Digital Ecology

Calling all UK Ecologists.   How are you feeling about condition assessments? If you have heard me talk at an event recently, you will know I have opinions about condition assessments (see here: https://lnkd.in/e8G4hrhz and here: https://lnkd.in/eMxS84nT for my opinions). A team at the University of Bangor are conducting research to better understand how the Statutory Biodiversity Metric works in practice. They currently have a specific focus on habitat condition.   If you are a UK ecologist, please complete our survey. We are especially interested in reaching people who are involved in habitat condition assessments for BNG. However, we value insights from any UK ecologists.   https://lnkd.in/e_-Zgkwf You will be shown videos and photos of four UK habitats with criteria from the Statutory Biodiversity Metric. After assessing the condition of each habitat, you will get feedback on how your assessment of condition matches with that of our expert assessor. There is then some questions about your experiences of applying the habitat condition assessment criteria.   This research will: - Quantify variability in habitat condition assessments among professional ecologists. - Identify the criteria and habitats for which there is most variability. - Identify where further clarity of guidance might be needed to improve the rigour of condition assessment for BNG. The survey takes about 30 minutes to complete and your responses are anonymous.   Thank you in advance.   Ivonne Salamanca (PhD student), Julia P G Jones, Julia Baker #biodiversitynetgain #ecology

On 11th September 2024 I will be leading an event for the Belmont Estate team on the biodiversity net gain metric. In this workshop we will discuss the data and evidence requirements of the metric, how to make sure your surveys and assessments are presented clearly to support your metric calculations, and the key information decision makers are looking for. I have run very similar training for LPA ecologists in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Kent, which means that submissions on BNG from ecologists will already contain all of the information and evidence LPA ecologists are looking for in your reports. We will use case studies and examples of real reports to look at good practice around BNG data and evidence and provide you with the information and knowledge you need to make sure that reviewers can find everything they need to be confident in your assessment. This is not a 'tips & tricks' workshop - BNG relies on good ecological survey practices and good data presentation and analysis. If you think your metrics and reporting could be better, than join us for this workshop. Tickets are still available here: https://lnkd.in/eQuvyuCD #biodiversitynetgain #event

I am running a BNG metric workshop with Gil Martin at the Belmont Estate on 11th September 2024. In this workshop will give break down the metric into four components of habitat, area, condition, and strategic significance. We will use a worked Case Study to map out the process for your future use and understanding. Enjoy a delightful breakfast as you embark on a morning of learning and collaboration and network with industry experts, businesses and organisations striving to make a difference. Tickets are available now: https://lnkd.in/e8bJ6n4E #biodiversitynetgain #training

Calling all UK bat ecologists! Which software do you use to do bat call identification? I have created a poll - please repost for reach. If you use something not on the list, please drop a comment with the name. I will post the results from this in a week or so once the poll closes. Thanks in advance! #bats #ecology

Today our staff had a fantastic time with Dan Carpenter CEnv learning how to set up SLAM traps, Audiomoths, and camera trap equipment that will soon be deployed across the Darent Valley #landscaperecovery area as part of our ongoing ecological monitoring framework. Digital Ecology 's Integrated Biodiversity Monitoring (IBM) will process a host of eDNA, acoustic, and ground survey data to build a detailed picture of the species, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of the project area. This will allow us to monitor how complex ecosystems develop over time and build an understanding of changes in poplation dynamics, functional redundancy, and climate resilience of habitats we restore. Using IBM on projects feeds into our data-driven approach to #BNG and evidencing the #biodiversity outcomes of Nature-based Solutions. #darentvalley #darentvalleypartnership #biodoversitymonitoring #Ecology #wilderkent2030 #naturebasedsolutions

🌿 Introducing the Darent Nature Partnership project! 🌿 One of just 22 round one #LandscapeRecovery projects, over 1,800 ha of the Kent Downs National Landscape will be restored for the benefit of wildlife and local communities. This largely arable landscape will be transformed into a mosaic of habitats bursting with wildlife, and the river Darent, one of the world's only chalk streams will be restored and protected for future generations. The project is expected to remove more than 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere, reduce flood risk to local communities, and create 4000+ Biodiversity Net Gain units. We have been working hard alongside the Darent Valley Farmer Cluster, Kent Wildlife Trust and South East Rivers Trust to develop this project, and in coming months will begin to implement a ground breaking remote monitoring scheme in partnership with Digital Ecology which will help record how biodiversity develops over the project's lifetime. Click the link below to learn more and do get in touch if you'd like to support the project! https://lnkd.in/e2S6jVdW #BNG #Carbon #Carbonoffsetting #NFM #aquiferecharge #wilderkent2030 #chalkstream #chalkdownland #ancientwoodlands

BNG 2025 Virtual Symposium 📢 CALL FOR SPEAKERS The second annual Biodiversity Net Gain Virtual Symposium was a big success, with over 360 booked on the event. We're pleased to announce that we will be hosting the third annual BNG Virtual Symposium on Thu 13 Feb 2025 and are already thinking about the speaker programme (bookings will open on 2 Mar 2024). We're looking for 2 speakers to present case studies of BNG delivery - one onsite and one offsite. Presentations should be around 20 minutes in length (within extra 10 minutes for questions). If this is something that you'd be interested in presenting at the virtual event, submit a speaker application here: https://lnkd.in/ebC-8N5T