Citizen scientists put England’s best ponds on the map
3rd September 2024
Citizen scientists have joined the search for the highest quality ponds in England this summer. ‘Priority Ponds’, an initiative led by Freshwater Habitats Trust, commissioned by Natural England, and funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme, aims to map England’s most important ponds for freshwater wildlife, paving the way for better protection in the future.
Priority ponds are those identified as priority habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, and protected by law. A pond could be classed as a priority pond because it supports a protected species, or because of the range of plant and animal species it contains. Some qualify as a result of their age or rarity – such as Ice Age ponds.
So far, fewer than 2% of ponds in the UK have been identified as priority habitats, but experts believe the total is likely to exceed 20%. These ponds are an important part of England’s freshwater environment and often provide a last refuge for sensitive and uncommon freshwater plants and animals that have been lost from surrounding areas.
A growing body of research shows just how vital ponds are for wildlife. Studies have shown that, together across the landscape, ponds support more biodiversity, including greater numbers of threatened plant and animal species, than larger waterbodies, such as rivers and lakes. Despite this, there is very little information on the whereabouts of these vital small standing waterbodies. Unlike rivers and lakes, they are do not usually appear on maps used to plan the protection of freshwater habitats.
Now, volunteers can help to increase the number of recorded priority ponds by carrying out a simple online survey: the Priority Pond Asssessment (PASS) survey.
The PASS survey makes it possible even for non-expert surveyors to identify priority ponds. The survey uses physical variables, such as whether trees are hanging over the pond or how the land surrounding the pond is being used, to quickly predict whether the pond is likely to have priority status. This can then be confirmed through the more detailed biological surveys used to formally identify priority ponds.
PASS is designed to work on ponds which are in the countryside or urban green spaces and can be carried out during the summer and until early October. PASS is not designed for use on garden ponds.
Planning authorities and Government bodies consider priority habitats in their decision-making for planning applications and flood defence permits. The concept of priority habitats was developed as part of the UK government’s commitment as a signatory to the international Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993. Freshwater Habitats Trust played a key role in securing priority habitat status for ponds of high ecological value in 2007.
Freshwater Habitats Trust Senior Project Officer Francesca Dunn said: “We’re losing freshwater biodiversity at an alarming rate and to halt and reverse the decline we need to focus on protecting the best remaining habitats. However, we can’t do this unless we know where they are.
“Launching the PASS survey is a big step towards getting more priority ponds on the map and we’re excited to see volunteers getting involved this summer. We know that many people want to do something to help wildlife and this is a very accessible survey that anyone can do, without any previous experience.”
Freshwater Habitats Trust Technical Director Dr Naomi Ewald said: “Ponds are a critical habitat for protecting freshwater biodiversity in the landscape. And priority ponds are the most important ponds of all because they support uncommon and declining species under increasing threat.
“As we build the Freshwater Network, and create wilder, wetter, cleaner, more connected habitats for freshwater wildlife across the country, we need to ensure we know where the best remaining habitats are. Mapping priority ponds with the help of volunteers will help us find more of these biodiversity hotspots so we can give them the status they need for their future protection.”
Natural England’s Chief Scientist Sallie Bailey said: “I’m delighted to see the launch of this important project measuring and mapping Priority Ponds.
“Natural England is working to improve our knowledge of ponds throughout England. This collaboration with Freshwater Habitats Trust will be a critical step to restore a healthy networks of ponds and grow our understanding of these freshwater habitats across the country.”