Priority habitats using the UKCIP02 climate change scenarios. The results of the project will be made available to inform the review of targets and actions of the Species and Habitat Action plans during the next Lead Partner reporting round in 2005/06.
Contractor: Natural England
Contract Manager: Mark Stevenson
Completion date: 31 October 2006
Environmental Benefits of Domestic Gardens
To review the current state of knowledge about the contribution of domestic gardens to biodiversity in a range of urban situations; to develop proposals for a cost-effective baseline survey of gardens; review existing advice on 'wildlife gardening' and the evidence on which this is based; review information on the take-up and benefits of wildlife gardening; and make recommendations for how the benefits of wildlife gardening can be evaluated, improved and promoted.
Contractor: University of Sheffield
Contract Manager: Dr Sarah Webster
Completion date: 28 February 2007
A Marine Landscape Classification of UK Regional Seas
To provide the marine equivalent of a 'countryside map' of the seabed by extending the marine landscape classification undertaken by the Irish Sea Pilot to other regional seas in UK waters subject to agreement of devolved administrations. It will identify the physical and ecological characteristics, area and distribution of the marine landscapes in UK regional seas.
Contractor: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Contract Manager: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 30 April 2006
Cetacean Strandings Surveillance and Investigation Interim Project
The principal requirement of this project is to provide a coordinated approach (including collaborative links with other organisations funded by this Department to carry out work on cetaceans such as the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)) to the monitoring of cetacean strandings and by-catches in the UK.
Contractor: Institute of Zoology
Contract Manager: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 31 March 2007
Targeted Monitoring Of Atmospheric Pollution. And Climate Change Impacts On Biodiversity
The Earth’s climate is experiencing a period of exceptional change. In the UK, the 1990’s was the warmest decade since records began in the 1660’s. There is now strong evidence that the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. Even if society substantially reduces it emissions of greenhouse gases, the climate system will continue to change for many decades. Though the precise impact of this on biodiversity is uncertain, both observed changes and predictive models indicate that climate space for species will change rapidly. This, combined with pressures such as fragmentation and pollution, represent a significant risk to the maintenance of vulnerable populations within the UK.
In order to prevent severe damage to the environment and to ensure sustainable development under changing climatic conditions, adaptation strategies are required to enable species to adjust to changing conditions. As the nature of the risks that climate change poses to biodiversity are broadly understood, adaptation strategies to deal with these issues can be developed immediately; however monitoring is required to evaluate the effectiveness of such actions. Predictive models being developed will also need validating by on-the-ground monitoring. Finally with species responding individually to climate change, and the composition of habitats changing favourable condition status habitats will need to be re-assessed and guidance on what is avoidable or unavoidable change provided.
Climate change is one of many often inter-related factors that cause biodiversity change. Therefore, to properly assess impacts, a monitoring network must be of a size that is statistically robust enough to enable the range of pressures and responses to be identified. With numerous monitoring schemes in existence, it may not be necessary to develop new schemes. However, there may be benefits in expanding existing schemes to increase robustness and fill gaps. There is also a need to improve the integration and interpretation of information gathered from existing schemes so that holistic appraisals can be made of the mechanisms driving biodiversity change.
Contractor: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Project officer: Dr Helen Pontier MCIWEM
Completion date: 01May 2006
Bushmeat research and recommendations to HMG
Bushmeat is a complex issue, with no precise definition, bushmeat, but it is generally understood to mean the meat of wild animals hunted for food.
Ministers sitting on the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Biodiversity (IMGB) have requested further information to inform their discussions about HMG policy on the bushmeat trade. Ministers are particularly interested in its effects on endangered species and the livelihoods of the poor in producing countries.
Contractor: Overseas Development Institute
Project officer: Eric Blencowe
Completion date: 31 January 2007
Countryside Survey 2006-07 (prep phase II)
Countryside Survey (CS) provides an extensive integrated sample of natural resources (vegetation, soils, water bodies and landscape features). Countryside Surveys have been undertaken in Great Britain in 1978, 1984, 1990 and 1998. Similar surveys have also been undertaken in Northern Ireland. Countryside Survey involves two main types of data: remote sensing to create the Land Cover Map (LCM) and the Field Survey (FS) of a representative sample of 1 km squares.
Contractor: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Project officer: Dr Helen Pontier MCIWEM
Completion date:20 March 2007
Cetacean review
The Wildlife and Countryside R&D and non R&D programmes aim to support the evidence requirements of three Defra policy divisions namely (1) European Wildlife Division, (2) Global Wildlife Division, and (3) Sponsorship, Landscape, and Recreation.
The purpose of this review is to assess the effectiveness of the research projects commissioned through the programme over the study period in terms of the extent to which they have proved useful to the Department in the formulation, monitoring and execution of policy, and make recommendations on the future composition and management of the programme.
Contractor: Watts & Crane Associates
Project officer: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date:01 June 2006
Assessment of options to improve access to the coast (RIA)
To identify the social, environmental and economic benefits and costs of alternative options for improving access to the English coast. To identify by whom the benefits and costs would be borne.
Contractor: Askens Ltd
Project officer: Moira Anderson
Completion date: 15 April 2007
DNA Bushmeat
The illegal importation and sale of bushmeat into the UK is an issue of widespread concern. Bushmeat is known to contain a wide range of species, of predominantly African origin, and may include species listed in the annexes to EU Regulation 338/97 (‘the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation’). At present all bushmeat (along with other products of animal origin (POAO)) imports are confiscated and destroyed without any assessment being made of the species involved. This means that it is not possible to assess the scale of potential breaches of the controls.
Contractor: Wildlife DNA Services
Project officer: Jane Withey
Completion date: 31 August 2006
Enforcement of marine nature conservation legislation
The aim of this project was to identify opportunities to improve the existing arrangements for the enforcement of nature conservation legislation in the marine environment, in particular considering if and how existing authorities responsible for enforcement of wider marine legislation could be used. The intended output was a report focussing on opportunities to re-align existing arrangements, realise synergies and efficiency savings to improve enforcement. Options of how this could be achieved and what changes to existing powers, duties and functions to allow organisations to fulfil this role was to be outlined. The resulting report provides a review of the existing enforcement arrangements and general opportunities to improve enforcement, including a series of non-regulatory and alternative approaches.
Contractor: Royal Haskoning
Project officer: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 31 October 2006
Developing scenarios for a network of marine areas
The aim of this project was to inform work underway to develop a regulatory impact assessment for the Marine Bill, and was not intended to specify exact localities to be considered for MPA nor a preferred network configuration. As part of the Bill, Defra are considering the inclusion of a mechanism to allow for the legal designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), but which special, vulnerable or representative areas can be given a greater level of protection. The aim of this work is to develop and map a range of potential MPA networks for UK waters to meet the UK's marine biodiversity conservation commitments under the OSPAR Convention. A series of network scenarios (covering the UK Continental Shelf Area) using the site-selection algorithm MARXAN were developed as part of the project to assess changes to the network configuration with variations in the design criteria used.
Contractor: University of Wales, Bangor
Project officer: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 01 July 2006
Unlicensed Activities & Species Protection
Part A: A review of unlicensed activities and whether there are any that are likely to pose a significant risk to marine biodiversity was undertaken. The aim of the unlicensed review was to identify is there were any activities currently unlicensed which posed a threat to the conservation status of marine biodiversity (i.e. threats to the viability of a population and not individual animal welfare threats). . Three activities were considered to pose the greatest threat – bait digging; motorised water based recreation (which includes jet boats, motor boats) and unlicensed fishing activities. Recommendations were provided on how best to manage these activities.
Part B: This research aimed to provide the evidence base in a concise but scientifically defendable manner on whether there are still marine species which are unprotected and whose conservation is at risk and to consider whether legislative species protection would be beneficial, or if adequate protection is possible via alternative approaches (e.g. voluntary, sectoral, area-based etc). Using case-studies, a review of literature, identification of species/group sensitivities and discussions with key stakeholders, an assessment has been made to identify if there are any marine species which may warrant protection and what would be the best mechanism. The scope of the project was not to review all species, but to utilise a niche/group assessment (encompassing worked examples) to identify any particular groups of species which may need to be considered further to ensure they are protected.
Contractor: University of Hull
Project officer: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 10 December 2006
Assessing the impact on businesses within the marine bill
The Marine Bill consultation, published in March 2006, set out the reasons why the Government believes new marine legislation is required. The document, which summarised the background and proposed contents of the Bill, was accompanied by an initial Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). Further information is required to build upon the initial RIA and provide an evidence base to fully assess the impacts of the Marine Bill proposals.
Contractor: Risk & Policy Analysts Limited
Project officer: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 06 October 2006
Lead shot - Desk study
To review and assess the level of compliance, and hence the effectiveness, of the Environmental Protection (Restriction of the Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999 (as amended), through an assessment of wild birds shot and sold through game dealers.
To recommend further measures which will provide Defra with a credible assessment of current practices, including if appropriate the feasibility and practicality of undertaking cartridge counts or other on-site surveys: and to recommend measures to improve compliance if current practice is shown to be insufficient to meet the aims and objectives of the original Regulations.
Contractor: ADAS
Project officer: Ms Christine Rumble
Completion date: 13 April 2007
Survey of priority areas of search (AoS) in UK beyond 12 nm - Irish Sea AoS 7 & 8 (stage 1)
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has appointed the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to manage and execute activities necessary for the delivery of the Natura 2000 site series beyond 12 nautical miles. This will involve the collection and analysis of seabed habitat data from Areas of Search (AoS) to enable the consideration of these areas against selection criteria for offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
The research will benefit Defra in making progress in the delivery of the UK’s obligations to implement the 1992 Directive on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna (92/43/EEC) and provide an opportunity to further develop understanding of the diversity of seabed habitats found in UK offshore waters. Such information will have multiple uses and will also assist in better planning for the use of our marine resources.
Contractor: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Project officer: Dr Jo Myers
Completion date: 31 March 2007
Thames basin SPA
The research is designed to assess the effect of urban development and number of visitors on the distribution and abundance of nightjar, woodlark and Dartford warbler on the Dorset Heathlands and Thames Basin Heaths SPA; assess the extent to which the negative correlation of nightjar and woodlark numbers with urban development in Dorset is replicated in the Thames Basin Heaths, and identify the key factors which determine how the two sites compare; assess how habitat and visitor pressure interact to influence the distribution and abundance of the three Annex 1 species in the two SPAs; map visitor pressure and suitable habitat and identify areas where access and habitat management should be targeted to sustain the site populations of the three Annex 1 species; and develop a method of predicting the effect of habitat and visitor management on the number and distribution of the three Annex 1 species.
Contractor: Natural England
Project officer: Julian Claxton
Completion date:31 March 2007
Do bats avoid radar
The results from this project will be analysed and submitted for publication and if the results are as expected, the potential method of preventing bats approaching wind turbines will be available to the power generation industry and will help meet our obligation under the Eurobats Agreement to help protect the loss of bats.
Contractor: University of Aberdeen
Project officer: Dr Jane Goodwin
Completion date: 28 February 2007
Changes in breeding bird populations due to housing development
An analysis of the species composition and abundance of breeding birds in urban and suburban housing areas in relation to surrounding woodland and farmland.
Contractor: British Trust for Ornithology
Project officer: Mark Stevenson
Completion date: 27 March 2007
Development and production of a UK Biodiversity Indicator based on the index of timing of four spring events.
To produce a UK Indicator based on the index of the timing of four Spring events (the ‘Spring Index’) between 1900 and 2006 from UK Phenology Network data.
Contractor: Woodland Trust
Project officer: Mark Stevenson
Completion date: 27 March 2007
Plant Substances as Alternatives for Animal Products in Traditional Medicines
The use of traditional medicine (TM) containing a range of “natural” ingredients obtained from animals and plants is gaining in popularity throughout the World. However, TM poses a major threat to the survival of many critically endangered species. Most TM “consumer” countries (e.g. China, Japan, the UK and USA) are Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which bans international commercial trade in the most endangered animals and plants and controls it in certain others. However, demand for TM’s containing endangered species continues and with it illegal trade in parts and derivatives for the TM market.
The UK was instrumental at the 10th CITES Conference of Parties in gaining agreement to a Resolution (Res. Conf. 10.19) calling amongst other things for more research into substitutes for endangered species in TM’s. In 2001 Defra commissioned Middlesex University to undertake research to investigate “Plant Substances as Alternatives for Animal Products Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine”. This research has now reported and identifies certain plant substances that could be used as alternatives for three animal parts and derivatives pre-eminently used in TM: bear bile, rhino horn and tiger bone.
Contractor: University of Middlesex
Contract Manager: Eddie O'Sullivan
Completed: 28 March 2005
Towards Adaptation to Climate Change
This research project will review the evidence for climate change impacts on biodiversity in England and make preliminary recommendations for policy adaptations to be incorporated within the England Biodiversity Strategy. The review will pay particular attention to uncertainty and risk and will identify key areas of risk where urgent action is needed and key areas of uncertainty where further research is needed.
Contract Manager: Dr Helen Pontier MCIWEM
Contractor: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Completion date: 14 April 2007
Countryside Quality Counts Phase 4
The Countryside Quality Counts Phase 4 (CQC4) aims to further develop and update the Countryside Character Database and to update the national indicator of change in countryside quality. The CQC4 project will review the available data, revise Character Area Profiles and update the indicator for the period up to 2004. The study will also assess the feasibility of using the results of Countryside Survey 2006 to assess change in countryside character.
Contract Manager: Dr Helen Pontier MCIWEM
Contractor: Natural England - University of Nottingham
Completion date: 14 June 2007
The Husbandry of Elephants in UK Zoos
An examination of the husbandry of the elephants in UK zoos and the effect on the animals' health, reproduction, stress hormone output and behaviour, with a view to improving the management guidelines for the keeping of these animals in zoos.
Contractor: University of Bristol
Contract Manager: Dave Wootton
Completion date: 31 May 2007
Illegal Motor Vehicle Use of Rights of Way
A research project on the degree of illegal use by motor vehicles of the countryside, primarily on rights of way, in order to form an accurate picture of the level of misuse and the impact it is having on routes and users.
Contract Manager: Jonathan Tweney
Contractor: Faber Maunsell
Completion date: 30 June 2007
Page last modified:
04 September 2007
Page published: 14 April 2004