An interactive map of all the Manx Wildlife Trust nature reserves has been put on an app.

The charity has 25 nature reserves here, in 13 of the Isle of Man’s parishes, which cover just over 143 hectares, or 0.25%, of the island.

They include a number of priority habitats, such as sand dunes, heather moorland, orchid meadows, curragh, wood glens and important areas for wildlife in Onchan and Port Erin.

A recent collaboration between MWT and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture has seen an interactive map of all of these sites uploaded onto the publicly-available ’Island Environment’ mapping app.

DEFA’s interactive map of the Isle of Man shows areas protected and designated for nature conservation, such as national nature reserves, marine nature reserves, areas of special scientific interest, bird sanctuaries, registered tree areas and even individual registered trees.

Designated wildlife sites have now also been included on the map. These are areas of special ecological or geological importance, which although not having statutory protection, are recognised by government policy.

As of February 2022, there are 67 designated wildlife sites covering 3,038 hectares, or 2.15%, of the island.

A policy within the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 states that development that would adversely affect such areas will not be permitted. Previously, such boundaries were depicted only in low-resolution images within area plans. Now they can be accessed from any internet-capable device, outlined on either a map or up-to-date satellite imagery.

Leigh Morris, MWT chief executive officer, said: ’The MWT is proud to manage some of the most important areas for nature in our Biosphere, which is reflected in the status of five of our reserves being designated as areas of special scientific interest and four being of international importance.

’The addition of MWT nature reserves and designated wildlife sites to Island Environment is a significant step towards forming a nature recovery network on the Isle of Man.

’Under the auspices of the UNESCO Biosphere, we are working with DEFA to launch a nature recovery network which will identify and map all protected and important areas of nature on land and at sea, and work to ensure they are expanded, enhanced and better connected by 2030.

’At present, 10.8% of the Manx territorial sea, and 18.5% of our land is designated for nature. We are calling for these figures to grow to 30% by 2030.’