The Dorset Biodiversity Information System
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- providing sites, species and habitat data for planning.
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Introduction
Anaptychia ciliaris
Photo: Bryan Edwards
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During 2005/06 Dorset Environmental Records Centre consulted with Local Authority Planning Departments, Statutory Agencies
and conservation organisations on how to give planners better access to biodiversity information.
At the time DERC provided mapped boundaries for sites including Sites of Nature Conservation Interest, Local Nature Reserves,
Regionally Important Geological Sites and Conservation Verges. These boundaries could be uploaded onto Geographical Information
Systems and used within the Local Authority Planning Departments. Since April 2006 a new wildlife species layer has become
available which includes records for protected, BAP, rare and threatened species.
The wildlife layer is available to all LAPD under an annual agreement. The charges made for providing access to the information
go towards maintaining and updating the sites and species layers.
For general enquiries about the DBIS contact DERC and ask for the Records Centre Manager.
For enquiries on using the GIS layers contact DERC and ask for the GIS Officer.
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Why do planners need information on Dorset’s biodiversity?
Large Marsh Grasshopper
(Stethophyma grossum)
Photo: Bryan Edwards
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Protected Species have specific protective legislation including EC Directive 92/43/EEC, which is enforced in the UK by the
Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations (1994) (known as the Habitats Regulations), the Wildlife and Countryside
Act (1981) and the Protection of Badgers Act (1992). The GIS layer will highlight known sites for protected species.
BAP Species are those species with a written Biodiversity Action Plan and referred to in Section 74 of the Countryside and
Rights of Way Act 2000 as species of principal importance. Planning Policy Statement 9 (2005) states that “Local Authorities
should take measures to protect the habitats of these species from further decline through policies in local development documents”.
These species and habitats can be a material consideration in the making of planning decisions. In order to promote and further
the conservation of these species and habitats, planning officers need to know where they have been found within the county.
Rare and Threatened Species do not always have protective legislation. However, Dorset is home to many rare and declining
plants and animals and if their sites or breeding grounds are known by planning officers it may be possible to limit the impact
of development on these species.
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Using the wildlife layers
Early Gentian (Gentianella anglica)
Photo: Bryan Edwards
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The wildlife layers only show data that is held and has been processed by the Records Centre. It will never completely cover
the distribution of protected species in Dorset but it is intended as a guide to assist the planning process. We hope to continue
to develop and refine the wildlife layers and any feedback or comments from planning officers would be welcome.
Disclaimer.
The data is checked by volunteer verifiers and, where identified, erroneous records are not entered onto the database. Owing
to the dynamic nature of information relating to wildlife and the environment DERC disclaims, to the extent permitted by law, any
responsibility for the accuracy or comprehensiveness of the data provided, and accepts no liability for any indirect, consequential,
or incidental damages or losses arising from use of the data.
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Hotlinks and Advice Notes
Hotlinks have been set-up to allow direct links to the advice notes pages on the DCC web-site.
In the 2006 wildlife layer there are hotlinks for nesting birds and bats. The advice note for reptiles has now been completed,
as have those for Badgers, Otters, Amphibians, Non-native invasives and Veteran trees.
These are the first in a series of advice notes currently in preparation.
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Dorset Environmental Records Centre