Selfguiding Trail
Natural Assets
Recommendations

1	Natural assets are important for local identity and raising awareness of environmental issue
	Natural assets can define the character of a local area and provide an opportunity to enrich and promote a development either for local interest or as a tourist attraction. They also form part of the ecosystem and if lost or compromised the damage caused can be far-reaching. An example of this can be found in the Case Study: “Estuary Angelica” as well as the brochure Rediscover the river. Case Study Estuary Angelica.pdf (150 KB) Rediscover the River.pdf (Respect and Transform) (190 KB)
2	Local legal frameworks require a habitat management plan and monitoring of habitats to ensure their conservation and protection.
	The different national and local legal frameworks relating to habitat management may be found in the REVIT heritage report. This report illustrates the situation as it was at that time (2004), but be aware that this may have changed in the meantime subsequently. A management plan and inventory should be developed, and these should be regularly monitored before, during and after development of a brownfield site. This may form part of a legal agreement and/or planning permission for the site. A case study on management and monitoring plans can be found in the “Case Study Estuary Angelica” Case Study Estuary Angelica.pdf (150 KB) REVIT Heritage Report.pdf (1.7 MB)
3	Establish your natural assets early in the project. This may require careful timing and specialist expertise.
	With a brownfield site it is essential to know all the constraints of the site in order to identify the risks and costs associated with it. This needs to be done early in the project since there are risks of delays dictated by the seasons and national regulations regarding the timing of ecological surveys. These may be found in the REVIT heritage report. If insufficient time is allowed for this considerable delays may result, causing delays and additional costs and risks to the project. REVIT Heritage Report.pdf (3.0 MB)
4	Ensure that all interest groups are acknowledged in decisions regarding the treatment of natural assets in a brownfield site development.
	There may be many different types of stakeholder groups involved, including voluntary organisation, interest groups, professionals, contractors, public agencies and enforcement agents. Guidelines to assist in identifying stakeholders and their respective roles can be found in the REVIT Stakeholder Engagement Toolkit. Stakeholder Engagement – A Toolkit.pdf (1.7 MB)
5	Brownfield sites may have unique habitats that have developed as a result of dereliction. Be aware of legislative framework related to natural assets.
	Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)

Selfguiding Trail Natural Assets Recommendations

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Selfguiding Trail
Natural Assets
Recommendations