Specialist Invertebrate Survey and Services

Where a proposed development is likely to impact upon biodiversity, the planning system requires that a survey of biodiversity interest is undertaken; and should impacts be inevitable, then mitigation and/or compensation must be carried out as a condition of planning. Here at PAA we offer a bespoke service tailored to your invertebrate needs, ranging from baseline assessments in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, to more specialist targeted surveys for specific specimens or groups.

We can guide you through the planning system in respect of invertebrates from the pre-application stage through to the masterplanning, implementation and post-development monitoring stages. We also regularly apply for European Protected Species (EPS) Development Licences which are required in order to carry out permitted activities that would
otherwise be deemed unlawful because certain EPS
invertebrate, or their habitats, would be harmed.

How we can help:
At PAA we can provide a wide range of high quality, professional services tailored to the needs of our clients and their projects. All surveys are carried out following the ‘Code of Conduct for Collecting Insects and other Invertebrates’ (2000) and the ‘Statement on the appropriate role of legislation in controlling activities likely to harm specified taxa of terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates, with particular reference to taking and killing’ (2007). This includes:

• Desk study/background research using local records OS maps and photographs;
• Ground-truthing, walkover and invertebrate habitat quality assessments;
• Terrestrial invertebrate baseline survey and assessment including:
• Single species and taxa such as moth trapping, butterfly transect surveys, brownfield site specialist butterflies (dingy skipper, grizzled skipper and grayling), stag beetle, glow worm, lesser silver water beetle, depressed river mussel, freshwater pearl mussel, white-clawed crayfish, bush cricket, field cricket, mole cricket, dragonflies and damselflies.
• Invasive species surveys such as signal crayfish, zebra mussel, harlequin ladybird and lily beetle.
• Aquatic macro-invertebrate baseline survey and assessment (ponds, lakes, streams, rivers and canals);
• Preparation of EPS Development Licence applications for UK/EU Protected Species;
• Design and implementation of invertebrate mitigation and compensation measures;
• Detailed Method Statements for carrying out non-licensable invertebrate works;
• Ongoing population status monitoring;
• Habitat restoration, enhancement and creation, for invertebrates; and
• Reports in support of planning applications and developments.

For more details on our services relating to
invertebrate surveys, please contact us