PALMATE NEWT (TRITURUS HELVETICUS) ACTION PLAN

Compiled by The Wildlife Trust

Lead Agencies Public Sector Environment Agency

Voluntary Sector The Wildlife Trust

1 INTRODUCTION

The Palmate Newt does not merit the same level of protection nationally that is afforded to the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) yet it is much less common species in Northamptonshire. It is not even known if the species is native to the county. It has possibly been under-recorded because of its close resemblance to the much more common Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris).

2 CURRENT STATUS

2.1 International / National Status

The species is quite widespread over England, being found in 30 counties, although it appears in clusters. It is common in Western England, Scotland and Wales but rare in the East and the midlands of England (Amphibian atlas). Since 1960 there has been a noted decline in newt populations of all three of the native newt species and this decline still continues, though at a slower rate than in the 1960s.

The decline of this native species has prompted the Government to protect it under Section 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This forbids the commercial exploitation and destruction of Palmate Newts and unlicensed trade in specimens taken from the wild. The Bern Convention (1979) also protects the newt from exploitation and provides a framework for habitat protection.

2.2 Local Status

It is likely that this species is not indigenous to Northamptonshire, probably having been introduced over the years, yet because of its close resemblance to the Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris) it may have escaped detection. It is presently known from some five sites, of which it has been introduced to two (Northampton Red Data Book). Due to a lack of local level data collection the present population and status of the Palmate Newt are unknown.

3 CURRENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE

· Habitat loss is the main cause. Ponds in Britain are disappearing fast. Damage to terrestrial habitat surrounding ponds also means that sites can quickly become unusable.

· The loss of ponds can be attributed to changes in farming, increased development, declining water tables or neglect and succession. Ponds can be degraded relatively quickly by pollution, neglect or mismanagement eg stocking with large numbers of fish.

· The increase in use of fertilisers mean more nutrient rich ponds which the Palmate Newt dislikes.

4 CURRENT ACTION

Ponds where Palmate Newts are present are recognised as County Wildlife Sites.

5. PALMATE NEWT OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS

	Objective	Action	Lead Agency	Partners	TargetS
5.1	Policy and Legislation
	Objective One: Ensure the protection of the species under the instrumentation of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981	Implement the Countryside and Wildlife Act 1981	English Nature		Throughout the plan period
	Objective Two: Ensure that BAP species are given an appropriate level of protection in local plans	Include species protection policies in local plans and/or supplementary guidance	Local Authorities		By 2003
	Objective Three: Ensure that suitable ponds occupied by the Palmate Newts are given an appropriate level of protection in local plans	Designate all Palmate Newt sites as County Wildlife Sites (CWS)	Local Authorities		By 2003
5.2	Site Safeguard and Management
	Objective Four: Encourage landowners to manage ponds, including the surrounding terrestrial habitats, known to contain Palmate Newts in an appropriate manner	Develop and implement management plans for all known sites	Wildlife Trust		By 2003
5.3	Future Monitoring and Research
	Objective Five: Establish the current status of Palmate Newts in Northamptonshire	Survey suitable ponds for the presence of Palmate Newts	Wildlife Trust		By 2003
		Develop targets for the county’s Palmate Newt population following initial survey	Wildlife Trust	BAP partners	2003
	Objective Six: Research the requirements of Palmate Newts	Initiate a research project in to the habitat requirements of Palmate Newts in Northamptonshire	Wildlife Trust	University College Northampton	By 2003
		Following initial research establish a long-term monitoring scheme to assess status, and the effects that external influences and future plans have upon population	Wildlife Trust	University College Northampton	Commencing 2004
5.4	Review
	Objective Seven: Review the plan to assess progress and, where necessary, update and amend		Wildlife Trust	BAP Partners	2005
	Objective Eight: Publicise the progress made in delivering this Action Plan in a BAP Annual Report			BAP Partners	Annually

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