127 - Isle of Wight : Natural Capital and Key Ecosystem Services

Introduction

The Isle of Wight 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 Isle of Wight 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:
 

• 17: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Provisioning services (food, fibre and water supply)

Food provision: The geology, temperate climate and diversity of landform have given rise to a mixed patchwork of agriculture. Agricultural census data from 2010 indicates that the major farm types are cereals and grazing livestock, with some dairy and specialist pigs. However, the sunny climate also gives rise to vineyards and niche crops such as garlic, chilli and asparagus.

Water availability: There are three major aquifers on the Isle of Wight, all of which are over-abstracted. The largest abstraction is for public water supply and comes from surface and groundwater. Extra need for water is met by the importing of water from the rivers Test and Itchen in Hampshire through an under-sea pipeline, which supplies about a quarter the Island’s needs. Agriculture and horticulture are important economic activities that are reliant on water resources for irrigation, but most growers have constructed or are constructing winter-fill reservoirs. For information regarding the current state of water availability within this NCA, refer to the Environment Agency (Abstraction Licensing Strategy).

Genetic diversity: The Island’s sunny climate affords suitable growing conditions for a range of more non-traditional crops such as garlic. The Island is now England’s largest specialist garlic grower, supplying all areas of the mainland.

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

Climate regulation: Biological carbon storage in this NCA is limited because of the relatively small areas of mature woodland and wetlands, although there is some peat in the latter. The majority of the Island’s soils are mineral soils, which can be low in organic matter where they are under continuous arable cultivation. Some of the flood plain soil types include small areas of peaty soils, while some coastal soils may have more organic-rich topsoils all of which capture carbon. The woodland cover also contributes to the capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

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 coastal erosion: The coast is of particular significance to this Island NCA for tourism, coastal towns and villages and supports a rich diversity of geological features and coastal habitats. The geology of the coast has responded to marine erosion to produce a cliff-line that varies greatly in terms of erosion rates and landslide activity. The south coast is particularly vulnerable to storm waves from the Atlantic.

Cultural services (inspiration, education and wellbeing)

Sense of place/inspiration: Sense of place is defined by the diversity of this Island landscape, which represents a microcosm of much of southern lowland England within one small area. The coastline, half of which has Heritage Coast recognition, contains an unparalleled array of internationally important geology, geomorphology and habitats, ranging from the chalk stacks of the Needles and the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay through to the vegetated landslips of the Undercliff and the estuarine habitats of the north coast. The high quality of the landscape is recognised through the designation of about half of the Island as the Isle of Wight AONB. Feelings of inspiration and escapism are particularly associated with the elevated chalk downs that offer far-reaching views over the sea and large parts of the Island. The landscape has influenced and inspired generations of poets and artists, including Keats and Alfred Lord Tennyson, who lived in Farringford House.

Sense of history: The history of the landscape is most evident in its close relationship with the sea, which has been a key part of life since prehistoric times; for example, Brading Marshes has evidence of Roman trade with mainland Europe. There are also visually prominent prehistoric burial mounds or barrows on the chalk ridge, Roman and medieval settlements, and several historic buildings such as Yarmouth and Carisbrooke castles. Settlement pattern varies, from small linear villages to Victorian seaside resorts, estates and villas along the coast. Traditional buildings are constructed in characteristic local limestone and sandstones. There are seaside settlements with a high proportion of Victorian houses and associated exotic gardens along the Undercliff. Queen Victoria’s decision to live at Osborne House created a renowned, longstanding royal historic connection to the Isle of Wight. The Island has played a vital part in England’s maritime history as the prime defence of the Solent ports.

Tranquillity: Feelings of tranquillity, escapism and inspiration are particularly associated with the elevated chalk downs, as well as the more intimate estuarine habitats, valleys and the quieter villages. Almost the whole of the western half of the Island remains undisturbed, apart from the urban areas around Totland and Newtown and the route of the A3054. The lack of light pollution means that the Island has a high proportion of ‘dark skies’, especially in comparison with the rest of south-east England.

Recreation: Recreation is a key feature of the Island and is supported by a relatively high density of rights of way and nearly 2,000 ha of open access land, including woodland, with the Tennyson Trail stretching from the Needles to Carisbrooke Castle and offering far-reaching views from the chalk ridge. Seaside resorts such as at Ventnor, Ryde, Alum Bay and Blackgang Chine offer traditional family recreational opportunities. Maritime activities are important, and the Solent is one of the busiest sailing waters in the world. There is a range of nationally renowned recreation events which bring large crowds to the Island, such as the Round the Island Race, Old Gaffers regatta, walking festivals and the Wight Challenge triathlon. The Isle of Wight Festival is established as one of England’s most popular music festivals.

Biodiversity: The Isle of Wight has several international designations, including an SPA, five SAC and a Ramsar site, while the 41 SSSI (largely in favourable or unfavourable recovery) cover nearly 3,000 ha of the NCA. The north coast of the Island forms part of the Solent European Marine Sites, a collective designation covering the internationally important areas of the Solent. The Solent and Southampton Water, (the Ramsar site and the SPA,) support internationally important numbers of wintering waterfowl, important breeding gull and tern populations and an important assemblage of rare invertebrates and plants. Some 5,000 ha of the NCA is covered by semi-natural habitats that include wet woodland, lowland mixed deciduous and beech and yew woodland, maritime cliff and slope, lowland calcareous grassland, coastal and flood plain grazing marsh, and lowland heathland and reedbeds. These habitats support a range of species, some of which are unique to the Island or are thriving due to the protection given to them by the Solent, including two of England’s most endangered species, the red squirrel and dormouse, Other important species are Glanville fritillary butterfly, bat species, field cow- wheat, early gentian and wood calamint.

Geodiversity: The Isle of Wight possesses some of the best sites in Europe for dinosaur remains, as well as a diverse and often abundant source of other fossils. The Island’s Cretaceous cliffs and Palaeogene coast reveal evidence of dinosaurs, ancient seas and ice-age landscapes. The Ventnor Undercliff on the southern coast is the most populated rotational landslide complex in north- western Europe, and the distinctive ‘Needles’ chalk outcrop provide some of England’s most famous coastal landmarks. This range of geology determines and influences the soils, drainage and various habitats and human activities found across the area. The opportunity to observe, record and interpret all these geological formations and geomorphological processes makes an important contribution to research and education.