TRANSLOCATION OF HABITAT FOR THE SNAIL VERTIGO-MOULINSIANA IN ENGLAND

Discovery of populations of the marsh snail Vertigo moulinsiana near a nd within the route of a new road in southern England whilst site clea rance was in progress, caused the urgent development of a strategy to protect the animals. The snail's inclusion on Annex II of the European Habitats & Species Directive made it vital for appropriate action to be implemented to protect the snail along the proposed road. As it was not feasible to change the route it was decided to translocate the we tland habitat supporting the Vertigo moulinsiana populations to places off-route. As a further safeguard, new marsh habitat was created to p rovide the opportunity for V. moulinsiana colonisation. The methods of translocation and the subsequent monitoring programme are described. Early results indicate that the translocation of snail rich vegetation has been successful and that the snails are breeding.