Habitat data

IWLRC maintains a Geographic Information System (GIS) containing detailed information on habitats from sites across the Island, including woodlands, heathland, chalk grassland, acid/neutral meadows, ponds and coastal sites. The data has been digitised from a wide range of surveys and is continually being updated as more information is received.

Aerial photographic coverage and various layers of site boundary information including statutory and non-statutory sites are also held.
The GIS enables IWLRC to produce a wide range of maps and perform spatial analyses between these different layers and the GIS layers are constantly updated as new data comes in from a variety of sources.

Statutory sites

IW LRC holds copies of all the statutory site boundaries maintained by Natural England, including:

• Special Protection Areas (SPA)
• Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Ramsar Sites
• National Nature Reserves (NNR)
• Local Nature Reserves (LNR)

Non-Statutory sites

IWLRC holds site boundaries for all non-statutory sites within the Island including:

• Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC)*
• Biodiversity Opportunity Areas
• Ancient Woodland Inventory Sites
• Regionally important geological and geomorphological sites (RIGGS)

*SINCs are non-statutory sites which are valuable for wildlife. DEFRA guidance is that they should encompass all areas of substantive value, including both the most important and the most distinctive species, habitats, geological and geomorphological features within a national, regional and local context.
 
The Biodiversity Partnership has reviewed the series of wildlife sites on the Island in readiness for their inclusion within the Island Plan Core Strategy. We have produced three documents:

• Guidelines for SINC Identification, Selection & Designation
• Revised SINC criteria
• A complete list of SINCs with qualifying features

Species data

Copies of datasets belonging to partner organisations are held and, through data exchange agreements with these partners, IWLRC can supply species information on their behalf.  In particular, data administered by the IWNHAS on behalf of species recording groups can be accessed via IWLRC.

To request any of this information please see our data enquiry service at Data Requests.

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