Modelling of Habitat Networks for Welsh Woodlands, Grasslands, Heathlands, Bogs and Fens
There is a growing emphasis on ecological connectivity in planning for effective biodiversity conservation and building ecosystem resilience. A major part of this is to counteract the negative impacts of habitat fragmentation (reduction in are and increase in isolation). This is a spatial dataset consisting of maps of habitat networks originally developed by Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) in collaboration with Forestry Commission Wales and Forest Research using a functional networks approach, and now managed and progressively developed by NRW. Patches of habitat and other intervening habitats through which many of their species are able to move are mapped as habitat networks. Networks have been mapped for habitats including woodland, unimproved grassland, calcareous grassland, marshy grassland, heathland, fens and bogs; in most cases these are divided into upland and lowland versions and in some cases networks that support the highest quality areas of habitat have been selected out as priority layers. Results are available for the whole of Wales as GIS layers and include three levels of habitat networks; core networks (areas within which species that require extensive habitat and disperse poorly are able to move), focal networks (areas within which species tolerant of smaller habitat patches and with greater dispersal ability are able to move), and local networks (areas within species that can persist within small habitat patches and have very limited dispersal abilities can move). Purpose of data capture was to allow the scope and range of potential networks to be rapidly explored. Predicted habitat networks can be used to guide large-scale planning for nature conservation, provide insight into how the landscape is likely to be functioning and prioritise action to improve the connectivity and viability of protected sites. Layers are arranged in two folders: Level 1, containing all outputs across Wales, and Level 2 which are selected, priority networks, within which action may be targeted to enhance functional networks of the best habitat areas.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS110501
- Alternative Title
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- \Biological\Habitat Networks\
- Connectivity layers
- Habitat Network Layers
- Modelu Rhwydweithiau Cynefinoedd ar gyfer coetiroedd, glaswelltiroedd, rhostiroedd, corsydd a ffeniau yng Nghymru
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
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'Least-cost' modelling was carried out using Forest Research's BEETLE (Biological and Environmental Tools for Landscape Ecology) tools, coupled with Habitat Survey of Wales digital dataset (Phase 1). The model is based on species characteristics, taking into account a minimum habitat area and the relative ecological cost of different habitats- relates to ease of movement through different land cover types, expressed in terms of dispersal distance in metres over a 50 year timescale. In simple terms it draws a 'buffer' around habitat patches, the width of which depends upon the assumed permeability of the intervening habitats. When buffers around patches overlap the habitat patches are considered to be part of the same habitat network with many species potentially able to move between all habitat patches within it. This project uses data from Phase 1 Habitat Survey of welsh woodlands, grasslands, heathlands and bogs and fens, supplemented with National Forest Inventory data for woodland.
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2022-06-27
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2008-01-01
- End date
- 2018-05-23
- Topic category
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- Imagery base maps earth cover
- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Vertical Extent
- Medin Extent Keyword
Distribution
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
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Geographic Information System
()
- Specification
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ESRI Feature Class
-
Geographic Information System
()
- Resource Locator
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View and Download Data
World Wide Web page
- Resource Locator
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Web Mapping Service
World Wide Web page
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Lineage
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'Least-cost' modelling was carried out using Forest Research's BEETLE (Biological and Environmental Tools for Landscape Ecology) tools, coupled with Habitat Survey of Wales digital dataset (Phase 1). The model is based on species characteristics, taking into account a minimum habitat area and the relative ecological cost of different habitats- relates to ease of movement through different land cover types, expressed in terms of dispersal distance in metres over a 50 year timescale. In simple terms it draws a 'buffer' around habitat patches, the width of which depends upon the assumed permeability of the intervening habitats. When buffers around patches overlap the habitat patches are considered to be part of the same habitat network with many species potentially able to move between all habitat patches within it. This project uses data from Phase 1 Habitat Survey of welsh woodlands, grasslands, heathlands and bogs and fens, supplemented with National Forest Inventory data for woodland.
Keywords
Keywords
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NRW Thesaurus
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- habitat networks
- habitats (see also specific types of habitats)
- mapping (map drawing) (cartography)(see also digital mapping)
- habitat corridors
- ecological connectivity
- wildlife corridors
- 3rd Party Data
- stepping stones
- Resilience
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-04-09
Keywords
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NRW SMNR Keywords
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- Mountains, Moorland and Heaths (SMNR)
- Woodlands (SMNR)
- Sea and Coast (SMNR)
- Soil and Land (SMNR)
- Physical Geography (Physiography) (SMNR)
- Management Areas (SMNR)
- Ecosystem Services (SMNR)
- Coastal Margins (SMNR)
- Climate (SMNR)
- Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
- Air (SMNR)
- Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR)
- Water Resources (SMNR)
- Semi-natural Grasslands (SMNR)
- Natural Resources (Incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR)
- Soils (SMNR)
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-03-05
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
- NRW Related Title
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Ecological connectivity in Wales : planning action to help terrestrial biodiversity respond to habitat fragmentation and climate change = Cysyclltedd ecolegol yng Nhgymru : cynllunio camau gweithredu er mwyn cynorthwyo bioamyrwiaeth y ddaer i ymateb i ddarnio cynefinoedd a newid yn yr hinsawdd
- NRW Related Title
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Ecological connectivity and biodiversity prioritisation in the terrestrial environment in Wales
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- no limitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
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There are no access restrictions on this data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate it freely.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
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© CNC/NRW Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing it is done so, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
Attribution Statement
- Other constraints
- Open Government Licence (OGL)
Licence
- Other constraints
- Open Government Licence (OGL)
Metadata
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313130353031 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Parent Identifier
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Terrestrial Phase 1 Habitat Survey
NRW_DS24715
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2024-05-31T09:26:49.422Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
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1.0