Network meeting 1 – 15th March 2016

The Condatis knowledge exchange project held its first networking meeting on 15^th March 2016. The main focus of the meeting was to introduce the knowledge exchange project and to make sure the proposed plans were aligned with what will be most useful for users of Condatis and other habitat network models. The day started with short presentations from many network members about how habitat network models are being used or may be used in the future. The afternoon provided a forum to ask questions, and network with other users, as well as structured discussions to allow feedback about how the Condatis model and project are and can be most useful.
List of talks
Summary of discussions
Who was there

Talks from members:

Click links for PDFs or download a zip file here.

Katherine Allen (University of Liverpool)
Welcome and introduction to the Condatis Knowledge Exchange Network. PDF

James Latham & Jonathan Rothwell (Natural Resources Wales)
Building resilience – new policy drivers for applying network mapping in Wales. PDF

Sarah Taylor & Humphrey Crick (Natural England)
Where does landscape-scale conservation go from here?
Using spatial data to explore climate change adaptation & ecological network planning. PDF

Katherine Hawkins (The Wildlife Trusts)
The Wildlife Trusts and ecological network mapping. PDF

Tim Graham (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)
Contrasting opportunities: Yorkshire and Isle of Man. PDF

Matt Jones (Shropshire Wildlife Trust)
Landscape-scale conservation in the Meres & Mosses. PDF

David Crawshaw (Lancashire Wildlife Trust)
A Local Nature Improvement Area: Delivering a Living Landscape for Wildlife and People. PDF

Ben Wood (Warwickshire County Council)
Predicting national ecological flows at a regional scale. PDF

Frances Graham (Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority)
Northern Upland Chain LNP – A pragmatic approach to habitat network models. PDF

Micah Duckworth (Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority / University of Leeds)
Condatis project with the Yorkshire Dales National Park. PDF

Steven Ewing (RSPB)
Informing landscape-scale conservation at RSPB. PDF

Christian Andres (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL))
Landscape connectivity analysis to reduce cocoa swollen shoot virus disease in Ghana. PDF

Jenny Hodgson (University of Liverpool)
Updates and developments with Condatis software.

Summary of discussions:

The group identified a variety of tools that are currently being used to support spatial decision making and assess habitat networks:

Condatis
RangeShifter
Fragstats
Hanski connectivity index
Forest Research Habitat network Tool
BEETLE
Larch (Wageningen)
Linkage mapper
Circuitscape
Marxan
Zonation
RAMAS GIS
In house models
ROBOFF
NBCCVA (Natural England)

The most important questions or features a habitat network model should answer or include were identified as (numbers indicate which of the methods listed above can currently address the question):

What are the connections of national importance? (1, 9)
What is the measured change in connectivity? (1, 9, 15)
What happens in different scenarios? (all)
Where should we spend limited resources to enhance connectivity? (1, 5, 10, 11, 15)
Which site will be most effective in permitting movement across landscape? (1, 6)
What are the most important sites for restoration / condition improvement? (10)
What is the importance of patches? (none)
What are the most vulnerable points in the network? (1, 4, 11, 15)
What level of biological realism is required? (2, 12)
How to consider intensively used land in the model (5, 6, 9, 13)
Prioritise workload – e.g. talk to landowners / object to planning application / practical conservation work (14)
Weightings for extent (5, 2, 12), condition (2, 12), connectivity (1), diversity (all – 13)
Is it applicable across a range of scales? (can be tested in many listed models but guidance is needed)
Identify areas of multiple benefits, e.g.:
- ecosystem services
- habitats (5, 6, 10, 11, 15)
Software to be self-contained, not to rely on other software packages
Minimise number of steps required

The best current sources of information are:

Other people
Tools websites, published papers
NBN repository of biodiversity data
Local biological records centres
National Park Authority
Natural England priority habitat inventory – to fill gaps
Data released through INSPIRE regulations
Environment Agency
GEOSTORE
Ordnance Survey data
DEFRA data
GIS forums – help with doing things in GIS
Computational group at BES doing “how to” guide, but practical side isn’t there (a)

The biggest barriers stopping participants using the available tools are:

GIS capability and confidence
Time
Understanding outputs, terminology and capabilities of different tools
IT equipment
Dataset existence, availability, up to date
Availability of training courses
Support from organisation

In order to be effective, the Condatis network should:

Produce and make available simple “how to” docs, output from meetings and success stories
Address terminology issues
Publish a regular newsletter/blog
List useful resources, data
Continued communication on workshops, courses, developments
Publish information that helps advocate and give credibility to ecological networks
Compare different tools
List of system requirements to run it
How outputs from models are used and received by audiences
Publish case studies, including ground-truthing of outputs, to demonstrate value

Maintain a network of users to support each other, share what others are doing and best practice
Maintain regular forum activity and publicise it in advance where possible
Understand users and how best to use social media networks such as Linked-In groups, Twitter and Facebook
Maintain and use mailing list
Bring new people in, including those from different disciplines and complimentary networks
Hold open, relevant face to face meetings, teleconferences, webinars regularly
Not generate SPAM

Who was there:

Name		Organisation
Daniel	Alexander	Salford University
Jamie	Alison	University of Liverpool
Katherine	Allen	University of Liverpool
Christian	Andres	Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)
Jim	Atherton	University of Liverpool
Tom	Butlin	The Mersey Forest
David	Crawshaw	Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Great Manchester Wetlands NIA
Micah	Duckworth	Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority / University of Leeds
Steve	Ewing	RSPB
Fran	Graham	Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Tim	Graham	Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Katherine	Hawkins	The Wildlife Trusts
Jenny	Hodgson	University of Liverpool
Claire	Install	Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Matt	Jones	Shropshire Wildlife Trust
Helen	Lacy	Cheshire West and Chester Council
Jim	Latham	Natural Resources Wales
Beth	Phythian	Natural England/Manchester Metropolitan University
Jonathan	Rothwell	Natural Resources Wales
Sarah	Taylor	Natural England
Ben	Wood	Warwickshire County Council

We will follow up on the suggestions and comments from the discussions by updating the website with the identified requirements and modifying our plans for the project. Participants and those who could not attend are invited to continue to provide feedback on the project and how it can be most useful.

We look forward to seeing many of you again along with many new faces at the next meeting. Thanks for a really helpful and productive meeting!