Actions to conserve biodiversity
We have summarised evidence from the scientific literature about the effects of actions to conserve wildlife and ecosystems.
Review the evidence from the studies
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Action | Effectiveness | Studies | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Practise wildlife gardening Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial nest sites for bumblebees Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide short grass for birds Action Link |
Evidence not assessed | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide or retain set-aside areas in farmland Action Link |
Beneficial | 54 | Synopsis Link | |
Create uncultivated margins around intensive arable or pasture fields for birds Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave overwinter stubbles Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 14 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands for birds Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce grazing intensity Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 12 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide short grass for waders Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant cereals for whole crop silage Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Apply herbicide to mid- and understorey vegetation Action Link |
Likely to be ineffective or harmful | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Employ grazing in artificial grasslands/pastures Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 10 | Synopsis Link | |
Create scrapes and pools in wetlands and wet grasslands Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 6 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce inter-specific competition for food by removing or controlling competitor species Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave headlands in fields unsprayed (conservation headlands) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 12 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide supplementary food for songbirds to increase reproductive success Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 37 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide supplementary food through the establishment of food populations Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Increase crop diversity Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave overwinter stubbles Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 20 | Synopsis Link | |
Allow natural regeneration of ground cover beneath perennial crops Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 9 | Synopsis Link | |
Alter the timing of insecticide use Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave part of the crop or pasture unharvested or uncut Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Delay mowing or first grazing date on pasture or grassland Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Use chemicals to attract natural enemies Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 15 | Synopsis Link | |
Create refuges Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Captive breeding frogs Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 34 | Synopsis Link | |
Captive breeding salamanders (including newts) Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove or control mammals Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Translocate frogs Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 20 | Synopsis Link | |
Create ponds for amphibians Action Link |
Beneficial | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Use grazing instead of cutting for pasture or grassland management Action Link |
Likely to be ineffective or harmful | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Construct artificial reefs Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Apply insecticide to protect seedlings from invertebrates Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Primates: Provide live invertebrates Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Pest regulation: Plant flowers Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Pest regulation: Plant hedgerows Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Pollination: Plant flowers Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Add manure to the soil Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Add sewage sludge to the soil Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Use organic fertilizer instead of inorganic Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Plant or maintain ground cover in orchards or vineyards Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Plant flowers Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Plant hedgerows Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Other biodiversity: Use rotational grazing Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Fostering appropriate behaviour to facilitate rehabilitation Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Carnivores: Provide live invertebrate prey, including in feeding devices Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Transplant/release captive-bred or hatchery-reared species - Transplant/release crustaceans Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Transplant/release captive-bred or hatchery-reared species - Transplant/release molluscs Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Transplant/release captive-bred or hatchery-reared species in predator exclusion cages Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Translocate species - Translocate crustaceans Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Translocate species - Translocate molluscs Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Translocate species - Translocate worms Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide artificial shelters following release Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit the harvesting of scallops Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit the harvest of conch Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit the harvest of sea urchins Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit all (mobile and static) fishing gears that catch bottom (demersal) species Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Modify the design or configuration of trawl gear (mixed measures) Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 19 | Synopsis Link | |
Modify the design or configuration of trawl doors Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit a size-sorting mesh funnel (a sieve net) to a prawn/shrimp trawl net Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Hand-rear orphaned or abandoned marine and freshwater mammal young Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 12 | Synopsis Link | |
Cut/mow herbaceous plants to maintain or restore disturbance: freshwater marshes Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 20 | Synopsis Link | |
Introduce tree/shrub seeds or propagules: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 19 | Synopsis Link | |
Release reptiles outside of their native range Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Release captive-bred reptiles into the wild: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 14 | Synopsis Link | |
Introduce catch shares Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove, control or exclude native predators Action Link |
Evidence not assessed | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant wild bird seed or cover mixture Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease grazing on grassland to allow early succession Action Link |
Evidence not assessed | 26 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce grazing intensity on grassland by seasonal removal of livestock Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Maintain upland heath/moorland Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide or retain set‐aside areas in farmland Action Link |
Awaiting assessment | 9 | Synopsis Link | |
Create uncultivated margins around intensive arable or pasture fields Action Link |
Beneficial | 49 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce management intensity on permanent grasslands (several interventions at once) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 38 | Synopsis Link | |
Manage hedgerows to benefit wildlife (includes no spray, gap-filling and laying) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 20 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide buffer strips alongside water courses (rivers and streams) Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Raise water levels in ditches or grassland Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 13 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce tillage Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 46 | Synopsis Link | |
Delay mowing or first grazing date on pasture or grassland Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 15 | Synopsis Link | |
Use organic rather than mineral fertilizers Action Link |
Beneficial | 19 | Synopsis Link | |
Manage ditches to benefit wildlife Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Undersow spring cereals, with clover for example Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 18 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant crops in spring rather than autumn Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 9 | Synopsis Link | |
Raise mowing height on grasslands to benefit farmland wildlife Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide use generally Action Link |
Beneficial | 47 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant cereals for whole crop silage Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Exclude livestock from semi-natural habitat (including woodland) Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Create scrapes and pools Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 6 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant grass buffer strips/margins around arable or pasture fields Action Link |
Beneficial | 69 | Synopsis Link | |
Employ grazing in non-grassland habitats Action Link |
Trade-off between benefit and harms | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant nectar flower mixture/wildflower strips Action Link |
Beneficial | 104 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant new hedges Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Use traditional breeds of livestock Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Create skylark plots Action Link |
Beneficial | 11 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave cultivated, uncropped margins or plots (includes 'lapwing plots') Action Link |
Beneficial | 20 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant cereals in wide-spaced rows Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Connect areas of natural or semi-natural habitat Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Plant wild bird seed or cover mixture Action Link |
Beneficial | 49 | Synopsis Link | |
Maintain upland heath/moorland Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 17 | Synopsis Link | |
Create beetle banks Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 24 | Synopsis Link |
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What are 'Individual studies' and 'Actions'?
Individual studies
An individual study is a summary of a specific scientific study, usually taken from a scientific journal, but also from other resources such as reports. It tells you the background context, the action(s) taken and their consequences.
If you want more detail please look at the original reference.
Actions
Each action page focuses on a particular action you could take to benefit wildlife or ecosystems.
It contains brief (150-200 word) descriptions of relevant studies (context, action(s) taken and their consequences) and one or more key messages.
Key messages show the extent and main conclusions of the available evidence. Using links within key messages, you can look at the paragraphs describing each study to get more detail. Each paragraph allows you to assess the quality of the evidence and how relevant it is to your situation.
Where we found no evidence, we have been unable to assess whether or not an intervention is effective or has any harmful impacts.