Priority Ecological Networks
Priority Ecological Networks (PENs) in the terrestrial environment are versions of the all-Wales habitat networks that show areas of connectivity between Protected Sites, and as such provide a framework to inform the location of action to build functional resilient ecological networks based on our most important places for biodiversity. Typical actions would be habitat improvement, restoration, or creation, located within the boundaries of a PEN, or situated at its margins to consolidate, extend, or link different PENs. These PENs supersede the GIS layers that were previously known as ‘Level 2 networks’, and are available for:
Native woodland; Semi-natural grassland; Heathland; Bog; Fen and Sand Dune.
All these priority networks are also represented as a ‘PEN Hotspot’ map, which is a simple count of all available networks within a given 1km square for an ‘at a glance’ view across Wales.
In addition, the ‘native woodland’ and ‘semi-natural grassland’ PENs have both received updates in the form of additional networks to accommodate our latest protected sites series and survey information and expand beyond what was originally available. Heathland, Bog and Fen have been merged from their originally separate upland and lowland versions into singular datasets and a previously unreleased ‘sand dune’ network is also now included. A Freshwater PEN is planned.
At sea, an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas (MPAs) has been established which, when measures are in place to bring about good condition, will form the marine Resilient Ecological Network.
Connectivity within the MPA Network is inherently good, however some of the features (species and habitats for which the sites are designated) are known to be in unfavourable condition.
The Marine Priority Ecological Network (MPEN) map shows the full extent of the MPA network, highlighting the sites where one or more features are known to be in unfavourable condition. In the highlighted areas, action is needed to deliver measures that restore features, reduce pressures to enable their recovery, or gather evidence needed to support effective management.
NRW continues to gather and assess information about the condition of habitats and species across the MPA network. Future iterations of the MPEN will incorporate new evidence and understanding as it becomes available.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS125572
- Alternative Title
-
- Priority Ecological Networks (PENs)
- Bog PEN 2023.lyr
- Fen PEN 2023.lyr
- Heathland PEN 2023.lyr
- Marine PEN 2023.lyr
- Native Woodland PEN 2023.lyr
- PEN Hotspot 2023.lyr
- Sand Dune PEN 2023.lyr
- Semi-natural Grassland PEN 2023.lyr
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
These individual map layers are a modelled description of current connectivity between habitats and as such should be considered as descriptive, rather than prescriptive!
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2023-08-03
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2008-01-01
- End date
- 2023-05-23
- Topic category
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- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Distribution
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Geographic Information System
(
)
- Specification
-
ESRI Feature Class
-
Geographic Information System
(
)
- Resource Locator
- View and Download ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
- Resource Locator
- Web Mapping Service ( OGC:WMS )
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Lineage
-
These individual map layers are a modelled description of current connectivity between habitats and as such should be considered as descriptive, rather than prescriptive!
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
-
NRW Thesaurus
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- heathland (heaths)
- heathland management
- habitat networks
- habitats (see also specific types of habitats)
- fens
- blanket bogs (blanket mires)
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-06-19
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
Constraints
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 copyright of the owners. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
Attribution Statement
- Other constraints
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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
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313235353732 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2024-07-24T16:11:57.47Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0