Natural England ‘An innovative new approach to protecting great crested newts could enhance their population and reduce delays to major building projects. Natural England is launching a pilot project that will bring more flexibility to the licensing system for great crested newts, while providing more of the weedy ponds which they favour. The aim is to take a more strategic approach to the conservation of newts, ensuring that resources are focused on newt populations and habitat that will bring the greatest benefits to the species. At the same time it will make the licensing process much more straightforward for developers on sites where newts are present.

Species protected after significant decline   Great crested newts declined significantly in the previous century, resulting in them becoming protected under European and UK law. As a European Protected Species it is illegal to capture, kill, injure or disturb them without a licence from Natural England. Under the current system, developers on sites with great crested newts are required to carry out a survey and assessment before applying to Natural England for a licence to move the animals before building work can begin. This process is costly and time-consuming and, because it is restricted to the active season of great crested newts, presents a real risk of delay for development. 

DNA testing for newts in ponds

The ground-breaking approach, to be trialled by Natural England and Woking Borough Council in Surrey, will involve survey work to establish the size, location and connectivity of great crested newt populations. For this purpose, testing for traces of newt DNA in pond water has already been undertaken across Woking to establish where these amphibians live. This is a new survey technique, which will both improve knowledge of the species and save time and money on survey costs.

The survey information will be used to produce a local conservation plan for the newts, which will retain, enhance and link up the most significant populations of newts, identify areas where development will have the least impact and specify where new habitat will be created to ensure a healthy overall population.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/11878624/Great-crested-newts-will-no-longer-block-housing.html