This report covers all terrestrial and freshwater-related habitats and their species complements but does not extend to the marine environment. Many of the issues encountered in marine habitats mirror those found in terrestrial and freshwater-related habitats, and as a result much of the rationale and many of the outlined in this report are also applicable (and already applied) in a marine context.
The intention of the report is that it will provide a more harmonised technical basis for specialist advice within Natural England, and help partners and stakeholders to understand our rationale for more integrated biodiversity decision-making. It should be seen as critical ecosystem detail for applying the ‘ecosystem approach’ (adopted under the International Convention on Biological Diversity), which provides a wider framework for environmental decision-making.