Dorset's local nature recovery priority 12 priority species

Dorset’s priority species needing bespoke conservation action are supported and sustained.

Dorset’s priority species needing bespoke conservation action are supported and sustained.

Making more space for nature across the landscape will lead to an increase in the abundance and diversity of wildlife across Dorset. However, some species need bespoke action to enable their numbers to recover, increase and be sustained.

How were these species chosen?

To identify which species should be on this priority list, a group was formed with experts representing amphibians and reptiles, birds, fish, fungi, invertebrates, lichens, mammals and plants.

The group followed a process set out by Defra to:

create a longlist of almost 1,000 species that are characteristic of Dorset, at high risk of extinction or otherwise locally significant
select the 54 priority species from the longlist by identifying species requiring bespoke activities, and considering factors such as urgency, feasibility, climate change and existing work

There are 73 individual priority species but some have been grouped into assemblages where they require the same bespoke activities to reduce the list to 54. The potential activities for each species can be found in the Species Recovery document. Here you can also find details on the methodology, who was involved, and what species are on the long list.

Priority species

For the first section of the priority list the ambition is to reverse declines, for the second section of the list the ambition is to explore the potential for conservation translocation. It may not be possible to recover or reintroduce some of the priority species within the lifetime of the local nature recovery strategy, instead the potential activities for some species focus on better understanding evidence, risks, local views and deliverability.

Atlantic puffin

Barn owl

Crane

Grey partridge

Beach nesting bird assemblage

Common tern

Little tern

Sandwich tern

Ringed plover

Stone curlew

Swift

Hazel dormouse

Grey long-eared bat

Swarming bat assemblage

Brown long-eared

Common pipistrelle

Myotis group

Serotine

Western barbastelle

WBA group bat assemblage

Alcathoe bat
(image coming soon)

Brandt's bat

Whiskered bat

Atlantic salmon

European eel

Sea Lamprey

White-clawed crayfish

Potter flower bee

Long-horned bee

Dingy mocha

Barberry carpet moth

Micromoths of limestone cliffs assemblage

Cliff plume

Samphire knot-horn

Duke of burgundy

Lulworth skipper

Marsh fritillary

Richardson's case-bearer

Blackwort

Chalk threadworth

Stinking goosefoot

Thatch-moss

Seagrass beds assemblage

Dwarf eelgrass

Eelgrass

Priority species for conservation translocation

Potential activities for many of these species focus on better understanding evidence, risks, local views and deliverability. These are the steps needed towards the ambition for their reintroduction in future, rather than steps to complete a successful translocation within the lifetime of the local nature recovery strategy.

What is conservation translocation?

Conservation translocations are the deliberate movement and release of plants, animals or fungi into the wild for conservation purposes. When carefully planned and managed, this can enrich the natural environment and can often provide wider benefits for people.

The priority species list includes several species which are proposed for conservation translocation, or population enhancement for species already subject to translocation or reintroduction in England. Some species have been proposed because suitable habitat is now being restored, others are included because of their significant role in maintaining habitats and ecosystems.

Find out more about conservation translocations and their impacts in the Species Recovery supporting document, along with the potential activities for the priority species proposed for conservation translocation.