What Is a Habitat Suitability Index (“HSI”)?
This Habitat Suitability Index is a method that allows our surveyors to evaluate the general likelihood of a pond to be occupied by great crested newts.
How Are HSI’s Measured?
It uses ten suitability indices which are factors acknowledged to affect great crested newts and can be calculated at any time of the year, however the period between May and late-September is most suitable.
The HSI involves assigning a numerical value to each variable on its relative importance to the newt’s ecology and then putting them into an overall index of the suitability.
Greenlight’s experienced ecologists use the HSI to support planning applications and ecological impact assessments, ensuring compliance with legislation and best practice.
Contact Us
If you need advice on HSI assessments, get in touch with us today.