The landscape scale approach to urban nature conservation : implementation, critical appraisal of policy interactions and new opportunities for urban biodiversity enhancement

Scott, AV

Abstract

Within towns and cities there are fragmented natural landscape elements that contain
important biodiversity and provide other ecosystem services. These natural landscape
elements are increasingly being divided into smaller, more fragmented spaces by
anthropologically driven landscape changes. In order to safeguard biodiversity and
other ecosystem services, these natural elements must be protected and enhanced
sustainably. Previous conservation strategies have been unable to reverse the trend of
decreasing biodiversity in the UK. Landscape scale conservation could provide a
more integrated approach to conservation that is compatible with fragmented natural
landscapes in urban regions.
This thesis contains a critical discussion on the current implementation and future
potential of landscape scale conservation strategies in and around the Merseyside
conurbation, the Manchester conurbation and the Mersey Valley. Current landscape
composition and recent landscape changes are explored through the analysis of land
cover maps and literature. The content, interactions and articulations of international,
national, regional and local policies are examined with the aid of the qualitative data
analysis software NVivo® 7. The innovative creation of opportunity maps for
biodiversity enhancement using a cost-distance analysis and focal statistics approach
is then explored. Wildlife experts provided ecological data and feedback to support
this process.
Data suggest that recent landscape changes in the study region were due to
urbanisation, natural succession, poor habitat management and ecological restoration.
Analysis of nature conservation legislation and policy indicated that some elements of
landscape scale conservation are more frequently referred to in regional and local
policies rather than national and international policies. There is incomplete translation
of nature conservation themes from higher to lower level legislation. Opportunity
mapping successfully identified areas where conservation efforts could be focused,
particularly for moderately mobile species. Landscape scale nature conservation
efforts explored in this thesis provide a viable way of enhancing biodiversity within
urban areas.

Citation

Scott, A. The landscape scale approach to urban nature conservation : implementation, critical appraisal of policy interactions and new opportunities for urban biodiversity enhancement. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2009