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