#24 - UK Habitat Classification System and the Digital Ecologist: interview with Paul Losse, Salix Ecology

Welcome to the first episode in a brand new season of the Ecology Academy podcast! In this month's episode we focus on delivering everything you need to know about the UK Habitat Classification System (UKHab) and why, as a digital ecologist, it matters. Our Guest Our guest on this episode is Paul Losse of Salix Ecology.  Paul worked as a Conservation Officer and Senior Specialist (land management and conservation) for English Nature and Natural England for 10 years. His roles have included providing advice to land owners on ecology, wildlife legislation, conservation land management, and carrying out habitat surveys. He has provided training and guidance to developers and local authorities on cases where nature conservation and protected species issues arise. Paul also has nine years experience as a training consultant in the public sector. Paul is the instructor on our popular training course, Introduction to QGIS for Ecologists. UK Habitat Classification System The UK Habitat Classification System was launched in 2018 and is a free-to-use, unified, and comprehensive approach to classifying habitats. It has been designed to provide a simple and robust approach to survey and monitoring for the 21st century. The new classification, which covers terrestrial and freshwater habitats, is flexible enough for use in a wide range of survey types from walkover surveys of small urban sites to regional and national scale rural habitat mapping. The classification, which includes a comprehensive Professional Edition and an abridged Basic Edition, will be a valuable tool for species and habitat research, ecological impact, ecosystem services, and biodiversity net gain assessments. Ecology Academy News Our popular 'Career Accelerator for Aspiring Ecological Consultants' course is back and we are ready for a brand new cohort of motivated students. This eight week online modular course kicks off on 17 October 2022 and will enable students/recent graduates/career changers to take significant steps towards achieving a permanent position as an ecological consultant in the UK. To find out more about the course, or to enrol today, please click here.   Don't forget that you can follow us or get in touch via our socials or at [email protected]:  Website: https://training.ecologyacademy.co.uk/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecology-academy/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecologyacademy  Instagram: @ecology_academy  Twitter: @ecology_academy