docInvasive Issues for Consultants: Developing the Role
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Invasive Issues for Consultants: Developing the Role
Invasive Issues for Consultants: Developing the Role Max Wade 1 Summary ■ A much greater role for consultant ecologists ■ A well-established and growing expertise ■ Currently a serious imbalance in effort and expenditure ■ A problem concerning expectations regarding costs and complexity 2 What are our existing strengths? • • • • • Site survey and appraisal Risk assessment and management Breadth of taxonomic expertise The Japanese knotweed factor Appraisal of thousands of sites (or projects) and their environs annually • Ecological Clerk of Works and monitoring • Management of complex projects 3 4 Japanese Knotweed General Animals Other plants Aquatic Plants Rhododendron Giant Hogweed 5 Urban Other Freshwater Marine Heathland Rivers Coastal Other Woodland and Forestry 6 Local Action Groups NGOs Environment Agency & SEPA Forestry Commission Non-native species Consultant Ecologist Contractors Natural England/ SNH & CCW Local Authorities 7 Business and Industry Consultant ecologist Contractors Non-native species Others 8 Japanese Knotweed – a phenomenon ■ Evidence of success of legislation ■ Evidence of how much money can be levered against a species ■ Evidence of how far things can go 9 ■ Ads ■ Japanese Knotweed ■ Years Of Experience With Treating Knotweed Problems. Contact Us Now! www.landtechuk.com ■ Japanese Knotweed Control ■ Japanese Knotweed Specialists Industrial Level Knotweed Control japaneseknotweed-specialists.co.uk ■ Japanese Knotweed ■ 1 stop shop for japanese knotweed treatment management weed clearance England www.esl-ltd.co.uk ■ Japanese Knotweed ■ Complete and guaranteed eradication of Japanese knotweed ■ www.phlorum.com ■ Japanese Knotweed Removal ■ Consultants for Japanese Knotweed Removal and Root Barrier Systems japaneseknotweed.eu 10 ■ Ads ■ Related to giant rhubarb: ■ Giant Rhubarb ■ Great deals on gardening & plants Feed your passion on eBay.co.uk! www.ebay.co.uk/garden ■ Giant Rhubarb sale ■ Save up to 82% on Giant Rhubarb Bargains! supaprice.co.uk/Giant+rhubarb ■ Giant Rhubarb ■ Find Huge Bargins to Save Up To 45% On Giant Rhubarb! giant-rhubarb.deal24.co.uk ■ Japanese Knotweed ■ Complete and guaranteed eradication of Japanese knotweed ■ www.phlorum.com 11 Japanese Knotweed – achieving a better balance ■ Reduce emphasis and expenditure on Japanese Knotweed ■ Raise demand on other species ■ Target preventative measures ■ Avoid the convoluted spiral 12 Developing the role of the ecologist ■ Survey and risk assessment ■ Planning and developing a strategy ■ Co-ordinating and supervising implementation ■ Post-project appraisal ■ Reporting ■ Monitoring 13 14 Taking a pro-active role ■ Assessment for greater range of species and habitats: Schedules 9 and Plantlife’s advice ■ Liaise with Local Action Groups, local authorities, Environment Agency/SEPA etc. ■ Introduce common sense into advice and decision making, e.g. Cotoneaster and Floating Pennywort ■ Include invasive non-native species in site assessments and standard reporting ■ Make use of BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes ■ Liaise with landscape architects 15 Cotoneaster 16 Floating Pennywort 17 Taking a pro-active role ■ Include invasive non-native species in site assessments and standard reporting ■ Make use of BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes ■ Liaise with landscape architects 18 Need to develop • • • • A breadth of knowledge Specialisation in key areas Practical application Communications skills 19 Dealing with Japanese Knotweed ■ ■ ■ ■ Providing ecologically sound advice Making reasonable effort in control Comparison with protected species Promote replacement planting 20 Tasks for ecologists • • • • Awareness raising for ecologists Education and training Developing methods Being more proactive 21 Awareness Raising ■ Under- and post-graduate curricula ■ NNSS ■ Conferences 22 Education and training ■ ■ ■ ■ Post-graduate curricula Training courses and workshops In-house training/mentoring and seminars NNSS 23 Support ■ ■ ■ ■ Books, guides and ID sheets Developing best practice NNSS Writing articles 24 Invasive non-native species management cannot be done for free ■ Look at the bill for Japanese Knotweed ■ Where is the money going to come from? ■ Comparison with pollution control 25 Keep non-native species in perspective ■ Part of broader vegetation management ■ Integrates with species management e.g. Water Vole conservation ■ Integrates with habitat management e.g. woodland ■ Can confuse business and industry 26 Re cap ■ A much greater role consultant ecologists than is currently being played ■ A well established and growing expertise ■ The Japanese Knotweed effect needs addressing ■ Resources need to be deployed in a more rational and structured fashion 27 Invasion of the money snatchers - how to protect your wallet 28 Was this the intention? Threat to flood Possible biodiversity threat Wildlife & Countryside Act Spread by rhizome fragments Waste/Duty of Care Environment Protection Act Landfill requirements ££££££££££££ 29 Poor understanding of herbicide function Training Novel methods Reduction in range of herbicides Weed Control Weed Eradication Landfill requirement Lawyers Guarantee Insurance/mortgage assessors Disputes 30
