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Futurescapes Monitoring Programme
It is essential that we develop a robust monitoring scheme as the RSPB launches its Futurescapes programme.
Why?
in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the landscape-scale approach to conservation
to generate results to promote the programme
to fine-tune our delivery of conservation through Futurescapes.
Project objectives
- Across on a suite of key Futurescapes we hope to:
- establish whether the Futurescapes approach delivers towards RSPB priority species conservation
- determine whether the combination of reserve & wider countryside conservation in proximity delivers synergistic benefits greater than the sum of the individual parts
- support and advise regional staff in designing and carrying out individual Futurescape monitoring initiatives.
Key dates so far
- Planning for fieldwork elements and potential areas for further research.
- Talking to potential partners to develop monitoring for All Nature within Futurescapes.
- Engaging with other landscape-scale conservation programmes to try to develop a coordinated system of monitoring across different projects to enable future comparisons, including the DEFRA Nature Improvement Areas.
Work planned or underway
First season of fieldwork completed (April - June 2012) to estimate the baseline population of breeding waders on lowland wet grassland across a selection of high profile Futurescapes in the UK.
Proposals being developed for fieldwork 2013.
This is an ongoing project, we hope to establish a network of staff and volunteers to be involved in sustainable long term monitoring.Who to contact
Dr Daniel Hayhow
Conservation Scientist
E-mail: daniel.hayhow@rspb.org.uk