The objective of the priority habitat map in England is to:• help organisations protect the most natural remaining examples of rivers from further impacts on natural processes, and
• highlight any aspects of habitat integrity (hydrological, chemical, physical, biological) that could most usefully be improved.
The priority river habitat map that has been produced is an English interpretation of the UK definition of priority river habitat, focusing on naturalness as the principal criterion in recognition of the vital importance of natural processes in delivering sustainable riverine habitats and supporting characteristic biodiversity.Full metadata can be viewed on data.gov.uk.