Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2011 - 2016

Biodiversity & Geodiversity

Visions

• High quality, un-fragmented semi natural habitats and healthy species populations within the AONB, particularly across the heaths of Bodmin Moor, The Lizard and West Penwith, around the coastal strip and along river corridors, which are resilient to climate change and other pressures.

• A full understanding of the importance, extent and vulnerability of the geological resource supported by appropriate conservation and enhancement measures.

Background

The diversity of plants and animals within the AONB are intrinsic components of the landscape, as is the underlying geology, ever present in the granite tors, rolling hills and steep cliffs which make the AONB so distinctly ‘Cornwall’. Cornwall has the longest coastline of any AONB and therefore the sustainable management of this resource has a relevant
and special part to play in the maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity and geodiversity.

Along with the European and National designated sites (Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest), the network of County Wildlife Sites and County Geological Sites is an important asset, locally designated but nationally recognised. While designated sites may form the core ‘capital’ of our wildlife resource, the ‘wider countryside’ is equally vital as many species require large areas and networks of habitats to survive and thrive.

Habitats must be conserved, restored and even re-created in the wider countryside to allow wildlife to move freely throughout the landscape, to enable species populations to adapt to a changing climate and to respond to other significant pressures such as built development, invasive species and disease. A ‘landscape scale’ approach to biodiversity action will not only improve and enlarge habitat patches and create better linkages between them but can
also provide opportunities for delivering benefits for access, enjoyment and cultural heritage.

In order to understand Cornwall’s wealth of wildlife, we must understand what lies beneath. Accessing, understanding and conserving geodiversity is therefore an essential part of AONB management, not only because of its links with biodiversity but because local geology is reflected all around in the topography of the land, the drainage patterns of streams and rivers, its stone built hedge network, its mining heritage and the local vernacular of the built environment, arguably making geology the largest contributor towards the landscape character and local distinctiveness of the AONB.

Management Framework

• The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 places a duty on Public
Authorities to conserve biodiversity

• The Government has a Public Service Agreement target to reverse the decline in farmland
birds by 2020. Farmland birds are seen as a proxy indicator for conservation of all wildlife in the wider countryside

• The South West Nature Map broadly identifies for the region opportunities to create and enhance our most important terrestrial wildlife habitats at a landscape scale

• Bodmin Moor and West Penwith Visions have been led by Natural England to establish shared visions for the future on the two main upland areas within the AONB, with a focus on management for biodiversity

• The Cornwall Biodiversity and Geodiversity Action Plans (BAP and GAP) provide an excellent framework around which to structure projects to enhance biodiversity and geodiversity within Cornwall

• The Environmental Stewardship Schemes, principally the Entry Level, Organic Entry Level,
Upland Entry Level and Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Schemes have a major role in the management of agricultural land for biodiversity benefit

• The Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative (CBI) and Cornwall RIGS/Geoconservation Group are county groups which work to protect Cornwall’s wildlife and geology

• The Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) acts as a central database for information about Cornwall’s wildlife and geology

• The Cornwall Knotweed Forum is a partnership of a range of organisations, companies and
individuals with an interest in the co-ordinated control of non native invasive plant species

• The ‘Biodiversity and Geological Conservation - Planning Best Practice Guide for Cornwall,
November 2007’ gives guidance on how to ensure that biodiversity and geodiversity is protected, conserved and enhanced as a consequence of development.

• The ‘Cornish Building Stone and Slate Guide, 2007’ is a guide to developers, architects and
householders on where to source new and reclaimed building stone and slate

• The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 will put in place better systems for delivering the sustainable development of marine and coastal environments

• The ‘Finding Sanctuary’ Project is working to identify new Marine Conservation Zones around the South West coast

• Making Space for Nature (2010) is an independent review of England’s wildlife sites and the
connections between them with recommendations to help achieve a healthy natural environment

Biodiversity & Geodiversity Policies

BG1	Take a strategic, landscape approach to the management, restoration and recreation of habitats outside designated sites both within the AONB and beyond its boundaries, in order to ensure resilience to climate change and other pressures; focusing on BAP priority habitats and building upon the network of protected sites across the AONB
BG2	Ensure that landscape scale biodiversity projects contribute to the mosaic of habitats characteristic of AONB landscapes and seek to enhance landscape character via project works
BG3	Involve local communities and land managers in the development of biodiversity initiatives, understanding potential barriers to implementation
BG4	Support landowners, managers and farmers in the delivery of biodiversity initiatives using appropriate mechanisms such as direct project funding, on-farm advice and the targeting of agripayments schemes
BG5	Ensure a comprehensive understanding of the state of the biodiversity and geodiversity resource and its management needs now and into the future, particularly in response to climate change and ensure that this information is easily accessible and used to inform agri-environment schemes and biodiversity projects
BG6	Support and encourage the detailed monitoring of terrestrial and aquatic damaging diseases such as phytothera and invasive plants and animals such as Japanese knotweed, gunnera, japweed and hottentot fig. Seek early intervention for new and small infestations and guard against the introduction of new species which could become invasive and / or transmit disease
BG7	Promote the increased access to and interpretation of wildlife and geological sites where this can be achieved without damage to or disturbance of these assets or unacceptable landscape and visual impact
BG8	Ensure that built development provides gains for biodiversity by promoting habitat retention, creation and enhancement; and species protection and support the use of local stone in built development
BG9	Support the creation of new Marine Protected Areas in inshore waters off the AONB coast to maintain sustainable and resilient populations of marine species (see Rivers, Coast and Marine)

Biodiversity & Geodiversity Actions

A/BG1	Building on emerging visions for Bodmin Moor and West Penwith and the South West Nature Map, identify priority biodiversity AONB areas and, with communities and land managers, develop spatial visions for landscape scale biodiversity management and habitat recreation – Natural England and The Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative
A/BG2	Develop a suite of landscape scale biodiversity projects as part of the Cornwall BAP 4 which aim to link habitats around the coast, intertidal habitats and along river valley corridors, extending these linkages beyond AONB boundaries – The Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative
A/BG3	Provide a response to consultations on CAP reform to ensure that future Agri-payments schemes continue to deliver biodiversity benefit – Cornwall Wildlife Trust
A/BG4	Undertake audit and research on the perceptions and attitudes of communities and visitors on grazing animals and the issue of grazing within habitat management, applying the knowledge to demonstration sites – Natural England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and The National Trust
A/BG5	Continue to develop and improve an active data management partnership between biodiversity and geodiversity conservation organisations and research establishments – *ERCCIS, the Combined Universities of Cornwall and Cornwall Council Environment Service*
A/BG6	Work with partners such as the Cornwall Knotweed Forum to manage non native invasive species and their impacts – Cornwall Council Environment Service
A/BG7	Produce a robust and defensible Green Infrastructure Strategy that specifies and defines semi-natural habitat corridors and ensure that this informs the Local Development Framework, in conjunction with the Biodiversity and Geodiversity Best Practice Guide – Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cornwall Council Environment Service and Cornwall Council Planning and Regeneration
A/BG8	Support the development and adoption of the Biodiversity and Geodiversity Best Practice Guide within the emerging Local Development Framework – Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall Council Planning and Regeneration
A/BG9	Input into the ‘Finding Sanctuary’ project in order to identify a suite of marine protected areas around the AONB coastline – The Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative and Cornwall Council Environment Service

Further Information

Further information on condition, predicted trends, management framework and monitoring can be found in the web based appendices to this chapter http://www.cornwall-aonb.gov.uk/management-plan/further-biodiversity-and-geodiversity.html