Hydro-ecology

What can go wrong in development

Wetlands are often unseen. Wet patches have traditionally been drained and small water courses culverted. Housing and industrial development, mineral and landfill proposals and many other projects can all lead to critical loss of wetland biodiversity.
If your proposal involves

removing wetlands, you may find that the Environment Agency will be on your back;
removing part of the catchment of an internationally or UK designated wildlife site, you may have the wildlife agencies on your back; and
the direct loss of internationally or nationally protected wildlife species, you could have the police wildlife liaison officer on your back.

Have your site professionally checked in advance of parting with any money by someone skilled in the assessment of both hydrology and biodiversity. If you have wetlands that either have a diverse fauna and flora, or have the potential to support wildlife, avoid developing over them. You may find that you have to avoid them to achieve planning and if you have paid for an option, or even for the whole site, on the basis of housing numbers calculated from total area rather than biodiversity potential, you may find yourself losing a lot of money.

Remember also, that many protected species live in wetlands. Bank voles have suffered serious decline, partly because of loss or bad management of wetlands. The UK holds the major European population of great crested newts and so they are also strongly protected. Technically, if you disturb a great crested newt by picking it up, or squashing it below a bulldozer, you will have committed an offence and could face a devastating fine. Even bats depend on wetlands to provide the insect food that they catch while foraging in the air above open waters, mires, swamps and marshes.