Great Crested Newt Evidence Enhancement Project 2013

Location of ponds surveyed as part of Phase 1 of the Natural England 2013 Greated Crested Newt Evidence Enhancement Project (NE GCN EEP Surveyed GIS).Great crested newts (GCN), alongside other species listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive, are afforded particular protection because of their conservation status at a European scale. This species is widespread in Europe, but has declined since the 1940s. In the UK, GCN are widespread and locally common, with a patchy distribution, especially in South West England, parts of Wales, and in Scotland. A requirement of the Habitats Directive of each EU member state is to ensure that European Protected Species are maintained at or restored to ‘favourable conservation status’ across their natural range. In order to better understand the conservation status of the species in England, a much better understanding is needed of the distribution and extent of the population of the species in its natural range, and the habitat available to it. This project forms part of a series of projects to produce an enhanced evidence base which can be used to inform decisions about land-use planning and determining conservation status. It is the first of a two-stage exercise to collect data to develop a model for predicting the presence of GCN. Potential applications of a predictive model could include earlier identification of areas where GCN can be ruled in or out as a concern in land-use planning decisions. Data is a sample of ponds identified in pilot survey locations. Data should subsequently not be used as a definitive indicator of total pond coverage.