All about Pine Martens
Thursday 20 March 2008
Location: Ledbury, Herefordshire
Participant Standard: Intermediate
Tutor(s): Johnny Birks MIEEM
The pine marten was added to the UK BAP priority list in 2007, so there should be increased conservation action on this enchanting mammal. Though mainly recovering in Scotland and Ireland, elusive relict populations survive in parts of England and Wales. The workshop will cover distribution and status; identification and field signs; basic ecology, behaviour and habitat requirements; survey methods; mitigation; and resolving conflicts with human activities.
Further details about the workshop
This workshop will cover :
- An introduction to pine marten ecology;
- The pine marten’s changing distribution and status in Britain;
- Survey and detection techniques;
- Legal protection and new BAP status;
- Conservation issues: threats and opportunities;
- Resolving conflicts caused by pine martens
Who should attend this workshop?
The workshop is aimed at professional ecologists keen to acquire an overview of the pine marten and its conservation in Britain.
Anything participants need to know/read before coming on the training event, or need to have with them?
Bring with you:
- Walking boots
- Wet weather clothing
- Packed lunch.
What will participants learn from the workshop (learning outcomes)?
- How pine martens behave in Britain
- Where pine martens occur in Britain
- How to survey and detect pine martens
- How and why the pine marten is a protected species
- Effective approaches to resolving conflicts caused by pine martens
Programme:
10:00 Workshop start, Health and Safety briefing
10:05 Introduction
10:15 Pine marten ecology and distribution in Britain
11:15 Tea/Coffee break
11:30 Methods for surveying and detecting pine martens
12:00 Legal protection and BAP status
12:30 Lunch
13:00 Resolving conflicts caused by pine martens in Britain (e.g. predation of penned game and poultry; denning in roofs of houses)
14:00 Discussion of other conservation issues affecting pine martens in Britain, including persecution and habitat availability (if fine, this will be done outside)
15:45 Return to classroom for debrief
16:00 Finish, collect feedback forms and give out CPD certificates
Cost: £60 IEEM members, £120 non-members.