Natural Heritage Research and Development

                                        

Latest News...........

• On 2nd October 2008 we published a new report in the Research and Development Series The car based bat monitoring scheme: summary report for Northern Ireland 2007  554 kb pdf. This report presents bat diversity and encouter rates during the study for 2007.                                      

• On 22nd July 2008 we published a new report in the Research and Development Series Wood Pasture and Parkland Scoping Study 2006. pdf 644kb. This report documents the high biodiversity value of parklands and their veteran trees.                                                                                                                                              

• On 16th April 2008, EHS Natural Heritage hosted a Research & Development Conference in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast. The conference highlighted the diversity of research carried out by EHS staff, partner organisations and contractors, and placed it in a UK and international context. Conference webpage

• On Feb 29th 2008 we published a new report in the Research and Development series "Review of marine turtle records in Northern Ireland"  (author Gabriel King) (pdf 2Mb)  . This report documents 65 new records of marine turtles , 24 of which are new for Northern Ireland.                                  

• During the summer of 2007, 0.5% of the land in the province was surveyed for the Northern Ireland Countryside Survey (NICS). This large scale research project is undertaken every ten years to catalogue habitats and land use in Northern Ireland and to detect any changes over time. The NICS is funded by EHS and undertaken by the University of Ulster. More details can be found at the  EHS Northern Ireland Countryside Survey webpages

Why does Natural Heritage carry out Research and Development?

Research is the scientific backbone of Natural Heritage. It underpins the work of all the units within Natural Heritage, whether this research is carried out by our own staff, academic institutions or by other means.

Development is the glue which holds the scientific information base together. It involves the use and management of the data we gather.

We define research and development as:

"Knowledge and data acquisition, analysis and development underpinning biodiversity and earth science action and access to and enjoyment of the countryside".

It should be stressed that research and development activity in Natural Heritage is not restricted to that which we procure.  A large amount of research and development is carried out by in-house staff.

For more information about the future direction of our research please go to  Natural Heritage Research and Development Strategy  (466kb) or alternately follow the publications tab above and search for research and development.

The information gathered through research is used on a daily basis by Natural Heritage staff to:

• Inform the delivery of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy.
• Make decisions on the impact of development on nature conservation, landscape and countryside matters.
• Inform the development of environmental policy.
• Formally protect or designate sites.
• Inform the monitoring and management of designated sites.
• Monitor changes in the natural environment as a whole.
• Facilitate sustainable use and enjoyment of the countryside.

Our research is categorised into 11 principal areas as follows:

Biological basics

Taxonomic knowledge is the basis of much of our biodiversity agenda. This programme area includes the support and development of taxonomic research, biological recording and dissemination of taxonomic related data e.g. distribution, species status etc. It also includes includes the encouragement of biological recording through support and development of CEDaR.CEDaR website

Habitat and species survey.

This is largely the procurement of field survey support, where this cannot be done in-house. It includes all habitat types and may often be carried out in conjunction with other broader biodiversity related research activities. Examples include surveys of rare taxa in support of ASSI designations, Phase 1 surveys, surveys to identify Sites of Local Nature Conservation Importance (SLNCIs), marine surveys etc.

                 

Earth science research

Research activity in the area of earth science, geomorphology, soil science etc, in support of both site based protection and developmental control.

            

Biodiversity research

This is a particularly broad research area and has many overlapping areas. It fundamentally relates to the gathering of scientific information to underpin the work of conserving the natural heritage of Northern Ireland. Particular research elements will include detailed research in support of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy. It also includes large repeat environmental audits, such as  the NICS and most of the work carried out within Quercus. Quercus website

                 

Monitoring of protected sites

This is largely the procurement of monitoring support, where this cannot be done in-house. It includes all habitat types and may be carried out in conjunction with other biodiversity related research activities. It also includes elements of research required to validate current condition assessment methodologies.

             

Site management research

Investigations into best practice for site management often happens at a UK level. This research area deals with the practical application of science to habitat and species management on protected sites. There is some overlap with the Biodiversity programme area and often individual projects address many aspects with applied site management the end result.

                

Landscape, countryside and socio-economic research

This includes research into the impact of development, socio-economic benefits of biodiversity, ecosystem approach, assessment of effectiveness of protected areas, market research and other countryside wide policy research. There are links to some aspects of Broad Biodiversity research e.g.NICS.

                   

Access

This includes a variety of research on recreation in and access to, the countryside. Also included in this area is research associated with visitor appreciation and enjoyment.

                

Impacts of global environmental change

This programme area includes modelling the potential effects of climate change, changing patterns of land use etc. Such research will usually be carried out in conjunction with other funding and research bodies.

                    

Data management

This includes development areas surrounding data storage infrastructure and ongoing support structures for large data sets e.g. Site monitoring data, CEDaR, the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) and GIS.  It also includes the purchase of software and mapping licenses and aerial photography.

                    

Technology development

Development of existing and introduction of new technologies, e.g. web mapping, web based database interfaces, GPS etc in support of the data we collect, analyse and disseminate.