Expert gives guidance on how to manage Wetlands
Press release by Pauline Rowson, Rowmark Ltd.
Representatives from the Wildlife Trusts, Environment Agency, County Councils and Environmental Law Specialists came together recently to attend a course run by nationally acclaimed Hydro-ecology expert and European Chartered Biologist, Ron Allen a Partner in Petersfield based The Environmental Project Consulting Group.
The one-day training course on Wetland Hydro-ecology and Monitoring examined the management of wetlands and provided delegates with a fundamental understanding of where the water comes from and how it reacts with the landscape to create wetlands of considerable biodiversity. In particular the course focused on Sustainable Drainage Systems, a powerful engineering tool that can be used to protect sensitive downstream wetland sites from the effects of urban pollution, particularly from roads and housing developments.
Ron Allen, a specialist in the science of the behaviour of water in relation to wildlife habiats, is creator of the term Hydro-ecology which is rapidly being adopted within the industry. Hydro-ecology is about the wetland support system not only water but also geology, hydrology, chemistry, soils, peat and how all these interact with aquatic and sub aquatic wetland fauna and flora. Its understanding provides a valuable approach to wetland management and impact.
Mr Allen says, "Wetlands are coming increasingly under threat by developments of various kinds. Whilst most wetlands of ecological significance have considerable protection, this protection is very often based on limited knowledge. Many such sites are nature reserves and a key issue in wetland nature conservation is management. Not many of us know enough about water particularly how it interacts with plant communities and what to do when water does not behave in the way we expect it to. If wetlands are to survive they need to be both protected and managed."
The course was held on 21 June at Blake Lapthorn's offices in Southampton and on site at The Moors (Bishops Waltham) Hampshire County Council Nature Reserve and Emer Bog, an SSSI managed by Hampshire Wildlife Trust. It is so poplular that there is a waiting list for the next course likely to be held in the autumn.
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