The Severn Estuary Forum is a key annual event in its eighth year and hosted by the Severn Estuary Partnership: an independent, estuary-wide initiative, involving all those interested in the management of the estuary, from planners to port authorities, fishermen to farmers. This year’s Forum was opened by the Lord Mayor of Gloucester and supported by CIWEM. It focussed on a number of diverse topics, including the upper estuary; renewable energy possibilities; a review of the Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy; an overview of the operations and maintenance of the Severn River Crossings; Local Enterprise Partnerships; The Bristol Deep Sea Container Terminal; proposals for a Severnside Airport and Fisheries amongst others. These engaging and exciting events are intended for all interested in learning about the latest research and policy developments dealing with the Severn Estuary and its future, and always guarantee a lively and informative day of presentations and talks. They offer a unique opportunity to learn from others, share ideas and participate in the management of the Severn Estuary.

1. Severn Estuary Partnership Forum
Introduction to LIFE N2K and IPENS LIFE+
Programmes: Delivering Improvements for the
Severn Estuary Natura 2000 Site
Natural Resources Wales
Jennifer Kelly, Marine Co-ordinator
jennifer.kelly@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

2. Introduction
• Severn Estuary Natura 2000 Site
• Introduction to the LIFE+ Programmes
• Improvement Plan & Opportunities

3. Introduction
LIFE+ Natura 2000 Programme for Wales (LIFE N2K)
Natural Resources Wales
Improvement Programme for England’s Natura 2000 Sites (IPENS)
LIFE+ Project
Natural England in partnership with Environment Agency
LIFE+ is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and
nature conservation projects throughout the EU.
Natura 2000 (N2K) is an EU wide network of nature protection areas
established under the 1992 Habitats Directive (SAC) and 1979 Birds
Directive (SPA), designated for important features.

4. Our natural treasures…

5. Aspirations of the Programmes
•
Significant progress towards favourable condition.
•
Facilitate improved delivery of management.
•
Obtain improved levels of funding.
•
Integrate Natura 2000 into other financial instruments and
policy areas.
•
Identify key gaps in evidence and management.
•
Gather best available knowledge and gain support from
stakeholder representatives.

6. Severn Estuary Natura 2000 Site
(European Marine Site)
SAC
Estuary
Mudflats and sandflats (intertidal)
Atlantic salt meadows
Sandbanks (subtidal)
Reefs (Sabellaria -biogenic)
Sea lamprey
River lamprey
Twaite shad
SPA
Internationally important numbers of passage &
overwintering birds (and supporting habitats).
Ramsar
Features overlap with SAC & SPA
SSSI
Saltmarsh; Reedbed; Intertidal mudflats; Vascular
plants; Invertebrate assemblages; Grazing marsh;
Aggregations of non-breeding birds.

7. Introduction to LIFE+ Programmes
LIFE N2K
IPENS
Natural Resources Wales
Natural England in partnership with
Environment Agency
£1 million budget – 50% EU LIFE+, £2.8 million budget - 50% EU LIFE+
50% Natural Resources Wales
September 2012 – December 2014
January 2013 – January 2015
7 members of staff
9 members of staff
Marine & Estuarine, Freshwater & Wetland, and Terrestrial environments
and Species across Natura 2000 sites
Developing a new strategic approach for managing Natura 2000 sites in
England and Wales.

8. What is involved?
Output
Purpose
LIFE N2K
Timeframe
IPENS
Timeframe
Gather evidence on
issues and risks
(pressures & threats)
affecting Natura 2000 Sites
• Gather data/information to
create a sound evidence
base
Dec 2012 – Jun
2013
Dec 2012 – Jun
2013
Mar 2013 – Jan
2014
Mar 2013 – Feb
2014
• Identify appropriate ways of
Review and develop
addressing issues and risks
measures/mechanisms to
• Identify costings, funding
address issues, and
sources and timeframes for
funding arrangements
action

9. What is involved?
Output
Purpose
LIFE N2K IPENS
Timeframe Timeframe
Produce Improvement Plans
(for sites) and Theme Plans
(for strategic issues)
• To present the information in
useful formats for site users
and strategic planners
Oct 2013 –
Sep 2014
Develop a functional IT tool to
hold information
• Hold information on costings
and funding sources
• Improve how we generate
reports on required actions
Developed throughout the
programmes
Compile overall
Implementation Plan
(IPENS)/Strategic programme
of Work for Wales (LIFE N2K)
• To draw together information
Jul 2014 – Jan
to inform strategic decision
2015
making and large funding bids
Oct 2013 –
Dec 2014
Apr 2014 –
Mar 2015

10. Severn Estuary Improvement Plan
Improvement Plan for the Severn Estuary Natura 2000 site will
be produced working with NRW which will identify:
– issues and risks (pressures & threats) impacting on
and/or threatening the condition of the site
– measures (actions & funding) to address them
– how much it will cost and potential funding sources
– key stakeholders who need to take action

11. Severn Estuary Improvement Plan
• Management scheme will be used
• Work closely with representatives
• Include both SAC and SPA features

12. Opportunities
• Improved management and strategic planning
• Better funding
• Integrated projects

13. Further information
• Websites
LIFE N2K: http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/our-work/aboutus/nrw-funded-projects/life-natura-2000- programme-wales
IPENS: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ipens2000
• Newsletters
• Output reports
• Workshops
• Meetings

14. Thank you for listening