Freshwater Habitats Trust launches guidance on incorporating small freshwater habitats into Local Nature Recovery Strategies
29th August 2024
Small freshwater habitats are critical for biodiversity but are at risk of being excluded from Local Nature Recovery Strategies, says national wildlife conservation charity Freshwater Habitats Trust.
Knowledge about the importance of small waters is relatively recent. Recognising that there is a data and knowledge gap, Freshwater Habitats Trust has launched new guidance on how to incorporate them into Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
Small freshwater habitats such as ponds, headwater streams, springs, flushes, ditches and small wetlands are critical biodiversity hotspots and are vital for the survival of freshwater wildlife. Despite their small sizes, ponds have been shown to collectively support a greater number of freshwater species than rivers and lakes, including higher numbers of rare and threatened species.
More than half of these precious habitats have been lost from our landscape through urban development, agriculture and drainage, whilst others have been degraded by mismanagement and pollution. Freshwater wildlife has suffered as a result, with the range and abundance declining for many species.
Fortunately, this is easily reversible as the small size of ponds makes them easy habitats to create and new ponds have been shown to be quickly colonised by wildlife, including rare and sensitive species. Creating new small freshwaters within small catchments protected from pollution can also bring clean water back to the landscape, maximising the nature recovery benefits.
Across England, ‘Responsible Authorities’ have been established to prepare Local Nature Recovery Strategies to halt and reverse species declines and habitat loss. They will collaborate with local partners and experts to decide what actions to improve the natural environment will be included in their strategies.
However, there is currently a general lack of understanding and confidence about how small freshwaters should be incorporated into policy, and their potential is often underestimated in comparison to larger waterbodies like rivers and lakes. With this in mind, Freshwater Habitats Trust has developed guidance to advise Responsible Authorities on the best way to incorporate small freshwaters into their strategies.
Freshwater Habitats Trust Policy Officer Dr Sam Tasker said: “It is vital that the whole freshwater environment is considered when creating and implementing Local Nature Recovery Strategies: from rivers and lakes to small freshwaters such as ponds and headwater streams.
“Small freshwaters are relatively cheap, quick and easy to create, restore and manage, providing a golden opportunity for Local Nature Recovery Strategies to make a huge difference to nature, yet their value is often overlooked.
“Their exclusion from Local Nature Recovery Strategies would be a huge missed opportunity, as it is unlikely that successful freshwater nature recovery can be achieved in any region without recognition of the importance of small freshwaters and actions to reverse their loss and degradation.”
The new guidance for Responsible Authorities provides advice on how to incorporate small freshwater habitats into Local Nature Recovery Strategies. This includes:
- How small waters are particularly important in helping to deliver National Environmental Objectives for nature and water.
- Appropriate evidence-based targets for small freshwaters that can be immediately incorporated into Local Nature Recovery Strategies. These targets are based on evidence of their effectiveness, derived from Freshwater Habitats Trust and others’ peer-reviewed research and practical work.
- Assessment methods that can be used to map and evaluate high quality freshwater habitats so they can be better protected and built out from.
Click here to download the guidance document. If you would like more information about undertaking Important Freshwater Area analysis in your strategy area, please contact Sam Tasker: STasker@freshwaterhabitats.org.uk.