- 5 Mar 2015
Urban Green is ready to offer eDNA testing to developers in the North West.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) testing is a new survey technique that can help determine the presence or absence of great crested newts in ponds. Instead of tradition surveys, the ecologist could instead do an environmental DNA (eDNA) survey. This involves collecting a sample of water and testing it for traces of DNA to see whether newts are present.
Since only one survey visit is required, in some circumstances eDNA testing has the potential to greatly reduce the level of survey effort required, which until now had always been 4 visits between March and June. The potential cost and time saving is obvious.
Natural England will accept eDNA test results as evidence of presence or absence of great crested newt from consultants. The new technique provides an additional option which developers may choose to use when undertaking presence and absence surveys.
A detailed sampling and analysis protocol has been devised and, providing this is followed, both Natural England and Natural Resources Wales will accept eDNA test results as evidence of presence or absence (Scottish Natural Heritage does not yet have a formal position statement on eDNA).
