AESME Lot 9: Coastal Floodplain Grazing Marsh

The Key Objectives of the project are to assess; 1. how effective Agri-Environment Schemes (AES) have been in terms of protecting the interest features of the current coastal & floodplain grazing marsh in accordance with the existing habitat definition and 2. if and how AES have been used to contribute towards improving natural floodplain functioning in line with the proposals set out to develop a new definition for this habitat as floodplain wetland mosaic. To be able to undertake the assessment in relation to (1) it is necessary to review the existing coastal & floodplain grazing marsh inventory to clarify to what extent the 'areas of highly important refuges for wetland wildlife' are within, or outside of, the HLS target area and to recommend any changes to the boundary of this. This is a desk-based assessment and no field work will be required. Task 3 will involve assessments through the use of a series of case studies covering a range of issues that may affect the way the AES has been used to both protect the existing value and enhance the potential for improving natural functioning of this habitat. These case studies will require consultation with land managers.

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