FOCUS Finding Out Causes and Understanding Significance

FOCUS will address the following fifteen questions, which are grouped under seven topics.  For each question, a Policy Context Statement has been written and these can be accessed from the list below.

Topic 1 - Enclosed farmland 

Question 1:  What are the likely causes of the decline in extent and condition of semi-natural grasslands (acid, neutral and calcareous)? Why was there a high turnover with improved grassland types? To what extent do gains compensate for losses? What are the implications for conservation of biodiversity and agri-environment management prescriptions? [Policy Context Statement]

Question 2: What was the amount and character, in term of Broad Habitat, parcel size and location of land that was recorded as newly cultivated in CS2000? [Policy Context Statement]

Question 3: What is the status of, and changes in, the weed flora of different crop types (eg roots and vegetables) as recorded in CS2000 and what is the conservation value of the species concerned?  [Policy Context Statement]

Topic 2 - Boundary and linear features

The work in this Topic will be undertaken in consultation with the Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerow HAP Steering Group.

Question 4:  What evidence is there that length of hedges declined between 1990 and 1993 and increased between 1993 and 1998 in England and Wales?  [Policy Context Statement]

Question 5: What is the relationship between plant diversity in 10m and 30m hedge plots, hedgerow characteristics/management and adjacent land use?  [Policy Context Statement]

Question 6:  What evidence is there, from the survey of birds in Module 5 and other sources, of the value of different types/patterns of hedges for birds and, by comparison with previous surveys, of changes in the condition of hedges (for birds)?  [Policy Context Statement]

Question 7: What were the characteristics and locations of the hedges that were gained as opposed to those that were lost?  To what extent do new and restored hedges compensate for hedges that are lost or degenerate into lines of trees?  [Policy Context Statement]

Question 8:  How far is it possible to provide an assessment of the condition, and changes in condition, of ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows using CS2000 observations?  [Policy Context Statement]

Topic 3 - Woodlands

Topic 4 - Mountain, moor, heath and down

Question 11:  Where did increases in Fen, Marsh & Swamp occur? What are the possible causes? What are the botanical characteristics of these new areas? What are the wider implications for biodiversity?  [Policy Context Statement]

Question 12:  What were the environmental and management circumstances under which bracken invaded acid grassland, heath and bog habitats? Is the expansion likely to continue and what are the implications for agriculture and conservation of heaths and bogs?  [Policy Context Statement]

Topic 5 - Rivers, streams and standing waters

Question 14: What were the characteristics and locations of the new ponds recorded in 1998?  How do the 1996 figures on pond numbers and condition relate to changes in 1998?  [Policy Context Statement]

Topic 6 - Developed land in rural areas

[Note: Funding is still being sought for Topic 6]

Question 15: Under what circumstances are habitats created on previously developed land? How do the newly created habitats compare with habitats that were lost to development?

Question 16: Does the Countryside around towns have a different ecological character and trajectory of change than more remote rural areas in similar environmental classes? Does CS2000 provide a representative sample of countryside around towns?

Topic 7 - Agri-environment Schemes

Question 17:  How are agri-environment schemes represented in the CS2000 field survey sample?  What evidence is there that agri-environment schemes have contributed to the changes in the Broad Habitats and landscape features recorded in CS2000?  [Policy Context Statement]

Interim and Final Reports

Copies of draft and final reports can be found here.