Freshwater Habitats Trust, Jeremy Biggs.
Abstract
This presentation outlines the Freshwater Habitats Trust's (FHT) approach to monitoring freshwater biodiversity, focusing on reversing biodiversity decline by fostering healthy, interconnected freshwater landscapes. It emphasizes monitoring the status and changes in freshwater habitats and species, assessing management effectiveness, and reporting on biodiversity at various scales. Methods include traditional biological surveys, eDNA techniques (e.g., for Great Crested Newts), and innovative tools like the PASS system for Priority Ponds. Key findings highlight landscape-scale biodiversity decline, the benefits of clean water pond creation, and the importance of diverse freshwater habitats. Looking ahead, it advocates for integrating small and large water bodies into monitoring, whole-landscape approaches, and revising water policies to enhance biodiversity conservation.