Isles of Scilly are audited for biodiversity

7th April 2008

Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust have started work mapping out the future for conservation on Scilly by launching the Isles of Scilly Biodiversity Audit.

This audit has been produced by the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS), which is hosted by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.  The project has been funded by a grant from Natural England through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.

The audit looks at all species and habitats, including those on the land, in the sea and in fresh water.  It then sets out everything that is currently known about these species and habitats, including which are the rarities, whether they are in decline.  The audit also identifies the most significant threats to wildlife on the Isles of Scilly and looks at how these threats may increase or change over time.

Zoe Jullian from the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust said, “The Isles of Scilly are known for their variety of wildlife and thousands of people flock there each year to see the breeding seabirds and unusual migrant birds, dive on the rocky reefs or admire the wild and cultivated flowers.  The islands even have some of their own unique plants and animals like the Scilly bee, St Martin’s ant and the dwarf pansy”.

The islands and the seas around them are bestowed with numerous conservation designations including 26 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in recognition of how uniquely important they are for biodiversity and geology.  Conserving the distinctive mix of flora and fauna on the land and in the waters surrounding the islands is key to protecting the economy of the islanders, who depend heavily on tourism and, to some extent, fishing, as sources of income.

Gary Lewis, Manager for ERCCIS said, “The Wildlife Trusts’ mission to achieve a UK richer in wildlife through the protection and enhancement of focal species and habitats means that safeguarding the future of the biodiversity of the Isles of Scilly is a priority.   A crucial part of the process in creating the audit was consultation with both local and species experts.  We’ve talked to fishermen, divers and farmers on Scilly during the consultation process, as well as biologists and biological recorders from the South West and even further afield.  All this was to ensure that as far as possible, all the current knowledge about species and habitats on Scilly was incorporated in the audit”.

The Biodiversity Audit has been presented to the Chief Executive of the Council for the Isles of Scilly, Philip Hygate.  It will now help to prioritise which species and habitats need urgent action and will set out a series of recommendations to guide future conservation work.  This work will help to ensure that everything both islanders and visitors enjoy, from puffins to pink sea fans, will be around for years to come.

Electronic copies of the Biodiversity Audit will be available on the ERCCIS website due for release in May 2008.  In the interim, copies can be obtained on CD by contacting Gary Lewis on 01872 273939 ext 247.