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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Order results by:
Action | Effectiveness | Studies | Category | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cease or prohibit aggregate extraction Action Link |
Beneficial | 7 | Synopsis Link | |
Extract aggregates from a vessel that is moving rather than static Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit marine mining Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave mining waste (tailings) in place following cessation of disposal operations Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit shipping Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit all types of fishing Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit commercial fishing Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Establish temporary fisheries closures Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit bottom trawling Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit dredging Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit all towed (mobile) fishing gear Action Link |
Beneficial | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Install physical barriers to prevent trawling Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a midwater/semi-pelagic trawl instead of bottom/demersal trawl Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Modify the design of dredges Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Hand harvest instead of using a dredge Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Use an otter trawl instead of a dredge Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use an otter trawl instead of a beam trawl Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a pulse trawl instead of a beam trawl Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a smaller beam trawl Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit a funnel (such as a sievenet) or other escape devices on shrimp/prawn trawl nets Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit one or more mesh escape panels/windows to trawl nets Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit one or more soft, semi-rigid, or rigid grids or frames to trawl nets Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit one or more mesh escape panels/windows and one or more soft, rigid or semi-rigid grids or frames to trawl nets Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a larger codend mesh size on trawl nets Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a square mesh instead of a diamond mesh codend on trawl nets Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit one or more soft, semi-rigid, or rigid grids or frames to trawl nets and use square mesh instead of a diamond mesh at the codend Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Fit one or more mesh escape panels/windows to trawl nets and use a square mesh instead of a diamond mesh codend Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce the number or modify the arrangement of tickler chains/chain mats on trawl nets Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Use a larger mesh size on trammel nets Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Use traps instead of fishing nets Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Modify the design of traps Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Use different bait species in traps Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Add chemicals or minerals to sediments to remove or neutralise pollutants Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Limit, cease or prohibit the dumping of sewage sludge Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Set or improve minimum sewage treatment standards Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Cease or prohibit aquaculture activity Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Leave a fallow period during fish/shellfish farming Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Restrict the use of tributyltin or other toxic antifouling coatings Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove and clean-up shoreline waste disposal sites Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit all types of fishing Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 29 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit bottom trawling Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area and install physical barriers to prevent trawling Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit dredging Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit all towed (mobile) fishing gear Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area with a zonation system of activity restrictions Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 13 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area and introduce some fishing restrictions (types unspecified) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 4 | Synopsis Link | |
Designate a Marine Protected Area and prohibit aquaculture activity Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Translocate habitat-forming (biogenic) species - Translocate reef- or bed-forming molluscs Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Translocate habitat-forming (biogenic) species - Translocate reef-forming corals Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Restore biogenic habitats (other methods) - Restore mussel beds Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Restore biogenic habitats (other methods) - Restore oyster reefs Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 5 | Synopsis Link | |
Restore biogenic habitats (other methods) - Restore seagrass beds/meadows Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Refill disused borrow pits Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Install a pump on or above the seabed in docks, ports, harbour, or other coastal areas to increase oxygen concentration Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Landscape or artificially enhance the seabed (natural habitats) Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 3 | Synopsis Link | |
Create artificial reefs Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 12 | Synopsis Link | |
Create artificial reefs of different 3-D structure and material used Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Locate artificial reefs near aquaculture systems to benefit from nutrient run-offs Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Repurpose obsolete offshore structures to act as artificial reefs Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove and relocate habitat-forming (biogenic) species before onset of impactful activities Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Offset habitat loss from human activity by restoring or creating habitats elsewhere Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 2 | Synopsis Link | |
Remove and relocate invertebrate species before onset of impactful activities Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | Synopsis Link | |
Provide educational or other training programmes about the marine environment to improve behaviours towards marine invertebrates Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 1 | Synopsis Link | |
Organise educational marine wildlife tours to improve behaviours towards marine invertebrates Action Link |
No evidence found (no assessment) | 0 | 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 | |
Leave headlands in fields unsprayed (conservation headlands) Action Link |
Beneficial | 57 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce chemical inputs in grassland management Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 18 | Synopsis Link | |
Employ areas of semi-natural habitat for rough grazing (includes salt marsh, lowland heath, bog, fen) Action Link |
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence) | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Use mowing techniques to reduce mortality Action Link |
Beneficial | 8 | Synopsis Link | |
Pay farmers to cover the cost of conservation measures (as in agri-environment schemes) Action Link |
Likely to be beneficial | 47 | Synopsis Link | |
Reduce grazing intensity on grassland (including seasonal removal of livestock) Action Link |
Likely to be ineffective or harmful | 30 | Synopsis Link | |
Create beetle banks Action Link |
Unlikely to be beneficial | 18 | Synopsis Link | |
Create ponds for natterjack toads Action Link |
Beneficial | 6 | 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.