ABPmer to develop management framework for submerged landscapes

ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer), a recognised authority in marine planning and management has been awarded a contract to develop an indicator framework to manage submerged palaeoenvironmental (land surface) landscapes.  

Marine areas that were once terrestrial landscapes but are now submerged are of particular archaeological interest as they have the potential to contain evidence of human occupation as well as detailed information of past environmental conditions. Palaeoenvironment features such as peat shelves, palaeochannels, fluvial valleys and lake basins have all been associated with areas of past settlement. 

Digital mapping will be used initially in the Marine Aggregates Levy Sustainability (Marine ALSF) funded project “Waterlands”, to make an assessment of the sensitivity of deposits to human activities and other threats such as erosion and their “vulnerability” (degree of exposure) related to the distribution of human marine activities of both the known and potential palaeoenvironment resource. 

This GIS analysis will form the evidence base to propose and develop a suite of UK-wide applicable management indicators for submerged palaeoenvironment features. This will allow strategic consultation and development of a framework to aid management of the palaeoenvironmental record contained within the marine environment.

Stephen Hull, Director, ABPmer said “We’re delighted to be undertaking this piece of work for the sector.   We’ve been commissioned by Defra to provide GIS data layers to support Marine Protected Area planning for the UK Continental Shelf; this has included identifying maritime archaeology interests but not their extent.   We know that recent projects have provided more detailed archaeological and palaeoenvironmental information on the marine environment. However, the coverage and quality of available maritime records remains variable, principally due to the lack of collation of research results into a single (digital) map/resource.   The Waterlands project presents an opportunity for the marine aggregate industry to capitalise and add value to these projects. The outputs will be publicly available as an information resource for developers and marine managers.”

ABPmer has a long established relationship with the marine aggregates industry through research, advice and licence consents support.  ABPmer will shortly begin two other contracts under the Marine ALSF; that will develop an decision-support tool regarding the use of restoration techniques following marine aggregate dredging and another that aims to improve the existing framework of indicators of change.

Links
Marine-ALSF  www.alsf-mepf.org.uk

Enquiries:
Tracey Hewett, ABPmer Communications
Tel: 02380 711840