land nature food 210d3415-c79b-4973-b862-64550dc9d369 210d3415-c79b-4973-b862-64550dc9d369 Woodland Opportunity Map - Potential Habitat for Water Voles 2025-02-18 2025-02-18 Water vole is a Protected Species (Schedule 5, Wildlife & Countryside Act, 1981) and is the fastest declining mammal across the UK. Populations in Wales have declined by 89% since the last estimate in 1995 and the water vole is classed as Endangered in Wales. Threats to the survival of water vole remain unchanged, primarily through loss, degradation and fragmentation of suitable habitat and predation by American mink but also because of pollution and flooding. This layer was developed by using water vole habitat suitability modelling to identify habitats that are likely to be suitable. These were combined with recent survey records to create a connected network of water courses and wetlands (buffered by 50m) indicating areas important to water voles. Woodland creation proposals in these areas should include positive design measures to maintain or enhance suitable habitat. Further information is in GN002. 51.37305096285964 -5.40523049634782 53.44265646821793 -2.665743068180276