Current status
The sand lizard is under threat throughout its palearctic range and beyond. In the UK, natural populations have disappeared over much of its former range, including coastal dunes and the Wealden heaths, and were lost from the New Forest and from Wales. Surviving colonies are mostly confined heathland habitats within coniferous forests, dry heaths of south Dorset, with only a few populations remaining in heathlands of south-west Surrey and the Merseyside sand dunes and one long established, introduced colony in Scotland on the Isle of Coll. The species is absent from Northern Ireland. Sand lizards have recently been re-introduced to sites in the New Forest, the Weald and Wales.
Populations are declining in Belgium, Denmark, northern France, northern Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden. It is listed on Annex IV of the Habitats Directive and Annex II (and Recommendation 26) of the Bern Convention. It is protected under Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations, 1994 (Regulation 38) and Schedule 5 of the WCA 1981.
Current factors causing loss or decline
Loss, deterioration and fragmentation of heathland and dune habitat to a wide range of competing uses and pressures, for example development, forestry, mineral extraction, etc.
Birch, pine, bracken and other scrub (for example Gaultheria shallon) encroachment of dune and heathland habitats.
Uncontrolled fires.
Shortage of suitable breeding sand on heathland sites.
Current action
Populations have been successfully re-introduced to some heaths in south-east England, Dorset and Wales. An introduction to the Inner Hebrides has survived for 25 years.
Research on distribution, status and habitat resulted in a programme of habitat management led by the British Herpetological Society (BHS), grant-aided by the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the statutory agencies. This has recently been expanded by the Herpetofauna Conservation Trust (HCT). A programme of translocations to former sites is continuing work begun by BHS in the 1970s.
This species is the subject of a 3-year Species Recovery Programme, initiated in 1994 by CCW, NE, HCT and WWF.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Encourage the development and uptake of management schemes and incentive payments for heathland management and restoration in southern England and ensure that these include provision to assist sand lizard conservation. While these schemes are predominantly in southern England such mechanisms may also be appropriate elsewhere. Prepare specific provisions for sand lizard conservation for inclusion in such schemes (Action: MAFF, HCT and NE)
Consider removal of limited areas of woodland on former heathland to allow linkages of fragmented heathland populations and expand populations within forests. (ACTION: FA, FE)
Seek to ensure that dune management policies are consistent with sand lizard needs in occupied areas (Action: LAs, NE, NT, MoD, HCT)
Review Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981and Habitats Regulations 1994 to ensure they provide adequate protection for and means of conserving sand lizards and provision for enforcement to allow these to be effective (Action: DETR, police/PAW, JNCC)
Review and amend planning guidance (e.g. PPG 9 in England), practice and policies to reflect the importance of the planning process in achieving BAP targets and fully implement the EC Habitats Directive (Action: DETR, LAs, NE, ALGE, HCT/Froglife/HGBI to advise)
Site safeguard and management
Review SSSI coverage of sand lizard sites in Wales and England and seek to ensure all significant populations are designated (Action: CCW and NE)
Identify all sites with sand lizards to LAs for identification in Development Plans. (ACTION: CCW, NE, LAs)
Consider habitat re-creation on suitable heathland and dune vegetation to consolidate and expand the current range (Action: CCW, NE, FA, FE, LAs, MAFF, MoD, other land owners, HCT and WTs)
Develop standard guidance and protocols to ensure consistent high quality advice and clear working practices in reptile casework (to inform developers, consultants and LAs) (Action: NE, CCW, SNH, HCT and Froglife/HGBI, IEEM, Consultants, ALGE)
Species management and protection
Ensure sand lizard needs are catered for in programmes of cutting, burning or grazing management on sites supporting populations or likely to do so (Action: CCW, NE, SNH, NT, RSPB, LAs, HCT)
Maintain all breeding populations at current levels and enhance where possible (Action: CCW, NE and SNH and HCT to advise in advisory and funding role: action for all land owners and managers)
Where feasible, and following the identification of suitable sites, consider 10 translocations to re-establish the former range and distribution of the species in suitable habitats (for example coastal sand dunes). (ACTION: CCW, NE)
Develop local / Regional plans / SAPs/ BAPs to set sand lizard conservation in a local context in all areas currently with the species and those where reintroduction would be appropriate (Action: LAs, NE, CCW, HCT, ARGs, WTs)
Prepare site management objectives for sand lizards and ensure that specific conservation measures for the species are included in all plans and management schemes for all designated sites (statutory and ‘second tier’ designations) and nature reserves with this species. These should consider the relevance of the site relative to adjacent populations, etc. (Action: NE, CCW, HCT, WTs, Las
Identify a re-introduction rationale and list of proposed sites and areas by 2000. Initiate 3 translocations by 2005 and a further 3 initiated by 2010. (Action: HCT with CCW, NE, ARGs/WTs, LAs and landowners)
Further develop and refine captive breeding programme following a review of its role and function (Action: HCT, Zoos, NE, CCW)
Advisory
Ensure that relevant LAs and landowners and managers of sites containing sand lizard are aware of its needs, legal status and importance of conserving the species and that advice on its management is available (Action: CCW, NE, FA, SNH, LAs, HCT/ARGs)
Provide detailed information about the conservation and management needs of sand lizards through written advice and training, etc, so that the necessary management can be taken forward (Action: NE, CCW with HCT/WWF)
Produce a simple leaflet identifying conservation needs and aims of the SAP for general circulation (Action: HCT with NE)
Future Research and Monitoring
Investigate and refine methods for permanently controlling and redressing habitat degradation by bracken and Gaultheria shallon. (Action: CCW, NE, JNCC, MAFF and HCT: link to Heathland HAP project)
Evaluate the genetic difference between the Merseyside, Weald and Dorset populations (Action: NE, JNCC, Sussex University and HCT)
Encourage the regular monitoring of known populations, devise monitoring objectives and devise a meaningful and repeatable method for assessing the status of these populations (Action: CCW, NE, JNCC, ARGs: co-ordinated by HCT)
Develop, and populate with data, rare reptile database(s) and develop protocols and agreements for exchange and use of data. Link this action to 5.2.1 and 5.2.2. (Action: JNCC, HCT, ARGs, Sefton MBC, LRCs)
Evaluate the impact of grazing management on sand lizards and identify appropriate protocols, if necessary (Action: NE/ Heath HAP SG, HCT)
Determine means of lessening impact of cats (domestic and feral) on sand lizard populations (Action: NE/RSPCA/HCT)
Develop and populate with data, rare reptile database(s) and develop protocols and agreements for exchange and use of data. Link this action to 5.2.1 and 5.2.2 (Action: JNCC, HCT, ARGs, Sefton MBC, LRCs)
Communications and Publicity
Publicise the importance, rarity and conservation needs of sand lizard through the use of interpretative materials and the involvement of the media, zoos and other captive collections. (Action: CCW/NE/HCT/Zoos)
Links with other action plans
None given.