In order to better understand opportunities to build resilience in the Welsh marine environment, a report was commissioned by Natural Resources Wales to identify potential spatial opportunities to restore valuable marine habitats.
The report created spatial products (Arc Geo database) for: areas in the floodplain that might be suitable for the creation of mudflat and saltmarsh through managed realignment and areas where the right conditions might exist for native oyster habitat and horse mussel bed restoration. The horse mussel data was provided from JNCC. The report also addresses restoration potential for Sabellaria alveolata reefs although no spatial data was created for this habitat and seagrass habitat although this was provided as a map image from JNCC.
These spatial Data layers should be considered as initial aides to identifying potential locations or areas but come with several limitations which have been discussed in the report. Any restoration projects should undergo further site validation and local engagement before proceeding with any specific site.
The following GIS datasets were created for this:
Saltmarsh_Mudflat_Opportunities_Opportunities_Floodplains_SMPpolicy,
Native_Oyster_Opportunities,
Wave_Height_Grid_ABPmerSeastates,
Current_Speed_Grid_ABPmerSeastates,
Historic_Saltmarsh_Extents,
S_alveolata_records_historic_and_current,
O_edulis_records_historic_and_current,
M_modiolus_records_historic_and_current,
Potential_Beneficial_Use_Sources.
