Space technology helps map wildlife habitats
Cutting-edge space technology is being used to bring maps of all Wales’s wildlife habitats right up to date.
Once completed, by the end of March 2012, Wales will be the first country in Europe to have produced a national map of habitats using satellite technology.
Led by the Countryside Council for Wales, in partnership with Aberystwyth University and Environment Systems, the project will be unveiled to future users at a special event in the National Museum, Cardiff, on Tuesday 2 November 2010.
The original survey of all Wales’ wildlife habitats – from grassland and woodland to coastal heath, upland bogs and moors - was conducted over many decades and completed in 1997 by a team of CCW biologists roaming the length and breadth of Wales.
Now, by using images from satellites that have passed over Wales, the maps are being updated at a fraction of the cost and time, reflecting the advancement in technology over the last decade.
Remarkably, the satellite images provide even more detail than was collected by field staff during the original survey!
It’s crucial that we have the most up-to-date information on our natural environment as it provides us with a wide range of vital services.
The environment creates employment and income worth billions of pounds, provides water, produces our food, energy and timber, and sustains our wildlife.
It is our life support system which needs a healthy diversity of plants and animals to function.
Keith Davies, CCW Head of Environment Policy said: “It is vital that we have the best possible information to plan and manage change to Wales’ natural environment, so that we can sustain economic and social wellbeing and conserve the environmental resources that we all depend on.
“The scale and intensity of the original field survey work have not been matched anywhere else in Britain. Now that we can update the original maps and track changes, they will provide a sound, scientific basis for CCW’s advice to Government, local authorities and others on how best to manage and care for Wales’ natural resources.”
Professor Richard Lucas, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University said: “Satellite technology makes mapping and continual monitoring of the extent and condition of habitats and agricultural land so much easier and cheaper. I’m delighted that we are able to build on the dedicated work of the field conservationists that did the original survey.”
“Through the use of satellite imagery, we have not only been able to update the habitat maps, but also provide a mechanism to monitor future changes. With new technologies, we can bring this information to a wider audience and play a key role in ensuring that Wales’ natural heritage is preserved for future generations.”
Steve Keyworth, Director, Environment Systems said: “This work demonstrates how collaborative working between a government body, the University and private business can provide Wales with an effective and efficient approach to providing the evidence underpinning environmental decision-making. With Wales taking the lead in using satellite data to assess and monitor the state of the environment, we can also help other regions and nations develop similar capability.”
This project will contribute towards delivering the Welsh Assembly Government’s new initiative, Living Wales, currently out to consultation. Living Wales aims to create a more joined-up approach to caring for the environment to improve the health of ecosystems as a whole, which support all life on earth.
Everyone is invited to have their say - go to www.wales.gov.uk/consultation and give your ideas and response before the end of December 2010.
For more information about the project visit: www.gwylio.org.uk
CCW’s current work which benefits from the habitat surveys include:
• Advising the Welsh Assembly Government on the content of the new agri-environment scheme, Glastir.
• Initiatives to link up patches of habitat so that wildlife can move around the countryside in response to climate change and other environmental impacts.
• Advising local authorities, Welsh Assembly Government on a wide range of development proposals that affect Wales’ natural environment.
The Countryside Council for Wales is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body, working for a better Wales where everyone values and cares for our natural environment. More information about our work is available on www.ccw.gov.uk
Aberystwyth University - The Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences (IGES) has a national and international reputation in remote sensing of the environment. The earth observation unit has been working on developing new ground, airborne and satellite-based techniques for characterising and mapping natural environments, ranging from tropical forests and savannas to temperate uplands, and quantifying and understanding change in response to both natural and human-induced causes. This research has led to the development of a new approach to mapping habitats across Wales.
IGES is a Centre of Excellence for the use of eCognition, software which was key to the development of the mapping. IGES also plays a role in training people, through undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, in satellite based techniques for environmental monitoring. For more information see http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/iges/.
Environment Systems are the service provider leading the roll out of the national habitat map. We use state-of-the-art technology and mapping to help government and businesses understand and better manage our environment. We are an award winning consultancy working across the UK and the rest of Europe. We deliver solutions to the environmental, agricultural and land sectors through the establishment of baselines, monitoring, ecosystem models, and the application of the evidence base to current UK and EU policy. Based in Aberystwyth, we specialise in the novel use of earth observation (aerial and satellite imagery), GIS analysis and associated technologies. For more information see www.envsys.co.uk.
Once completed, by the end of March 2012, Wales will be the first country in Europe to have produced a national map of habitats using satellite technology.
Led by the Countryside Council for Wales, in partnership with Aberystwyth University and Environment Systems, the project will be unveiled to future users at a special event in the National Museum, Cardiff, on Tuesday 2 November 2010.
The original survey of all Wales’ wildlife habitats – from grassland and woodland to coastal heath, upland bogs and moors - was conducted over many decades and completed in 1997 by a team of CCW biologists roaming the length and breadth of Wales.
Now, by using images from satellites that have passed over Wales, the maps are being updated at a fraction of the cost and time, reflecting the advancement in technology over the last decade.
Remarkably, the satellite images provide even more detail than was collected by field staff during the original survey!
It’s crucial that we have the most up-to-date information on our natural environment as it provides us with a wide range of vital services.
The environment creates employment and income worth billions of pounds, provides water, produces our food, energy and timber, and sustains our wildlife.
It is our life support system which needs a healthy diversity of plants and animals to function.
Keith Davies, CCW Head of Environment Policy said: “It is vital that we have the best possible information to plan and manage change to Wales’ natural environment, so that we can sustain economic and social wellbeing and conserve the environmental resources that we all depend on.
“The scale and intensity of the original field survey work have not been matched anywhere else in Britain. Now that we can update the original maps and track changes, they will provide a sound, scientific basis for CCW’s advice to Government, local authorities and others on how best to manage and care for Wales’ natural resources.”
Professor Richard Lucas, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University said: “Satellite technology makes mapping and continual monitoring of the extent and condition of habitats and agricultural land so much easier and cheaper. I’m delighted that we are able to build on the dedicated work of the field conservationists that did the original survey.”
“Through the use of satellite imagery, we have not only been able to update the habitat maps, but also provide a mechanism to monitor future changes. With new technologies, we can bring this information to a wider audience and play a key role in ensuring that Wales’ natural heritage is preserved for future generations.”
Steve Keyworth, Director, Environment Systems said: “This work demonstrates how collaborative working between a government body, the University and private business can provide Wales with an effective and efficient approach to providing the evidence underpinning environmental decision-making. With Wales taking the lead in using satellite data to assess and monitor the state of the environment, we can also help other regions and nations develop similar capability.”
This project will contribute towards delivering the Welsh Assembly Government’s new initiative, Living Wales, currently out to consultation. Living Wales aims to create a more joined-up approach to caring for the environment to improve the health of ecosystems as a whole, which support all life on earth.
Everyone is invited to have their say - go to www.wales.gov.uk/consultation and give your ideas and response before the end of December 2010.
For more information about the project visit: www.gwylio.org.uk
CCW’s current work which benefits from the habitat surveys include:
• Advising the Welsh Assembly Government on the content of the new agri-environment scheme, Glastir.
• Initiatives to link up patches of habitat so that wildlife can move around the countryside in response to climate change and other environmental impacts.
• Advising local authorities, Welsh Assembly Government on a wide range of development proposals that affect Wales’ natural environment.
The Countryside Council for Wales is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body, working for a better Wales where everyone values and cares for our natural environment. More information about our work is available on www.ccw.gov.uk
Aberystwyth University - The Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences (IGES) has a national and international reputation in remote sensing of the environment. The earth observation unit has been working on developing new ground, airborne and satellite-based techniques for characterising and mapping natural environments, ranging from tropical forests and savannas to temperate uplands, and quantifying and understanding change in response to both natural and human-induced causes. This research has led to the development of a new approach to mapping habitats across Wales.
IGES is a Centre of Excellence for the use of eCognition, software which was key to the development of the mapping. IGES also plays a role in training people, through undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, in satellite based techniques for environmental monitoring. For more information see http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/iges/.
Environment Systems are the service provider leading the roll out of the national habitat map. We use state-of-the-art technology and mapping to help government and businesses understand and better manage our environment. We are an award winning consultancy working across the UK and the rest of Europe. We deliver solutions to the environmental, agricultural and land sectors through the establishment of baselines, monitoring, ecosystem models, and the application of the evidence base to current UK and EU policy. Based in Aberystwyth, we specialise in the novel use of earth observation (aerial and satellite imagery), GIS analysis and associated technologies. For more information see www.envsys.co.uk.
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