Transcript Adaptation for High Biodiversity Under Climate Change

Adaptation for High Biodiversity Under
Climate Change
John Hopkins, Natural England
Biodiversity South West Partnership
Taunton
12 March 2008
Observed biodiversity change
Oak first leafing dates
British thermophilous fauna
Silver spotted skipper
Sparks 2003
Hickling et al. 2006
Phenology
Range change
Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
Peat decomposition
Habitat preference
change
R.Meade
Roy et al. 2001
Changing abundance
Ecosystem process change
UK Biodiversity Partnership Climate Change
Guidelines : May 2007
http://www.ukbap.org.uk/Library/BRIG/CBCCGuidance.pdf
Starting principles
Actions we can start now – not requiring
new policy or legislation
No regrets – they would be good things to
do even if we did not face climate change
Set the direction of change not the final
destination
The Guidelines (page 10-11)
1 Conserve existing biodiversity
1a Conserve Protected Areas and other high quality habitats
1b Conserve range and ecological variability of habitats and
species
2
Reduce sources of harm not linked to climate
3 Develop ecologically resilient and varied landscapes
3a Conserve and enhance local variation within sites and
habitats
3b Make space for the natural development of rivers and coasts
4 Establish ecological networks through habitat protection,
restoration and creation
5 Make sound decisions based on analysis
5a Thoroughly analyse causes of change
5b Respond to changing conservation priorities
6 Integrate adaptation and mitigation measures into
conservation management, planning and practice
Guideline 1a. Conserve Protected Areas and other
high quality habitats.
Change to protected
area and other high
quality wildlife habitat
will occur.
Managed properly these
areas will continue to
support higher diversity
than the surrounding
countryside.
Significant and
important uplands
occur outside areas
designated for
biodiversity
conservation.
Mountain ringlet
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Adonis blue butterfly
Guideline 1b. Conserve range and ecological variability of
habitats and species.
Alan Barnes
Martin Warren
Leptidea sinapis
Euphydryas aurinia
Guideline 2. Reduce sources of harm not linked to
climate
Figure 1 "Quality of Life" headline indicator: wild bird
populations
140
120
all species (105)
Index (1970 = 100)
100
80
w oodland (33)
60
farmland (19)
40
20
0
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
Dispersal – General principles
Dispersal – General Principles
Greene & Calogeropoulos 2002
“Ecological climate” is fine grained and complex.
Intellectual property rights IMAGE2000 of JRC,
based on Landsat 7 ETM+ (c) ESA, distributed by
Eurimage; ortho-correction EU15 (c) Metria,
ortho-correction other countries GISAT; mosaic
production GISAT
Slope and sunlight
Slope and sunlight.
4.8.MJ
14.2 MJ
per square meter.
per square meter.
North Facing
South Facing
Valley at 30˚N, 15 January
Guideline 3a. Conserve and enhance local variation within
sites and habitats
Vulnerable
Resilient
Restoration option
Temperature and altitude
Bonan 2002
Guideline 3a. Conserve and enhance local variation within
sites and habitats
Vulnerable
Resilient
Restoration option
Vegetation and microclimate
Changing vegetation
structure changes
microclimate.
Temp.
Co
Butser Hill, Hampshire
Sward height cm.
Summer Temperature under Hippocrepis
comosa plants of varied height.
J.A.Thomas 1990
Adonis blue butterfly
Habitat fragmentation : Dorset heaths.
1811
1934
1896
1960
Moore 1962
Guideline 4: Establish ecological networks through
habitat protection, restoration and protection
Marsh fritillary butterfly
Habitat Networks
100 Largest habitat networks in England for heathland,
woodland and mire, fen and bog. Grey areas indicate large
urban settlements.
Why take a landscape-scale approach?
1. It is not just about climate change.
2. Plant and animal communities are not closed systems –
there is continuing species turn over – species
conservation goals should be set at landscape and regional
species pool level.
3. Many species “populations” are naturally dynamic e.g. open
populations, meta-populations, shifting cloud, etc.
4. Many habitats, and their associated species, are naturally
components of dynamic landscapes e.g. scrub, riverine
habitats, many standing waters and wetlands, most coastal
habitats.
5. Historic environment, geology and people’s enjoyment of
the countryside are best understood at a landscape scal
6. If we are to solve the problems of the freshwater
environment we will need to work at catchment scale.
What does an integrated approach look like?
SSSIs, SACs, SPAs, AONBs and
National Parks in England
Netherlands Ecological Network
BRIG Climate Change Working Group
•
•
•
•
Hilary Alison, Woodland Trust
Clive Walmsely, Countryside Council for Wales
Martin Gaywood, Scottish Natural Heritage
Georgina Thurgate, Department of the Environment,
Northern Ireland
• John Hopkins, Natural England
Acknowledgments
Professor Chris Thomas, York University
Professor Kevin Gaston, University of Sheffield
Animal and Plant Science Dept. University of Sheffield
Natural England Library Staff