Little Wittneham Nature ReserveOxfordshire
An Ecosystem Service Assessment
1. Purpose and design2. Scope and problemscape of the concept3. Analysis and assessment4. Results and recommendations
1. Purpose and Design
• To reconnect people to nature• conserve the local environment• educate the public about sustainable living• improve local biodiversity• create habitats for rare species
Aims of the Earth Trust
Little Wittenham Wood Nature Reserve (dark green) and Wittenham Clumps (light green)
System Boundary
Ecosystem services provided by Little Wittenham Nature Reserve
Provisioning
• biodiversity• plant-based
energy• habitat for
pollinating insects• food for livestock
Regulating
• climate regulation• carbon
sequestration• flood protection• air and water
regulation
Cultural
• leisure/recreation• aesthetic value• health benefits
(walking etc.)• spiritual value• education• social relations• heritage
Supporting Nutrient cycling, soil formation, photosynthesis, water cycling
Earth Trust
Plant-based energy Pollinating services Aesthetic valueFlood protection
Local farmers
Pollinating services Climate regulationForage for livestockFlood protection
Local residents
Aesthetic and spiritual valueRecreationAir and water regulationClimate regulationFlood protection
VisitorsEducationAesthetic and spiritual valueRecreation
School students EducationVolunteers Social relationsScientists Biodiversity
Beneficiaries
Visitors, dogs
Climate change: beech trees on Wittenham Clumps prone to summer drought
ThreatsInfrastructure: carpark at Wittenham Clumps, pathways through Little Wittenham Wood
Replacing beech trees on Clumps with other tree species
Trade-offs
2. Scope of the problemscape and concept
Little Wittenham Wood contains flower meadows, is an SSSI and SAC, and is particularly important for the Great Crested Newt.
Round Hill, Wittenham Clumps
The Wittenham Clumps are two hills hosting wildflower meadows and topped by clumps of beech trees; they offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Little Wittenham Wood
The landscape
Photo by Jonathan Bowen
Paul Nash, Wittenham Clumps, 1912
Direct use value Indirect use value
Regional
Global
Cultural servicesAll
Local
Provisioning servicesGrazing and hay-cutting
Plant-based energy
Pollinating services
Regulating servicesAir and water regulation
Flood protectionClimate regulation
Carbon sequestration
Relationship between Ecosystem Services and Beneficiaries
Andy Hough
Policy and management measures of the Earth Trust
•Traditional techniques•Habitat creationConserving
woodland, grassland, and
wildlife•Planting broad-leaved trees•Slowly replacing beech trees on the
Clumps with other speciesPromoting biodiversity and
resilience
•Restored steps and new pathway•Plan to improve facilities in futureMaking the Nature Reserve more
accessible to the public
3. Analysis and assessment
•Nearly 200,000 people visit the nature reserve annually
•Around 100 people regularly volunteer at the reserve
•Up to five school visits a week, with up to 40 children per school•People attending workshops and courses
•Estimated value of £400 million per annum•Help to propagate wildflowers in the reserve
Valuation of Ecosystem Services
Leisure and recreation
Volunteering
Education
Flood protection
Carbon sequestration
Pollinating services
•Woodland and grassland sequester carbon•Carbon sequestered by reserve potentially worth £65,000 p.a.
•Soil absorbs rainfall•Could reduce flood damage and costs
How would Ecosystem Services change under different scenarios?
Decrease in funding• Less maintenance of infrastructure• Less man power
Change in use of surrounding land• Habitat fragmentation Biodiversity• Property development Views
4. Recommendations and results
Policy and management recommendations
• Minimise threats from increasing number of visitors
• Current measures are suitable for achieving biodiversity and cultural services provision
ReferencesUK National Ecosystem Assessment, The UK National Ecosystem Assessment: Synthesis of the Key Findings. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, 2011
Fuller R. J., Warren M. S., Coppiced woodlands: their management for wildife, 2nd edition, JNCC, DEFRA, 1993
Earth Trust: www.earthtrust.org.uk
Seppelt R., et al, ‘Form follows function? Proposing a blueprint for ecosystem service assessments based on reviews and case studies,’ in Ecological Indicators, 21, 2012, pp. 145-154
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis, Island Press, Washington, DC, 2005
Pictures:Andy Hough and Jonathan Bowen for the Earth TrustWikimedia CommonsPaul Nash painting from www.nashclumps.org