Tackling degradation of a seminatural landscape: options and evaluations

Degradation of a seminatural pond landscape in North West England has been occurring for at least 150 years. The remaining resource of 35 000 ponds is being reduced by natural succession, but is also being anthropogenically modified, by land development, neglect and from poorly considered management regimes. This paper defines degradation for the individual pond and for the pond landscape. Implications of degradation are drawn. Four existing approaches developed to combat degradation (including legal strictures, planning rules and voluntary conservation schemes) are evaluated with reference to both ecological and socio‐economic principles. Finally, a new planning philosophy and structure in the United Kingdom is assessed for its ability to combat degradation; particular emphasis is placed upon an ecological networks approach which offers new hope for conservation of both pond habitats and for their distinctive fauna and flora.