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 through Resilient Ecological Networks (RENs). A major part of this is to counteract the negative impacts of habitat fragmentation (reduction in are and increase in isolation). Modelled habitat networks can provide insights into how landscapes are likely to be functioning and inform the location of actions to improve the connectivity and resilience of protected sites.

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).

These habitat networks also form the basis of ‘Priority Ecological Networks’ (PENs), a subset of the ‘focal’ networks described above which have been selected against our suite of Protected Sites.

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.

Identifier: NRW_DS110501

Alternative Title

Habitat Networks Lowland
Habitat Networks Upland
Connectivity layers
Habitat Networks all Wales

Metadata Language: English

Lineage: '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. It 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

Imagery base maps earth cover
Biota

Owner

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Originator

Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)

Countryside Council for Wales, Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW

http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/

Originator

Forestry Commission Wales

Forestry Commission Wales, 6 Victoria Terrace, Aberystwyth, SY23 2DQ

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/wales

Originator

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Extent

Geographic Extent: Wales (WLS)

Vertical Extent

Medin Extent Keyword

Distribution

Format Type and Description

Geographic Information System ( )

Specification

ESRI Feature Class

Resource Locator: View and Download ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )

Resource Locator: Web Mapping Service ( OGC:WMS )

Data quality

Quality Scope: Dataset

Conformity: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Explanation
Degree: false

Lineage: '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. It 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

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2008-06-01

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme

Keywords

NRW Thesaurus

mapping (map drawing) (cartography)(see also digital mapping)
habitat networks
ecological connectivity
habitats (see also specific types of habitats)
habitat corridors
Resilience
wildlife corridors
3rd Party Data
stepping stones

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2024-06-19

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-keywords

Keywords

NRW SMNR Keywords

Ecosystem Services (SMNR)
Water Resources (SMNR)
Climate (SMNR)
Mountains, Moorland and Heaths (SMNR)
Soils (SMNR)
Animals, Plants and Other Organisms (SMNR)
Sea and Coast (SMNR)
Semi-natural Grasslands (SMNR)
Woodlands (SMNR)
Management Areas (SMNR)
Natural Resources (Incl. Features and Processes) (SMNR)
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR)
Coastal Margins (SMNR)
Air (SMNR)
Soil and Land (SMNR)
Physical Geography (Physiography) (SMNR)

Type: Theme

Citation

Date (Publication): 2024-06-26

Code: geonetwork.thesaurus.local.theme.converted_nrw-smnr-keywords

Code: British National Grid (EPSG::27700)

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

NRW Related Title: 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: Ecological connectivity and biodiversity prioritisation in the terrestrial environment in Wales

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Restriction type: Other restrictions

Access Constraints Directive

Limitations: no limitations

Access Constraints Text

Other constraints: 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: © CNC/NRW All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right. 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: Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights Reserved. Contains Ordnance Survey Data. Ordnance Survey Licence number AC0000849444. Crown Copyright and Database Right.

Licence

Other constraints: Open Government Licence

Metadata

File Identifier: 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313130353031 XML

Metadata Language: English

Resource type: Dataset

Metadata Date: 2024-08-07T13:48:04.431Z

Metadata Standard Name: NRW

Metadata Standard Version: 1.0

pointOfContact

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Maes-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DW, Wales

http://naturalresources.wales/?lang=en

Publishing Body

Access the portal

Full access to the portal and metadata.

Modelling of Habitat Networks for Welsh Woodlands, Grasslands, Heathlands, Bogs and Fens

Identification

Temporal Extent

Extent

Extent

Vertical Extent

Distribution

Distribution

Quality

Data quality

Keywords

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Keywords

Citation

Spatial Reference System

Content

Content Information

NRW Profile

Custom Elements

Constraints

Constraints

Limitations on Public Access and Use

Access Constraints Directive

Access Constraints Text

Use Constraints

Attribution Statement

Licence

Metadata

Metadata

Publishing Body