ARCH partners will share information and jointly develop methods to assess the condition of habitats and species, improve the way in which they are mapped and use innovative techniques to secure their long term monitoring and conservation.Although habitats differ, partners have benefitted from a long-term shared desire to achieve these objectives, and to be able to offer a system for gathering, mapping, analyzing and using biodiversity information to scientists, planners and decision-makers in the 2 Seas area. The project will therefore ensure that base biological data on the extent and distribution of key habitats meets national and European objectives in terms of biodiversity protection in its area. It will firstly assess the extent and condition of biodiversity across Kent and Nord-Pas de Calais and then develop a geographical information system for habitat & biodiversity data use by land planners, and a ‘Planning Footprint Software’ tool, both of which will be developed jointly through working groups and crossborder seminars. They will also explore the use of further techniques for long-term monitoring, such as satellite generated imagery. Achievements: What were the key results of the project?In Kent:The ARCH data has been sent to all partners and each local authority received a DVD with their respective data. The data is also freely available via the Webportal (http://www.archnature.eu/navigator.html)In Nord-Pas de Calais:The ARCH data is accessible through a web portal or through the online mapping service. The partners will be informed and involved in further improvement and updating of ARCH data through a steering committee.Did all partners and territories benefit from the results?The target groups were:1. Local Authorities: Spatial planning and development control services, elected representatives, environment, economic and countryside services,2. Land advisors and wildlife advisors: Countryside management projects, farm and wildlife advisors, public and private land owners and developers3. Scientific and research community: Higher education, universities, research stations, natural history societies.4. Government departments and agencies at national and regional levelFinal beneficiaries: Interest groups, friends of groups, schools, tourist boards, residents, visitors and local volunteer groupsBenefits to territory:These include improved methods in which key species and habitats are maintained, restored and expanded and are mapped by the use of innovative techniques to secure their long term monitoring and conservation in the partnership areas. The project will also enable a wide range of stakeholders across Kent and Nord-Pas de Calais to use biodiversity information in a more efficient and precise manner, whilst contributing to halting biodiversity loss across Europe.What were the effects / outcomes for the territories involved?• improved access to up-to-data and detailed information on natural habitats• help planners to make informed decisions on spatial planning and to better take into account the importance of the condition and extend of the natural environment• assist the decision making process by the development of the new tools (planning application process and green & blue network policy)• contribution to an improved scientific knowledge on natural habitats and the assessment of their evolution