Appendix 3.2b – Priority habitats and associated rare, threatened and significant species of the Strategy area

The Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy development process requires a focussed list of priority species, identified as the species in most urgent need amongst other considerations.  However, it is still important to take account of all the county’s rare, threatened and significant species in any habitat management, restoration, extension or creation work. The Strategy therefore identifies overarching approaches that ensure this wider suite of species, whilst not the focus of bespoke action, still benefits from action taken with the Strategy area.

1. During the design of works to deliver a Strategy potential measure, the habitat assemblages of the species longlist (see Appendix 3.1) should be consulted for the relevant habitat and all action should consider and take account of the species that depend upon it, recognising and supporting the interdependencies that exist.

Where works are taking place in locations where a long-list species for Kent and Medway is known to occur, the habitats, structures, host species or other features supporting the species concerned should be maintained in extent and quality, and, where possible, should be locally extended, improved and connected.

Where works are taking place in locations where a long-list species for Kent and Medway was previously known to occur and/or might naturally establish populations, planning and delivery of land-use planning, nature conservation activities, or other land-management work should take the needs of the relevant species into account. This should include avoiding action which would decrease the ecological connectivity between potential sites and those sites already supporting the relevant Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy long-list species.

2. During the design of works to deliver a Strategy potential measure, and where those works occur on or near the borders of the Strategy area, the neighbouring Local Nature Recovery Strategy’s priority species list should be consulted to ensure that action in the Kent and Medway Strategy area does not undermine efforts for that species in the neighbouring area. Opportunities to facilitate the spread of a local population within the works should be identified, particularly where that species is currently absent from the county.

3. Action design should also recognise the contribution that species may make to the habitat and utilises, where appropriate, species within its management to help deliver more dynamic, natural, intact and climate resilient ecosystems.

This appendix lists all the county’s rare, threatened and significant species identified by the priority species selection process against the Strategy’s priority habitats and consequently provides the broader species lists to be considered in delivering the habitat-based potential measures.