The Salmon and Trout Association (S&TA) and the Riverfly Partnership have today been recognized by Natural England as key voluntary conservation organizations directly contributing to the conservation of UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitats and species. It receives £106,000 from the Natural England £5.5m Countdown 2010 Biodiversity Action Fund, which aims to help some of England’s most threatened biodiversity.

 

States Paul Knight, S&TA Chief Executive, “This important award arises directly from the work of the Riverfly Partnership, which is hosted by S&TA, in ensuring that riverflies were recognized amongst the UK’s most threatened species in Natural England’s major funding programme.  It will enable the Riverfly Partnership to lead and deliver key work over the next 3 years on the eight most threatened riverfly species, in addition to key initiatives, including the Anglers Monitoring Initiative, on priority river habitats. “

 

He adds: “This is exactly the type of project that we, as the major charity supported by game anglers concerned about the health and future of our aquatic environment, are committed to and this recognition of the importance of our work from Natural England is highly significant.

 

The project will be delivered through the newly established Riverfly Partnership Species and Habitat Management Group with key partners Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust – and the Riverfly Recording Schemes amongst others, together with angling groups across England.  It will: consolidate research on eight riverfly species, carry out specialist surveys, develop Action Plans and develop key identification tools and survey mechanisms to engage the established cadre of RP monitoring groups (via the AMI) in BAP related activity.  It will also generate new data through specialist surveys and volunteer effort.

 

Bridget Peacock, Director of the Riverfly Partnership, states, “This award is fantastic news. Riverflies are the canaries of our river systems and to further understand the distribution and threats of these species will inform wider conservation action. The project will start immediately by raising awareness of these species and taking forward targeted surveys”.

 

The 8 riverfly Biodiveristy Action Plan species are:

Ephemeroptera Nigrobaetis niger Southern Iron Blue, Potamanthus luteus Yellow Mayfly
Plecoptera Brachyptera putata Northern February Red, Isogenus nubecula Rare medium stonefly
Trichoptera Glossosoma intermedium Small Grey Sedge, Hagenella clathrata Window Winged Sedge, Hydropsyche bulgaromanorum  Grey Flag, Ironoquia dubia Scarce Brown Sedge

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