Metadata detail: Phase 2 Lowland Heathland Survey of Wales

Title

Phase 2 Lowland Heathland Survey of Wales

Abstract

National Vegetation Classification (NVC) is the basis used for the selection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is used to define Annex 1 habitats for the selection of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive (EU Directive 92/43). This project comprises of detailed data related to the Phase 2 plant community survey for Lowland Heath across Wales. The project covers dry and maritime heath covered by the heathland section of the NVC and wet heath covered by the section of the NVC. Two non-NVC communities the calcareous grass and heath, and shingle heath are also described. This project had three main purposes: - To provide an overview of the Welsh lowland heathland resource allowing local conservation programs particularly local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP) partnerships, to assess and interpret their resource in a Welsh context. - To identify heathland types which are underrepresented in the SSSIs series. - To identified gaps in knowledge and highlight areas for further study.

A total of 13 surveys were carried out: Anglesey (1994), West Gwynedd (1993), Gwynedd and Anglesey (1994), Pembrokeshire (1995, 1996, 1997), Rivers Ystwyth and Rheidiol, Ceredigion (1995), Gower Commons (1997), Gower, Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Conwy (1998), Powys (1999), Brecknock and Carmarthenshire (2000), Ceredigion (2001) and Gower (2001). The total area of heath surveyed is approximately 4714 ha which is 35% of the total area of lowland and coastal (maritime) heathland recorded in the phase 1 habitats survey of Wales (1979- 1997).

The age of the data is a limitation as habitat composition may change over time, a record of a vegetation type in the data is therefore no guarantee that it is still extant on the ground

Vegetation mapping and community definition followed the National Vegetation Classification (NVC). The dataset has been extensively validated and verified however problems were encountered when mapping in field which may have resulted in errors, digitisation was of poor quality and there were occasional problems with identifying community type.

Attribution statement
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

Open Government Licence for Public Sector Information (OGL)

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Metadata : Phase 2 Lowland Heathland Survey of Wales

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