UsefulLinks
Factor/Node Definition
Biodiversity of Species
Invasive non-native species and disease
Human introductions
Climate change non-native species incursion
The variety and different types of living things (species) that exist in a particular area. It's about the richness of life forms, from tiny microorganisms to large animals and plants, all working together to create a balanced and thriving environment.
A type of organism (plant or animal) or disease that does not occur naturally in an area but has been introduced as the result of deliberate or accidental human activities. They can cause harm to the environment if they outcompete other native species to dominate, causing damage to an ecosystem.
Natural England Access to Evidence - Invasive nonnative species
Biosecurity
Targeted management
Native species assemblages
Recreational disturbance
Unsustainable exploitation of species
Pollution (noise, light, water)
Rare and threatened habitat protection
Targeted species management & reintroduction
Climate change species distribution & displacement
Climate change changes in seasonality
Barriers to movement
Intensity of land management
Pesticide & herbicide use, impact on pollinators
Habitat extent – more and bigger
Amount of different habitats
When people intentionally or accidentally bring plants, animals, or other living things from one place to another. These introduced species can sometimes harm the new environment they end up in. This can lead to a reduction in overall biodiversity in an ecosystem, as native species struggle to survive or are pushed out by introduced species.
Climate change prompts non-native species to migrate to new areas, thriving due to altered conditions. This migration disrupts local ecosystems, leading to competition, disease spread, and imbalance. However, some non-native species may benefit or pose no harm, highlighting the complexity of environmental shifts and their impact on native biodiversity.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fe21ad 5e90e07452ec36f1f/animals-plants-biosecuritynarrative.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fe21ad 5e90e07452ec36f1f/animals-plants-biosecuritynarrative.pdf
Taking measures such as inspections, quarantines, and other strategies to prevent and control the spread of harmful organisms such as diseases, pests, or invasive species. By safeguarding ecosystems biosecurity preserves biodiversity, maintains ecological balance, and ensures the health of natural habitats, benefiting nature's stability and resilience.
Using specific strategies and actions to control or deal with plants, animals, or diseases that have been introduced to an area where they don't naturally belong. Management is tailored to the problems posed by these introductions to reduce their impact on the environment. This might involve methods like the removal of invasive species or implementing measures to prevent their further spread.
Groups of plants, animals and microorganisms that has evolved naturally overtime in a particular region, or habitat without human introduction. The more ‘natural’ the communities of plant and animal species and their interactions in a place, the more resilient they are likely to be to climate change and other pressures.
The negative impact on the variety of life in an ecosystem that happens when people engage in leisure activities, like hiking, camping, or off-road driving. These activities can harm plants, animals, and their habitats, leading to a reduction in the overall diversity and balance of the ecosystem.
Using plants or animals in a way that can't be kept up over time without causing harm, such as harvesting or catching them for food. The use of species needs to be in a balanced way to make sure they can continue to thrive in the long run.
The negative effects that loud sounds, excessive artificial light, and contaminated water can have on the variety of life in an ecosystem. These types of pollution can disturb and harm plants, animals, and their habitats, leading to imbalances in the ecosystem and the loss of biodiversity.
Taking actions to safeguard uncommon or in danger of disappearing, places in nature where specific plant, animal species live. The aim is to prevent them from being destroyed or degraded by human activities or other factors, so that they can continue to support their unique forms of life and contribute to overall biodiversity.
Helping specific plants or animal species by looking after their populations in their natural habitats or in special facilities or reintroducing them to places where they used to live.
Changes in where and how animals and plants live due to shifts in the Earth's climate, often forcing them to move to new areas or causing some to disappear from their usual habitats.
The usual timing and patterns of seasons shift and become different due to the changing climate meaning that certain seasons start earlier or later than they used to, or that seasonal the weather patterns change. These shifts in seasonality can have effects on things like plant growth or animal behaviours that rely on specific seasonal conditions.
Obstacles or things that make it difficult for plants, animals to travel from one place to another. Physical or inhospitable barriers like mountains, rivers, or urban areas, or human activities like busy roads or noisy construction sites can limit the natural movement of species, which can have implications for their ability to thrive.
The way people use and manage land affects the diversity and abundance of living things. Some species may benefit from these changes and thrive, while others may suffer or disappear. The more intense land management is, the greater the positive or negative effect on the species that live there.
Chemicals that are used to kill or control insects, rodents, or unwanted plants can harm creatures like bees, butterflies, and birds that move pollen from one flower to another, helping plants make fruits and seeds. If pollinators are hurt, it can affect our ability to grow food, and it can also disrupt the whole ecosystem.
The size of area and number of places where specific plants and animals live (habitats). “More and bigger” refers to increasing the abundance of habitats and making them larger to provide more room for natural ecosystems, enabling diverse plant and animal species to thrive, promoting healthier and balanced environments.
Having various types of environments, like forests, wetlands, and grasslands, in one area. Habitat diversity benefits nature by providing homes and food for different plants and animals. This diversity strengthens ecosystems, making them more resilient to changes, and ensures a healthy balance in nature.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plantbiosecurity-strategy-for-great-britain-2023-to-2028
‘Making space for nature’: a review of England's wildlife sites published today - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Climate change (sea level rise)
Coastal erosion and coastal squeeze
Habitat creation & restoration inc. urban green space
Climate change is causing sea water levels to get higher overtime. This affects plants and animals that rely on specific natural environments, along the coast or in the sea, to live. Sea level rise may force them to move to new areas or cause some to disappear if their usual habitats are lost.
The wearing away of land along a coast by the action of waves, currents, tides, and other natural forces, can lead to the loss of beaches, cliffs, and other coastal land over time. As sea levels rise, the area where coastal habitats can exist gets smaller, often resulting in the "squeezing out" of these habitats between the advancing sea and fixed barriers like sea walls or buildings. This can lead to a loss of valuable and diverse coastal environments.
The process of making new places or improving existing places in nature that have been damaged or changed so that plants, animals, and other living things can live and thrive. It means more nature. In urban areas (towns and cities) this can help to protect, connect, and help increase biodiversity leading to an increase in the overall diversity and balance of ecosystems.
Agricultural land use
Climate change seasonal crop choice
Population growth & dietary change
Geopolitical technological & economic affairs
Climate change (temperature and rainfall)
How people use land for farming and growing crops for food and fuel or raising animals can impact the natural homes and environments of plants and animals. When land is turned into farms, it can change the places where animals and plants live. These changes can sometimes harm the habitats that animals and plants need to survive and thrive.
Shifts in weather patterns caused by climate change are affecting when and what crops can be planted and harvested. Farmers are adjusting the types of crops they grow and the times they grow them to adapt to these changing climate conditions. This can affect the nature that farmed environments support by changing habitats and overall interactions within ecosystems.
As the human population gets bigger, the way people eat is also changing. This shift in eating habits can influence the overall demand for certain foods and impact the way food is produced. This can increase pressure on natural habitats as more land is transformed for agricultural purposes to meet food demand. This can lead to habitat loss, degradation, and changes that impact wildlife populations and the delicate balance of ecosystems.
Country’s decisions are influenced by geography, technological advancements, and economic activities. These decisions can directly and indirectly affect habitats. Impacts may be negative and include habitat loss, pollution, and ecosystem disruption. However, these factors can also contribute positively to habitat preservation and conservation efforts.
Changes in the temperature and rainfall caused by climate change impacts the natural places where plants and animals live, by affecting the conditions that species have adapted to rely on. Habitats can become less suitable for the plants and animals that call them home. This can lead to shifts in where different species live and changes in the way ecosystems work.
Plantation forestry
Urban/ industrial development & biodiversity net
When trees are grown in large, organized groups or plantations, to produce wood and other forest products they are typically single species stands of non-native trees. They provide limited habitat diversity and support less biodiversity compared to natural woodland. When semi-natural habitats are converted into forestry plantations, it can lead to lead to the displacement or loss of native plant and animal species that rely on diverse ecosystems.
When development happens, it can lead to the loss of natural habitats. BNG is an approach to development, and/or land management, that aims to leave the natural environment in a better state than it was beforehand. When biodiversity net gain is practiced, it means creating new natural areas or improving existing ones, either on the site or somewhere else, to help balance the loss of nature. It aims to benefit overall biodiversity in the long run.
https://cieem.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/C776aBiodiversity-net-gain.-Good-practice-principles-fordevelopment.-A-practical-guide-web.pdf
Offshore development
Flood prevention infrastructure
Unsustainable use (overfishing, hunting, harvesting)
Land drainage, reclamation, mineral & peat extraction
Joined up habitat
Joined up habitat patches
Urban development
When building structures like oil rigs or wind farms, take place in the sea away from the shoreline, it can disrupt or damage underwater habitats, seafloor ecosystems, and wildlife breeding and feeding areas. Offshore developments like artificial reefs, can also be designed to enhance or create new habitats for marine life, so impacts on habitats varies depending on the specific development and how it's managed.
Structures and systems built to stop or reduce flooding. These can alter the natural flow of rivers and water bodies, restrict the natural flooding cycles of floodplains, and create barriers for wildlife movement, disrupting or destroying habitats and affecting wildlife that depend on these areas. Well-designed and managed flood prevention infrastructure can include natural features designed to mitigate these impacts and protect or restore habitats for wildlife, so the effects on nature can vary depending on the types of infrastructure.
Taking too much from nature, like catching too many fish, hunting too many animals, or harvesting too many plants, in a way that doesn't leave enough for them to reproduce and thrive naturally can upset the balance of nature. This can affect the amount and health of different habitats. Sustainable practices are important to ensure that we use natural resources in a way that doesn't harm these habitats and the wildlife they support.
Land drainage and reclamation can change wetlands and marshes into dry land. Mineral and peat extraction involve removing parts of the earth. These activities can disrupt habitats and displace the plants and animals that depend on those wet environments. It's important to manage these activities carefully to minimize their negative effects on different habitats and the species that rely on them.
Connecting different areas of natural living spaces, like woodland, or grasslands, sometimes through the provision of ‘steppingstones’ and a more hospitable landscape, helps plants and animals move between them easily. This helps create a larger and healthier environment, allowing species to find food, mates, and shelter while supporting a more diverse and balanced ecosystem.
Creating bigger and more interconnected homes for various species. Species stuck in isolated patches of habitat find it hard to survive long term. These connected patches of habitat are essential because they provide larger, healthier, environments for plants and animals to live in, supporting a more diverse and balanced ecosystem.
Building houses, roads or other urban infrastructure can break apart or separate areas of natural habitat that were once connected. This can make it harder for plants and animals to move around and find what they need to survive. This can disrupt the flow of life in these habitat patches and make it more challenging for wildlife to thrive.
‘Making space for nature’: a review of England's wildlife sites published today - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
‘Making space for nature’: a review of England's wildlife sites published today - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Transport routes
Agricultural land use
Steppingstone habitat creation & restoration
Roads, railways, highways can cut through and disrupt joined-up habitats by breaking them into smaller, isolated pieces. They can create barriers that interrupt the connectedness of natural areas, making it difficult for wildlife to move freely between different parts of their habitat or between habitats, which can weaken ecosystems.
How land is used for farming activities can disrupt the interconnectedness of habitats by altering the landscape. Converting natural areas into farms or fields can create inhospitable barriers for wildlife, making it harder for them to move between different parts of their habitat. The use of pesticides or fertilizers that can also harm the wildlife in nearby connected habitats.
The deliberate creation or restoration of small patches of natural habitat in areas that might not be connected to larger natural areas. These habitat patches can help wildlife, such as birds and bats, that are able to move between different areas, to do so. It can help maintain or rebuild the interconnectedness of habitats, which is vital for biodiversity and the health of ecosystems.
Nature Networks Evidence Handbook - NERR081
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/ 6105140258144256
Strips of land, made up of vegetation or natural features, that connect different natural habitats. These can act as vital connections between different parts of the environment, increasing the chances for some species to disperse between habitat patches and colonise new ones. They can help species to find food and interact with others of their kind maintaining healthy populations. Natural corridors are better than human designed corridors. Corridor habitats need to match the habitats that they link, and they need to be of a sufficient scale to benefit nature.
Nature Networks Evidence Handbook - NERR081
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/ 6105140258144256
Natural corridors
Permeability of wider landscape for wildlife movement
How easy or difficult it is for wildlife to move around in a larger area to find the resources they need to thrive. If the landscape is more natural and more hospitable for nature, wildlife can easily move through it without facing many obstacles. Working landscapes can be more inhospitable to nature, and wildlife might encounter barriers that make it hard for them to move freely.
Intensity of agriculture
Green infrastructure
Land – sea connectivity
How intensely farming is done, including how often crops are planted, how much fertilizer and pesticides are used, and how many animals are raised in an area. High intensity can cause pollution, harm soil and habitats and reduce wildlife movement through the landscape, making it harder for them to find food, mates, and safe places to live. Low intensity can better support nature.
The natural or semi-natural features within urban or developed areas that provide benefits and help make these areas more environmentally friendly and sustainable. They help to make urban environments more permeable and connected for wildlife movement, which is crucial for maintaining biodiversity in developed areas. More nature, more access to nature, more benefits from nature - for climate, health and prosperity.
How land and coastal/marine water environments connect with each other. If these environments are connected, species can move effectively between them. If connectivity is disrupted by things like coastal development or flood barriers, it can hinder wildlife movement and disrupt ecosystems. Maintaining a healthy connection between land and sea is crucial to the survival of many species.
Small, isolated oases of natural environment within a larger, often developed landscape. Their scale and separation from other habitats mean that there are limitations on how much nature they can support. They can play a crucial role in allowing wildlife to move through developed or fragmented landscapes and can provide opportunities for nature to expand and grow to create larger places that benefit biodiversity.
GI Design Guide
https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/GreenInf rastructure/DesignGuide.aspx
Habitat pockets
Vegetation complexity
Messy nature
Rewilding
Upland & game management
Woodland management
Intensity of agriculture
When there is a variety of plants in an area, and they are arranged in different ways, like different heights and layers or mosaics of different habitats. The combination of different sizes, shapes and varieties creates a more intricate and diverse landscape. This diversity helps support ecosystem resilience, allowing species to thrive in the face of change and so benefiting the overall health of ecosystems.
The natural environment not looking perfectly neat or organized, but instead has a diverse mix of plants, fallen leaves, branches, and various elements that might seem disorderly. This is important because it provides habitats and resources for a wide range of species, contributing to a thriving and balanced ecosystem.
Restoring an area by allowing nature to take care of itself, enabling natural processes to shape land and sea, repair damaged ecosystems and restore degraded landscapes to a more natural and wild state. This can be achieved with different degrees of human intervention which may involve the planned reintroduction of wild species that have previously been lost from an area. It creates healthier, more biodiverse environments.
The management of wildlife populations, for hunting e.g., management for grouse in uplands, or pheasants in lowlands. These practices can influence the balance of species and ecosystems by altering habitats, introducing invasive species, changing human interactions with wildlife, and influencing conservation efforts. The effects on nature depend on specific management practices and their ecological outcomes.
The caring for and maintenance of woods and forests. The clearance or planting of trees can alter woodland structures, affecting wildlife and plant diversity. Removing certain trees or plants such as non-natives through practices like selective cutting and replanting with native species or leaving dead wood and fallen trees in situ can strengthening the habitat and complexity of resources available to wildlife allowing nature to thrive.
How intensely farming is done, including how often crops are planted, the number of different crops, how much fertilizer and pesticides are used, and how many animals are raised in an area. High intensity can result in single species or monoculture farming practices that reduce plant diversity and simplify ecosystems reducing wildlife diversity. Low intensity is more diverse, helping the farmed landscape support more nature.
The general opinions, beliefs, and principles held by most people in a community or culture. It’s about how they feel and think about various topics, issues, and behaviours. These attitudes and values shape how people interact with each other, make decisions, and view different aspects of life.
The opinions and feelings that people in the general public have, as well as what they know or understand about a particular subject or topic. These attitudes and knowledge levels can vary from person to person and can influence how people react, make decisions, or engage with various issues including those that affect nature. This can have an impact on decisions for nature and what is considered acceptable.
Nature Networks Evidence Handbook - NERR081
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/ 6105140258144256
Nature Networks Evidence Handbook - NERR081
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/ 6105140258144256
https://cieem.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CIEEMRewilding-PS-2020.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/managing-andmaintaining-woodlands-overview and https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61a78df 6e90e07043c35f48a/Managing_seminatural_woodland_in_England.pdf
Activism
Access to green and blue space
Sense of heritage and stewardship
Understanding of health and wellbeing benefits
Education and citizen science
Tourism and recreation demand, habitat disturbance
Maintenance, restoration and protection of nature
Green space maintenance, green city and active travel initiatives
National Parks and Protected Landscapes/sites
Tourism and recreation demand, habitat disturbance
Charity and community projects
Air quality
Pollution – air quality
Agricultural pollution
Transport urban and industrial emissions
Actions taken by individuals or groups to bring attention to and create change in social or environmental issues. This can lead to awareness, policy changes, and conservation efforts that protect nature, combat pollution, and address ecological issues. It can also have negative effects e.g. by influencing inappropriate action that can damage nature or block things that could be go for nature.
The opportunity for people to reach natural areas like parks, woodland, and water bodies. Easy access to these places encourages people to appreciate and engage with nature, they need to be close to where people live. Fostering public support for conservation and encouraging people to protect the environment.
Feeling a connection to nature's history and feeling responsible for taking care of it. These feelings encourage people to protect and conserve nature, valuing it for future generations.
Knowing that spending time in nature can improve mental, emotional, and physical health. This understanding can motivate people to value and seek out nature, recognising its positive impact on their well-being and fostering a greater appreciation and care for natural environments.
Learning about nature and participating in scientific activities as a regular person, not just a scientist. By engaging people with nature, making them more aware, knowledgeable, and connected, this can lead to increased support for conservation and environmental protection.
The desire for leisure activities and travel experiences in natural settings. Activities that cater for this can disrupt or harm natural habitats. High demand can lead to overuse and habitat damage, affecting attitudes when people witness the negative impacts, potentially prompting conservation awareness or apathy.
Taking care of nature involves looking after it day-to-day to keep it healthy, fixing what's broken, and making sure it's safe from harm. This includes not harming plants and animals, managing habitats for conservation purposes to support different groups of species, and using natural resources like water wisely to support ecosystem resilience.
Keeping parks and natural areas clean and well-kept along with urban planning efforts to create green, pedestrian-friendly cities. Encouraging people to walk or cycle instead of driving, can support nature by helping to preserve green spaces, reduce pollution, and make urban areas more eco-friendly, promoting habitat maintenance, restoration, and protection.
Special areas set aside by governments to safeguard natural beauty and ecosystems. These protected areas prioritise nature conservation, limiting human activities that harm ecosystems, and inspire appreciation and understanding of nature. They shape positive societal attitudes and values toward conservation and stewardship thereby facilitating maintenance, restoration, and protection of nature.
The desire for outdoor activities and travel experiences in natural places can disrupt or harm natural habitats. High demand can lead to habitat damage, but managed sustainably, it can fund conservation efforts, supporting maintenance, restoration, and protection of nature.
Initiatives by non-profit organisations and local groups to support nature conservation. These projects can provide funding, labour, and advocacy for maintenance, restoration, and protection of natural environments, benefiting ecosystems and raising public awareness.
How clean or polluted the air is. The presence of different substances in the air, such as pollutants and particles, can affect the environment. Good air quality benefits nature by keeping plants healthy, supporting animal habitats, and maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Poor air quality can damage plants, soil, and water, disrupting ecosystems, affecting the balance of various species and the overall health of natural environments.
The presence of harmful substances in the air, called pollutants. They can come from things like vehicles, factories, and natural sources. These substances include compounds like nitrogen and sulphur that can be absorbed in water vapour and then be deposited into the natural environment through rainfall. This can have the effect of damaging habitats and the nature they support.
Contaminants, like pesticides and fertilizers, released from farming activities that can harm the environment. Agricultural pollution can contribute to poor air quality when substances that easily turn into vapours or gases known as volatile chemicals evaporate into the air and react to form pollutants. These can be inhaled by animals causing harm, settle on plants, affecting their growth and settle in water bodies harming aquatic life, impacting the environment, and disrupting ecosystems.
Pollutants released into the air from vehicles and factories like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides increases pollution and negatively impacts air quality. Harmful gas and particle emissions can be inhaled by animals causing harm. They can be absorbed in water vapour and returned to the land as acid rain affecting soil pH and making it less suitable for plants. They, settle on plants affecting their growth and settle in water bodies harming aquatic life.
Tree planting and green infrastructure
Soil and Sediment
Green infrastructure is a network of multi-functional green space and other green features including parks, open spaces, playing fields, woodlands, street trees, allotments, private gardens, green roofs/walls and sustainable drainage systems. It includes rivers, streams, canals and other water bodies, sometimes called ‘blue infrastructure’. Planting trees and creating natural spaces within urban areas can improve air quality through the trees and plants absorbing harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, and cooling air by providing shade, delivering benefits to nature.
Soil is made up of a combination of tiny pieces of rock, minerals, organic matter like dead plants and animals, air, water and living organisms. Sediment is small particles of dirt, sand, and other materials that settle at the bottom of bodies of water. They hold water and provide plants with essential minerals and nutrients to help them grow
Soil pollution, is when the top layer of the ground where plants grow, has been contaminated by harmful substances like chemicals, waste, or pollutants. Sediment pollution is when sediment that settles at the bottom of water bodies like rivers, lakes, or oceans, gets polluted with harmful materials, making the water unhealthy for nature.
GI Design Guide
https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/GreenInf rastructure/DesignGuide.aspx
Industrial mining and marine contaminants
Atmospheric pollution (nitrogen, CO2, sulphur)
Agricultural inputs
Soil erosion
Climate change rainfall
Deforestation
Agricultural land use and practices
Soil and sediment structure
Agricultural inputs
Organic matter and microflora
Trawling and dredging
Ploughing and soil compaction
Water Quality
Pollution – water quality
Nature based solutions
Marine plastics and litter
Climate change temperature, salinity, turbidity, acidification
Dredging, trawling, and shipping/boating contaminants
Agricultural inputs runoff
Sewage discharges and wastewater
Pollutants released from extracting valuable minerals or other geological materials from underground and industrial activities at sea if released directly into the environment they can contaminate soil and sediment, making them toxic to plants and aquatic life. This pollution disrupts ecosystems and harms biodiversity.
Gases and particles released into the air from various sources. When these pollutants settle, they can alter soil and sediment chemistry, making them more acidic or nutrient-rich, which can affect plant growth and harm aquatic life if washed into water bodies.
Substances like fertilizers and pesticides used in farming to generally improve production. When excess amounts of some of these inputs get washed into soil and water, they can harm ecosystems by causing nutrient imbalances, polluting water bodies, and harming aquatic life, impacting soil and sediment quality.
When the top layer of soil gets worn away and carried off by things like water, wind, or by the activities of animals or humans. This can cause problems for plants, the environment as the loss and even human structures.
Altered rainfall patterns due to global warming can include intense rainfall events which can erode soil and sediment, leading to loss of fertile topsoil and changes in soil structure, making it less able to support plant growth and increasing the risk of landslides and sediment pollution in water bodies.
Climate Change Adaptation Manual - NE751
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/ 5679197848862720
Hydrology
The removal of trees and vegetation from an area can increases soil erosion because trees, which help hold soil in place with their roots, are removed. Without these roots, rain and wind can wash or blow away the bare topsoil, making land less fertile and causing problems downstream like sedimentation in rivers, negatively impacting ecosystems.
How land is used for farming and the methods employed to farm. Practices like overgrazing, ploughing steep slopes, and not using protective measures to help conserve the soil, can lead to soil erosion. This results in the loss of fertile topsoil and degradation of farmland, negatively impacting ecosystems.
The way soil sediment particles stick together to form larger clumps or accumulate to form layers. This arrangement affects how water, air, and plant roots can move through the soil sediment. Good structure allowing the free movement of air and water is important for healthy plant growth, reducing runoff and healthy functioning ecosystems.
Substances like fertilizers and pesticides used in farming. When overused or mismanaged, they can lead to soil and sediment pollution, altering soil structure, and harming aquatic ecosystems. This affects soil quality, reducing its ability to support plant growth, impacting water bodies, negatively impacting ecosystems.
Decaying plant and animal material in soil and tiny organisms like bacteria and fungi. They improve soil structure, retaining water and nutrients, which benefits plant growth. They also break down organic matter, releasing nutrients and improving soil health while reducing erosion and sediment runoff, positively impacting ecosystems.
Dragging nets or equipment along the seabed to catch fish or harvest resources. These actions can disrupt seabed ecosystems, removing important species and stirring up sediment. This harms soil structure, affects marine life, and can lead to increased sediment in the water column, negatively impacting ecosystems.
Turning over soil for planting and pressing soil down, making it denser. Ploughing can initially loosen soil, but over-ploughing or regularly using heavy machinery can compact it. Compacted soil reduces water infiltration, disrupts soil structure, and can lead to increased runoff and erosion, negatively impacting ecosystems.
How clean and safe water is for supporting aquatic life. Water bodies, marine or freshwater, have a range of characteristics that determine whether they are healthy or not to be able to function naturally and support nature. Nature can thrive where the quality of the water is high
The condition or cleanliness of water in natural environments like rivers, lakes, wetlands and oceans. When water contains the right balance of nutrients and isn't polluted with harmful substances, plants, animals, and ecosystems can thrive and be sustained.
Strategies that use nature and natural processes, like creating wetlands or planting woodlands, to tackle societal problems like pollution and improve water quality. These solutions can filter and clean water, reducing the presence of pollutants and enhancing overall water quality, positively impacting ecosystems.
Human-made items, like plastic bottles and packaging, that end up in the sea. They degrade slowly, releasing harmful chemicals and impacting water quality. These pollutants harm marine life if ingested directly or through contaminated food. They can also entangle animals causing them harm and overall damage the health of ecosystems.
"Climate change" can alter water temperature, salinity (saltiness), turbidity (cloudiness), and acidity in aquatic environments. These changes can disrupt ecosystems, impact the distribution of aquatic life, and worsen water quality, leading to problems like harmful algal blooms and the decline of certain species.
Pollutants released into water from disturbing marine sediments or pumping non-natural materials into the water from boats can introduce toxins, waste, and sediments, harming aquatic ecosystems and decreasing water quality. These activities disrupt the balance of aquatic habitats, impacting the health of water bodies and the species that depend on them.
When fertilizers and pesticides wash off fields into water bodies, this runoff can carry chemicals that pollute water, harming aquatic life and degrading water quality. Excess nutrients can cause problems like algal blooms and oxygen depletion in water bodies, negatively impacting ecosystems.
The release of human and industrial waste into water bodies can contain harmful substances like pathogens and chemicals that contaminate water. This pollution can make water unsafe for drinking and harm aquatic life, negatively impacting water quality and ecosystems.
The movement and behaviour of water in different places like rivers, lakes, and underground. Understanding how water interacts with the land, climate, and ecosystems helps us know how plants and animals depend on water availability. It's vital for maintaining habitats like wetlands and ensuring the right conditions for different species to thrive.
Dynamic coastal processes
Climate change and sea level rise
Coastal squeeze and drift
Saline intrusion
Flow and flooding regime
Infrastructure – flood barriers, hydro and tidal energy
Flood plain connectivity
Climate change rainfall and sea level rise
Catchment based management
Natural flow restoration
Drainage and channel dredging
Ground and river water levels
Climate change rainfall and sea level rise
abstraction
The natural interaction between land and water and changes that happen along coastlines. Processes like waves, tides, currents, wearing away of land, and the building up of sand and other materials can create beaches, dunes, wetlands and underwater ecosystems. These provide homes for plants and animals and act as natural barriers that protect from storm surges and coastal flooding. Water movement also deposits nutrients from the sea on land, enriching the soil and supporting coastal environments.
Climate change is causing sea water levels to get higher overtime. This disrupts dynamic coastal processes, like erosion and sediment movement. Natural barriers like beaches and dunes can be lost meaning that coastal areas face increased risk from storms, flooding, and land loss, impacting wildlife habitats and ecosystems along coastlines.
Climate Change Adaptation Manual - NE751
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/ 5679197848862720
Structures like seawalls and barriers built to protect against erosion and flooding. They can alter dynamic coastal processes by stopping natural sediment movement. While they offer protection, they can also lead to beach erosion and changes in coastal ecosystems.
The entry of saltwater into freshwater areas, typically due to rising sea levels. It can disrupt dynamic coastal processes by affecting the balance of salt and freshwater, which can change aquatic life, ecosystems, and alter the flow of water in coastal areas.
How water moves and sometimes overflows or floods in a specific location and how severe those floods can be. Healthy flow patterns help maintain a balance between water sources, and surrounding landscapes. This balance supports the survival of many aquatic species, the creation of diverse habitats, the distribution of nutrients from one area to another and the overall functioning of the ecosystem.
These types of water infrastructure designed for human benefit can change the flow and flooding patterns of rivers and tidal areas. Flood barriers can prevent natural flooding, while hydro and tidal energy projects alter water flow for energy generation. These changes affect the natural flow and flooding regime of water bodies and can harm aquatic life and ecosystems.
The ability of floodplains to connect with rivers during floods influences the natural flow and flooding patterns of waterbodies as well as the transfer of nutrients to the land. When connectivity is reduced, floods can become more severe, damaging natural habitats and species. Floodplain land can become less fertile and beneficial for ecosystems where natural flooding is restricted.
The changing weather patterns and rising sea levels can impact the flow and flooding patterns of rivers and coastal areas. Increased rainfall can lead to more frequent and severe floods, while rising sea levels can worsen coastal flooding, disrupting natural flow and flooding regimes, which can impact ecosystems.
Climate Change Adaptation Manual - NE751
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/ 5679197848862720
Taking care of an entire river's area. This impacts flow and flooding by considering all the factors that affect them in a particular river system. Proper management can reduce flood risks and maintain a balanced flow, benefiting both wildlife habitats and ecosystems.
Processes that aim to return a river's natural flow patterns, to benefit ecosystems. By mimicking the river's historic flow regime, it helps prevent excessive flooding and supports the health of aquatic habitats and the stability of the flood regime.
The process of digging drains and clearing and deepening water channels. This can reduce the wetness of areas of land and speed up the flow of water, potentially reducing flooding in the short term. However, it can also disrupt natural flow patterns, exacerbate downstream flooding, and harm aquatic ecosystems by removing important habitat features.
Groundwater levels refer to how high or low the water is below the earths surface. River water levels are the heights of water in rivers or streams above their usual bottoms. Both measurements help us understand how much water is present in these natural sources and whether they might be too high (flooding) or too low (drought). Changes affect the assemblage of plants and animals.
Climate change can alter rainfall patterns, affecting groundwater levels. Sea level rise can introduce saltwater into rivers, impacting freshwater quality and flow. Both changes affect water availability, potentially harming wildlife habitats and ecosystems more widely.
Over abstraction happens when too much water is taken from the ground or rivers, causing their levels to drop. This can lead to reduced water availability for wildlife and ecosystems, potentially causing shortages and environmental harm.
Climate Change Adaptation Manual - NE751
https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/ 5679197848862720