PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Peak District Dales special area of conservation (SAC) holds 16% of the UKs share of the habitat Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines, listed in Annex I of the EUs Habitats Directive. Although 80% of the woodland canopy is now dominated by ash (Fraxinus excelsior), historically the SAC would have been naturally dominated by foundation species such as lime (Tilia cordata, T. platyphyllos), ash and elm (Ulmus glabra). Woodland management and human interventions have changed the natural species composition and, together with Dutch elm disease, reduced the presence of lime and elm while increasing that of introduced non-native trees such as sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus).
The arrival of ash dieback disease (ADB) in the SAC in 2015 has placed its woods under serious pressure, threatening the long-term integrity of the woodland ecosystem. ADB causes leaf loss, crown dieback and bark lesions, and commonly leads to tree death. The loss of canopy cover, composition, age structure and loss of multi-structured and fully functioning ravine woodland directly affects favourable conservation status. Combined with increased grazing pressure from deer and competition from non-native trees, this places the target habitat in an unfavourable-bad conservation status according to the latest UK reporting under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE in the Ravines aims to bring almost 900 ha of the target habitat in the Peak District Dales SAC into favourable/unfavourable recovering conservation status, using sustainable best practice techniques to address the impacts of ADB. The project will secure the SACs biodiversity value and its role as a key wildlife refugia site through the following:
Large-scale restoration across 170 ha of high forest in the target habitat, resulting in a more natural tree composition/canopy cover and significant re-introduction of foundation tree species to ensure long-term viability of the woodland; and Maintaining ash as a viable species within the SAC by identifying and promoting trees with ADB tolerance (estimated 5-10% of the ash population), whilst also encouraging and protecting natural ash regeneration. Other specific objectives include:
Pioneering and advocating tailored sensitive restoration/management techniques on the difficult terrain of the SACs steep-sided ravines, developing and adopting best practices from previous projects. Trial use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to spread tree seed, learning lessons to enable replication across other sites/applications inthe UK/EU. Demonstration and transfer of best practices for restoration of the target habitat in a highly visited and visible site to existing and future site managers and policy makers within the UK/EU, including replication of activities at six other UK SACs; and Inspiring and promoting better understanding and awareness of the value/function of natural ravine woodlands and wider awareness of ADB, other plant diseases and invasive alien species (IAS) to a wide range of audiences in the UK and mainland Europe, including the general public and technical and business audiences. By improving the condition of the target habitat and through the projects restoration and awareness-raising actions, control of deer and removal of non-native tree species, LIFE in the Ravines will contribute to the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 (targets 1, 2 and 5). Its approach to combating ADB is in line with the EUs IAS Regulation. In addition, the project will contribute to the EU forestry strategy 2014-20 and the European strategy for plant conservation 2008-2014, as well as to management of the Natura 2000 network and the UK prioritised action frameworks strategic conservation priorities.
RESULTS
Expected results:
1 000 small-leaved lime and 500 wych elm (disease resistant) trees cloned and 40 000 local seed collected/propagated to provide at least 5% of new natural canopy stock (13 000 trees); Targeted tree removal (at-risk ash trees and non-native trees) across up to 170 ha of the SAC to reduce stress on non-diseased ash and diversify up to 25% of the future canopy by promoting natural regeneration and planting over 200 000 trees; Deer control across almost 880 ha of the SAC. Best practice biosecurity processes put in place; Replication and transfer plan identifyingopportunities across all SACs with the target habitat in the UK (29 sites); Technical site visits/workshops for 250 experts/land managers; Five best practice guides published; Six other UK SAC sites with more than 100 ha of the target habitat assisted with replication/transfer activities; Awareness of biosecurity/tree diseases communicated to 1 million people; Eight public engagement workshops for 150 local communities and stakeholders; and Regular volunteer activities engaging local communities in practical activities (100 volunteers engaged).
