This is an assessment carried out under Regulation 48 of the Habitats Regulations.
A group of species found in the same location.
See mitigation.
The conditions that would pertain in the absence of the proposed project at the time that the project would be constructed/operated/decommissioned. The definition of these baseline conditions should be informed by changes arising from other causes (e.g. other consented developments).
The biological diversity of the earth’s living resources. The total range of variability among systems and organisms at the following levels of organisation: bioregional, landscape, ecosystem, habitat, communities, species, populations, individuals, genes and the structural and functional relationships within and between these different levels.
An area (human-made or natural) that helps to protect a habitat from damage, disturbance or pollution. It is managed to protect the ‘integrity’ of the valued habitat and/or the conservation status of species that it supports.
The maximum number of organisms or amount of biomass that can be supported in a given area.
Measures taken to make up for the loss of, or permanent damage to, biological resources through the provision of replacement areas. Any replacement area should be similar to or, with appropriate management, have the ability to reproduce the ecological functions and conditions of those biological resources that have been lost or damaged.
An organisation or individual who is responsible for determining an application for a consent for a project. In the context of the Habitats Regulations, ‘competent authority’ has a wider meaning, which includes any Minister, government department, public or statutory undertaker, public body of any description or person holding a public office.
A measure of the functional availability of the habitats needed for a particular species to move through a given area. Examples include the flight lines used by bats to travel between roosts and foraging areas or the corridors of appropriate habitat needed by some slow colonising species if they are to spread.
These guidelines use the word impact rather than effect when referring to how ecological resources might be affected by a project.
In these Guidelines EAP has been used to denote Environmental Management Plans and Environmental Design Management systems.
This is an assessment carried out under the EIA Regulations.
The UK statutory instruments that are designed to meet the requirements of Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC.
A new benefit to biodiversity, unrelated to any negative impact.
The degree of sensitivity of habitats, communities and species to environmental change. It requires a consideration of intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
The breaking up of a habitat, ecosystem or land-use type into smaller parcels.
A place in which a particular plant or animal lives. Often used in the wider sense referring to major assemblages of plants and animals found together.
The way in which an ecological receptor/resource is affected by a project (see effect).
The coherence of a site's ecological structure and function across its whole area that enables it to sustain the habitat, complex of habitats and/or levels of populations of the species for which it was classified.
'Non-statutory' sites of nature conservation value that have been designated 'locally' (i.e. excluding SSSIs, ASSIs, SPAs, SACs, and Ramsar Sites). Local Nature Reserves are included as they are a designation made by the Local Authority not statutory country conservation agencies. These are often called Wildlife Sites, Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation or other, similar names.
Measures taken to avoid or reduce negative impacts. Measures may include: locating the development and its working areas and access routes away from areas of high ecological interest, fencing off sensitive areas during the construction period, or timing works to avoid sensitive periods. An example of a reduction measure is a reed bed silt trap that is designed to minimise the amount of polluted water running directly into an ecologically important watercourse. See also compensation (which is separate from mitigation).
Biogeographic regions in England as specified by English Nature.
Biogeographic regions in Scotland as specified by Scottish Natural Heritage.
An interconnected system of corridors.
The 'space' or 'ecological role' occupied by a species and the resources used by a species. Conceptually the niche is multidimensional and each resource (food, time of feeding, etc.) and each abiotic factor (salinity, temperature, etc.) can be considered to be a dimension of the niche.
The point at which the quality and quantity of habitats or species improves compared to their original condition. i.e. improvements over and above those required for mitigation/compensation.
The point at which habitat or biodiversity losses equal their gains, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
A collection of individuals (plants or animals), all of the same species and in a defined geographical area.
In these guidelines ‘project’ is used to refer to any development proposal(s)/scheme or other land use change for which it may be appropriate to undertake an EcIA.
A measure of relative abundance.
Any ecological or other defined feature (e.g. human beings) that is sensitive to or has the potential to be affected by an impact.
See mitigation.
Any ecological or other environmental component affected by an impact.
The re-establishment of a damaged or degraded system or habitat to a close approximation of its pre-degraded condition.
The level or geographic context for evaluation.
Development that falls within a relevant description in Schedule 1 to the EIA Regulations always requires EIA.
Development of a type listed in Schedule 2 to the EIA Regulations requires EIA if it is development likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as its size, nature or location.
Determination of the extent of an assessment (of an EcIA or full EIA).
Determination of whether or not an EIA is necessary.
The websites of the Office of the Deputy Prime minister (ODPM), the Welsh Assembly, Scottish Executive and Departments Northern Ireland.
The areas/resources that may be affected by the biophysical changes caused by activities associated with a project.
Copyright © IEEM 2006 | Last updated 26-06-06