The applicability of national critical loads data in assessing designated sites

Hall, Jane; Ullyett, Jackie; Wadsworth, Richard A,; Reynolds, Brian. 2007 The applicability of national critical loads data in assessing designated sites. In: Brimblecombe, Peter; Hara, Hiroshi; Houle, Daniel; Novak, Martin, (eds.) Acid rain - deposition to recovery. Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Springer, 413-419.

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Abstract/Summary

Critical loads have been successfully used within Europe in the development of effects-based policies for pollution abatement, including the Second Sulphur Protocol and the Protocol to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone (CLRTAP, 1979). This success has encouraged the UK Environment Agency and Conservation Agencies to use the national critical load maps as a screening tool in assessing the threats from acidification and eutrophication to designated (Natura 2000) sites. The UK maps of critical loads are based on national-scale data sets appropriate for national-scale assessments, and were never intended for use at the site-specific level. Site-based assessments are often targeted at Special Areas of Conservation, a sub-set of the UK Natura 2000 sites. The spatial data available includes the boundaries of the sites but not the location of the designated features. Ancillary data is variable from one site to another; habitat types may be described in detail with cross-reference to classes of the National Vegetation Classification (NVC: Rodwell, 1991 et seq), but information available on soils and geology is generalised and has not been related to the habitats or species being protected. Hence it can be difficult to relate the individual sites to the national maps, even where appropriate to do so. This paper examines the underlying uncertainties in the national critical load maps showing how the maps could give misleading results if used for site-specific assessments. It also includes advice on how to determine when the national data may be appropriate as a policy-tool at the site-level.

Item Type:	Publication - Book Section
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/s11267-006-9091-9
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Watkins (to March 2011) Emmett Parr
ISBN:	9781402058844
Format Availability:	Electronic, Print
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Reprinted from Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus, Volume 7, Issues 1-3, 2007
Additional Keywords:	critical loads, designated sites, endorsement theory, national vegetation classification, policy, acidification, eutrophication
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science Data and Information Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	15 Aug 2007 14:29 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/782

Item Type:

Publication - Book Section

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1007/s11267-006-9091-9

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biogeochemistry

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Watkins (to March 2011)
Emmett
Parr

ISBN:

9781402058844

Format Availability:

Electronic, Print