Adapting the natural environment for climate change

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Adapting the natural environment for climate
change
Stuart Pasley stuart.pasley_at_naturalengland.org.uk
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Rising to the Challenge

• Action 4.5Undertake scoping studies to assess
  future regional risks, opportunities and
  priorities forthe potential climate change
  impacts on the regions landscape, sensitive
  habitats and species

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Climate Change impacts on Englands natural
environment

• Wildlife is already being noticeably affected
•  
• Composition of habitats changing as species move
  in response to rising temperatures
• Changes to timings of seasonal events
• Will result in significant changes to
  characteristic landscapes from direct and
  indirect impacts
• Most serious threat to the long-term health and
  resilience of the natural environment
•  
•  

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Climate Change and Natural England

• A major policy priority
• Focus on adaptation
• Still playing a key role in mitigation.
• Pilot project to Assess the impact of Climate
  Change in four Joint Character Areas and develop
  a climate change response programme.

Cumbria High Fells
The Broads
Shropshire Hills
Dorset Downs Cranborne Chase
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(No Transcript)
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Pilot Methodology

• Valued environmental assets
• Predicted climate change
• Predicted impacts on assets
• Identify required adaptation responses
• Draft Strategy tested with Expert
  Stakeholders.
• Revise and finalise Strategy
• Develop resulting Implementation Plan

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Asset Map
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Predicted climate change in the Cumbria High Fells

• Evidence from the United Kingdom Climate Impacts
  Programme UKCIP 2002 climate change scenarios
  for the UK
• Over the coming Century, the climate in the
  Cumbria High Fells is expected to become warmer
  and wetter in winter and hotter and drier in
  summer.
• (NB UKCIP 08 and Environment Agencys EARWIG
  model)

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Likely Impacts of Climate Change on the Cumbria
High Fells.

• Due to temperature changes e.g.
• Some species likely to be lost - e.g. some artic
  alpine plants and cold
  water fish such as artic char.
• Upland areas will become vital cooler refuges for
  species moving from lower, warmer, levels.
• Shady woodland recreation likely to become
  increasingly attractive.
• Due to rainfall changes e.g.
• Summer drought likely to lead to reduced water
  quality availability.
• Peat-based habitats may to be lost through drying
  in summer.
• Footpath erosion likely to increase because of
  increased rainfall intensity.
• Due to increased storminess e.g.
• Some areas of semi-natural woodland may be opened
  up for natural regeneration.
• Ancient trees will be more susceptible to wind
  damage.
• Indirect Impacts caused by societys responses to
  climate change, rather than by climate change
  itself e.g.
• Intensification of grassland management and
  cultivation in the valley bottoms
• More commercial woodlands, providing wood for
  coppicing, charcoal production and fuel.
• Needs for food production because of food
  security concerns.

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Adaptation responses include

• Improving the condition of existing blanket bog
• Increasing use of subtle footpath building and
  management techniques
• Restoration and creating habitats
• Increase variation with existing habitats and
  landscapes
• Holistic catchment management
• Identifying research needs and commission
  appropriate studies
• Providing shade and drinking water at tourist
  attractions
• Restricting water-based recreation when water
  quality is poor
• Running a tiered fire risk warning system
• Assessing likely increases in visitor numbers and
  identify/manage areas at risk from negative
  impacts of recreation
• Encouraging and enabling behaviour change
• Improve public transport facilities
• Adjusting species used in planting programmes
• Continuing to remove conifers from upland
  broadleaved woodlands
• Pollarding and re-planting ancient and parkland
  trees
• Recording field patterns, structures and known
  archaeology.

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Flora of the Fells visualisation.The High
Fells going from this.
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..to this?
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Overall conclusion for the Cumbria High Fells

• The Cumbria High Fells is a large and complex
  area, with a varied topography and relatively
  rich mosaic of habitats.
• Consequently, it will be more resilient than
  many other areas in England to the impacts of
  climate change.
• However, it will become an increasingly vital
  upland refuge, making adaptive action crucial.

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Conclusions from pilot process?

• Not drastic!
• Probably dont need shed loads of money (and
  anyway, the do nothing options will cost money
  too)
• Will bring many other (ecosystem service)
  benefits to society, above and beyond climate
  change adaptation of the natural environment.
• Cant be delivered by any one organisation
  working in isolation needs broad partnership.
• Not just a job for conservationists needs
  action by wide range of organisations to bring
  benefits/avoid costs to society as a whole.

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Next Steps

• Reports being launched next week.
• An Implementation Plan with local stakeholders,
  through the Lake District Partnership.
• Assessing how an adapted Cumbria High Fells would
  contribute to mitigation.
• An economic assessment of adaptation measures.
• Learning from the pilot process to apply a
  streamlined methodology to other areas

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A Regional Adaptation Strategy for the natural
environment.

• 75,000 from the Regional Climate Change Action
  Plan
• Using the streamlined methodology across the
  North West
• An adaptation strategy for the natural
  environment
• Working closely with the Climate Change Unit and
  other partners
• Close links to Action 4.3 The potential for
  Green Infrastructure
• Well be wanting to work with you and many other
  partners in the process over the next 18 months.

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For further information, please
contactstuart.pasley_at_naturalengland.org.ukor
ian.crosher_at_naturalengland.org.ukorwww.natur
alengland.org.uk