Siôn Brackenbury, Commons Vision and Aoife Ryan, Swansea University

with inputs from Professor A Street-Perrott, Phillip Harries and Robert Davidson

Using natural resources to improve ecosystem

resilience

Habitat failing condition Rhododendron Control Biodiversity benefit?

1. Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS)

2. Arisings 170 tonnes of phytomass per haDisposal by: •Burning•Decay in situ•Chipping/removal

3. Pyrolysis• Energy production• Managed emissions • Creation of biochars• Sequestration within soils

4: Amendment • Analysis of soils • Determination of key characteristics• Amendment of surface characteristics

Min

(mg/kg)

Max

(mg/kg)

Average

(mg/kg)

Normal

Background

Concentratio

ns (mg/kg)

Antimony 2 4 3.1 -

Arsenic 24.8 84.6 48.4 36

Beryllium 1.3 1.8 1.5 -

Cadmium 0 0 <0.1 1.4

Chromium 5.9 22.9 12.3 -

Copper 29 101 48.5 43

Lead 14 30 21.5 230

Mercury 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.25

Nickel 21.4 44.9 33.0 -

Selenium 2 4 2.8 -

Vanadium 10 18 14.2 -

Water soluble

Boron

0.2 0.5 0.3 -

Zinc 36 76 55.0 -

5. MitigationCombination of materials:•Composted bracken•Biochars and amended biochars•Testing

6. Habitat• Functional habitat?• Mixing within the soil profile• Immobilisation of metals• Sequestered carbon

7. Monitoring requirements On-going monitoring:•Vegetation development•Soils – physical and chemical properties•Life cycle analysis•Quantified carbon sequestered

Time

Ecological economics

Next steps: Experiments to mitigate impacts of INNS clearance on soils and biodiversity

Control Cleared Burned Dense

2015 Pot trials are up and running………

Contact:

Siôn BrackenburyCommons Vision Ltd

01994 240242

07879557740

sion@commonsvision.comwww.commonsvision.com