Comment
Proposed Main Modifications
Representation ID: 7042
Received: 22/03/2019
Respondent: Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Buffers of complimentary habitat should be applied to priority habitats and the inclusion in the text is very welcome. However I am not sure it should be applied to priority species. Species are mobile and so enforcing this might be impossible. It is reasonable to assume that the priority species would forage and shelter largely in the priority habitat and associated buffer and so protecting this should be sufficient to protect the priority species. Therefore I recommend that the policy is changed to;
'providing a buffer of complimentary habitat to all connective features of wildlife habitat and priority habitats.'
Buffers of complimentary habitat should be applied to priority habitats and the inclusion in the text is very welcome. However I am not sure it should be applied to priority species. Species are mobile and so enforcing this might be impossible. It is reasonable to assume that the priority species would forage and shelter largely in the priority habitat and associated buffer and so protecting this should be sufficient to protect the priority species. Therefore I recommend that the policy is changed to;
'providing a buffer of complimentary habitat to all connective features of wildlife habitat and priority habitats.'