University of Kent Awarded Contract to Test Systematic Approaches for Planning Ecological Networks in Natural England

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Defra Network eTendering Portal awarded a contract to the University of Kent for testing systematic approaches to planning ecological networks in Natural England.

The project, a partnership between national and area teams, applied cutting-edge software tools for spatial prioritisation of conservation and planning ecological networks, including Marxan, Zonation, Natural England Vulnerability Assessment, Condatis, least cost networks, and Rangeshifter, to landscape-scale pilots in Natural England focus areas and at a national scale relevant to the NNR network.

The tools were applied and results interpreted through a consultative outcomes-based approach with local stakeholders, with findings summarised to inform local and national-level implementation of Natural England's Conservation21 strategy.

The contract value was £49,984.