CORDIALE Field Trial

Climate change adaptation field trial

SWPLF working with the Dorset AONB is leading a field trial that will map where conservation efforts should be prioritised in the face of a changing climate.  This information will be used to help influence landowners and managers, along with advisors, where best to prioritise their resources.  The approach is innovative and untried at a local level.  This field trial will demonstrate its practical uses and provide a method that can easily be used by the CORDIALE partners.

The trial is made up of the three distinct elements;

• Mapping of the existing semi-natural habitat sites along with the current land use between them.
• Analysis of the semi-natural habitat and land use to identify networks through which species can migrate with a changing climate.
• Working with landowner and managers to help prioritise their conservation efforts in the best location for these habitats and species.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach the Dorset AONB will host an exchange visit with CORDIALE partners in 2012.

We have recently completed the mapping of the semi-natural habitat within the Dorset AONB.  Though information has existed for some time on this; it has never been combined into one map, leaving the potential for overlap and duplication.  The ad hoc nature of the data collection also made the use of it particularly cumbersome as well.

This work was carried out by the Dorset Environment Records Centre and is now available for use by conservation projects, government advisors and local authorities.  The approach was deemed of such value that Dorset County Council has funded the mapping of areas within Dorset that were not originally covered.  Dr Phil Sterling, manager of the Natural Environment Team within DCC says; “This dataset will be a valuable asset for many projects, particularly those looking at changes in areas of habitat, or those looking at linking existing areas of good habitat. Map-based access to information on UK Priority Habitats within Dorset will also important for development control and forward planning as these habitats are protected under UK legislation”.

We are about to embark upon the next phase of the field trial; the mapping of existing land use and analysis of this data to identify and prioritise habitat networks of conservation importance.  We will update the website with more information as the project progresses.