152 - Cornish Killas : Natural Capital and Key Ecosystem Services

Introduction

The Cornish Killas NCA provides a wide range of benefits to society. Each is derived from the attributes and processes (both natural and cultural features) within the area. These benefits are known collectively as ‘ecosystem services’. The predominant services are summarised below. Further information on ecosystem services provided in the Cornish Killas NCA is contained in the ‘Analysis’ section of this website.

What is Natural Capital?

Natural capital means “the elements of nature that directly or indirectly produce value to people, including ecosystems, species, freshwater, land, minerals, the air and oceans, as well as natural processes and functions” (Natural Capital Committee, 2017).

It is helpful to consider natural capital in the form of a logic chain that represents the links between ecosystem assets, services, benefits and value to people. The figure below displays that logic chain. The quantity and quality of ecosystem assets (woodland, bogs, etc) support different types of ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration or water filtration. These ecosystem services then provide different benefits to society, providing value for people. The figure also shows how management interventions, as well as pressures and drivers of change, influence this chain. Other capital inputs are also often needed for people to obtain the benefits from ecosystem services (a simple example is the processing of trees to produce wood products).

As an example, an area of woodland (ecosystem asset) may reduce air pollution created by traffic on a nearby road. This woodland is therefore improving air quality (ecosystem service) in the local area which results in cleaner air and improved health in the adjacent residential street (benefit). This cleaner air has a value because we know it impacts the health and wellbeing of communities.

Sometimes for ease of understanding, economic framing is used to give these benefits a monetary value. The figure below shows how natural capital assets support the provision of ecosystem services, benefits and value. The roots of the tree show how aspects of asset quality are critical to the provision of ecosystem services. The roots also show that geodiversity underpins the ecosystem assets and therefore the ecosystem services and benefits they can provide. It is important to remember that this diagram, and natural capital frameworks more generally, are a simplification of how nature works in practice.

Natural Capital within this NCA

In 2018, Natural England published ‘Natural Capital Indicators: for defining and measuring change in natural capital’ (Lusardi et al., 2018). This report identified key properties of the natural environment vital for the long-term sustainability of benefits, which can act as indicators of change.

These indicators are designed to inform our understanding of the state of our natural assets. The indicators highlight the importance of our natural assets for delivering which ecosystem service and the benefits they provide for society. The indicators and datasets identified in Natural England’s Natural Capital Indicators Project provide the foundation for the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles.

Natural England’s Natural Capital Atlas Profiles provide an “off the shelf” natural capital evidence base for each county or city region. They have a wide variety of uses with more information in the How to Start Using Your Natural Capital Atlas.

The Natural Capital indicators are presented on the map below by broad asset theme, displaying the natural capital within the NCA.

It is noted that not all indicators listed within the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles are included within the map as data is not yet available to measure them. Refer to the “Indicator Gaps and Limitations” of the Natural Capital Atlas Profiles for further information.

Natural Capital Atlas Profiles

The following Natural Capital Atlas Profiles cover counties within this NCA:
 

• 6: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
• 9: Devon

Provisioning services (food, fibre and water supply)

Food provision: The main products derived from the Cornish Killas NCA are lamb, beef and dairy products, along with cereals, fruit, vegetables (brassicas and potatoes) and pork, with localised production of apple juices, cheeses and wines. This is complemented by fish and seafood caught inshore and landed in the small ports and harbours.

Water availability: The NCA has no underlying aquifer but is an important water catchment for the county. There are several important reservoirs; for example, Porth Reservoir supplies water to Newquay. The River Fowey has significantly modified flows because of the two major reservoirs in its upper catchment. Although there is no major aquifer, there is groundwater held in fracture and fissure systems which is available for local abstraction. The main abstraction uses are for public water supply, hydroelectric power, amenity use and industry. For information regarding the current state of water availability within this NCA, refer to the Environment Agency (Abstraction Licensing Strategy).

Regulating services (water purification, air quality maintenance and climate regulation)

Regulating water quality:For information regarding the current state of water quality within this NCA, refer to the Environment Agency (Draft river basin management plan maps).

Regulating water flow: High levels of rainfall and the flashy nature of many of the NCA’s watercourses, as well as the issue of old mine workings that impact on drainage, lead to problems with flooding in several of
the area’s towns, including Truro, Par, St Austell and Hayle. Semi-natural habitats play an important part in helping to prevent flooding, and their creation or expansion may be used to help to protect towns.

Regulating coastal flooding and erosion: The overall objectives of the Shoreline Management Plan are to let the coastline naturally evolve unimpeded, but to support adaptation in and resilience of coastal settlements. This would provide for coastal change while maintaining the overall character. Most of the coast has exposed, open shorelines, but most coastal settlements have flood defences and, to some extent, the hard rock headlands and beach boundaries, typical of Cornwall, act as natural protection. For information regarding current shoreline management within this NCA, refer to the Environment Agency (Shoreline management plans).

Cultural services (inspiration, education and wellbeing)

Sense of inspiration: Cornwall has a strong sense of place, with high cliffs; intimate coves with sandy beaches; deep, wooded valleys; and rolling moorland – complemented by the irregular and ancient field patterns and variety of mixed land uses. The sense of place is enhanced by the ever-present influence of the Atlantic Ocean. The landscape has been and continues to be the inspiration for many artists, writers, poets and photographers.

Sense of history: There is a very strong sense of history, with evidence of human interaction with the landscape ranging from the history of farming traced in the area’s abundant archaeology and its intricate pattern of ancient fields, to the exploitation of mineral resources. There is a wealth of archaeological sites, including prehistoric cliff castles, hill forts and bowl barrows. This sense of history is further enhanced by the use of the Cornish language in place names and historical locations; these often provide information on former land use and associated ownership.

Tranquillity: Though much reduced since the 1960s, there are still tranquil areas in the wooded valleys and along the coast.

Recreation: There is an extensive rights of way network, more than 300 km of the South West Coast Path and a wealth of open access land. In addition there are parklands and estates. The area also has a coast that is famous for its recreation opportunities, which include surfing, sailing and walking.

Biodiversity: Some 2 per cent of the area is designated as SSSI. There are 8,000 ha of priority woodland habitat, along with 3,500 ha of maritime cliff and slope, 1,200 ha of lowland heathland, 1,200 ha of coastal sand dunes and 1,100 ha of fens. Other priority habitats include reedbeds, coastal and flood plain grazing marsh, purple moor-grass and rush pastures, and lowland calcareous grassland. Many of the SSSI support important species such as breeding avocets, little egret and populations of otters and marsh fritillary butterfly.

Geodiversity: The geological processes that underpin the area have assisted with the generation of Cornwall’s industrial and now cultural heritage. Part of the area is included within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage site. A diverse range of soils have developed through the interplay of climate, topography, vegetation and human influence, which in turn support the characteristic habitats and land use across the area.