Environmental services

Tender description

The purpose of the project is: to complete fieldwork monitoring across Wales using existing monitoring techniques, on an annual basis, to further develop and establish a programme of monitoring work for statutory sites with intertidal habitat and species features in Wales, and to provide regular presentation, reporting, analysis and interpretation of the monitoring work. NRW has a statutory duty to produce advice under Regulation 35 (formerly Regulation 33) of the Habitats Regulations 1994 (updated 2010). The Regulation 35 advice package is the foundation for feature condition monitoring, which is required in order for NRW to fulfil its function of reporting on whether features are in Favourable Conservation Status. The purpose of the project is: to complete fieldwork monitoring across Wales using existing monitoring techniques, on an annual basis, to further develop and establish a programme of monitoring work for statutory sites with intertidal habitat and species features in Wales, and to provide regular presentation, reporting, analysis and interpretation of the monitoring work. NRW has a statutory duty to produce advice under Regulation 35 (formerly Regulation 33) of the Habitats Regulations 1994 (updated 2010). The Regulation 35 advice package is the foundation for feature condition monitoring, which is required in order for NRW to fulfil its function of reporting on whether features are in Favourable Conservation Status. The fieldwork will be conducted within Wales and spread between statutory sites that contain MPA intertidal features. The project will focus on sub-habitats of the broad SAC features: Intertidal Mudflats and Sandflats, Reefs (including biogenic reefs), Shallow Inlets and Bays and Estuaries, as well as the features of SSSI, which are defined at a smaller scale (typically biotope or shore type). 2.1) Aims: — to complete fieldwork monitoring across Wales using existing monitoring techniques, on an annual basis, — to provide regular presentation, reporting, analysis and interpretation of the monitoring work, including identifying opportunities to publish the monitoring work in scientific and other journals, — to further develop and establish a programme of monitoring work for statutory sites with intertidal habitat and species features in Wales, — to harmonise the programme of monitoring work in SACs with Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive monitoring objectives where possible, — to maintain a close working relationship between the contractors and NRW marine specialist staff in the design, implementation, analysis and reporting of the marine intertidal SAC monitoring program.