View across the 94ha Frampton
habitat creation site, developed
to provide wetland grazing
n
marsh habitat.
TIO
EA
r
T C
A
hABIT
03
Atkins excels in habitat creation
DAnIEllE
PhIllIPS
Environmental
Scientist
As part of the Environment Agency national There are real opportunities to extend the lessons
Strategy,
Capital Programme Management Service learnt from this programme into the flood Assessment &
(nCPMS), Atkins’ outstanding efforts on the risk management arena (e.g. to address other
Management
regional habitat Creation Programme in the development pressures). A series of workshops have
T: 01733 366923
Anglian region, has earned a Project been used to spread this best practice and the tools
danielle.phillips@atkinsglobal.com
Excellence Award from the agency. and approaches developed are now being used in
a number of other Environment Agency Regions
Winning the Sustainable Construction and (Southern, South-West and Midlands). n
Environmental Enhancement category, the team’s
innovative approach in identifying suitable habitat
“ The work done by Atkins with the NCPMS has been
sites and helping the Environment Agency meet their
innovative. They remain ‘market leaders’ in developing
targets has uncovered new standards of best practice.
systems and practical solutions and their work has been
The Regional Habitat Creation Programme uses a
invaluable in helping the EA meet challenging targets
range of tools and approaches developed by Atkins and obligations.” Duncan Huggett, Habitats Policy Advisor
to track habitat losses and gains, identify suitable
Below: Geographic information systems are used to search for suitable habitat sites and to
sites for habitat creation, secure funding approval,
estimate the extent of intertidal habitat development at managed realignment sites.
permissions and consents and to deliver habitat on
the ground. Six habitat creation sites are currently in
progress which will deliver 41 hectares of reedbed,
178 hectares of floodplain grazing marsh and 250
hectares of intertidal habitat.
The programme is playing an important role in
ensuring the Environment Agency’s legal and
government policy obligations are being met, and that
impacts from operational activities (such as flood risk
management) are balanced with nature conservation.
An innovative geographic information system (GIS)
was developed by the team to rapidly evaluate large
tracts of land for suitability. The programme has also
built up an excellent working relationship with a range
of regional and national conservation organisations
(RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust)
who work alongside the Environment Agency
Decoy-Rigdons Area Tidal Mudflat Middle Marsh
in finding, developing and managing these new
Sub-tidal Low Marsh High Marsh
conservation assets. Saline Lagoon Transitional Vegetation Other
solutions | Autumn 2008
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