Study recognises key to future conservation success
Thursday 11th March 2010
A new wildlife audit highlights the need for a landscape-scale approach to conservation, allowing species and habitats room to manoeuvre and adapt to climate change pressures, according to The Wildlife Trusts.
Paul Wilkinson, head of A Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, acknowledges the Natural England report - Lost Life: England’s Lost and Threatened Species - which highlights that habitat loss, inappropriate management, environmental pollution and pressure from non-native species have all played a part in the erosion of England’s wildlife.
The Wildlife Trusts have been working to address such issues for many years and launched their visionary approach to landscape-scale conservation for the UK – A Living Landscape - in November 2006.
As the impacts of climate change increase, wildlife will need to move freely between suitable habitats. Now The Wildlife Trusts are running more than 100 Living Landscape schemes across the UK, covering more than 1.4m hectares. The Wildlife Trusts are working with farmers, local authorities, communities, businesses, and other partners, to restore the natural landscape, to reconnect large areas of land, to create wildlife corridors; enabling habitats to cope with change and securing a more prosperous future.
The Natural England audit shows pressures on wildlife and ecosystems are increasing but highlights notable successes. The Wildlife Trusts strongly support the recognition given to their vital approach which focuses on restoration across entire landscapes.
The Wildlife Trusts have long been campaigning for A Living Landscape where a joined-up approach is taken to agriculture, planning, wildlife protection and water management. The Wildlife Trusts believe that without this approach wildlife, people, and natural resources will be much less resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Paul Wilkinson, said: “A Living Landscape is our vision for a UK where people are inspired by, and engaged in, protecting the wildlife they experience, from colourful wildflowers to tranquil woodlands, and where they appreciate the many ways it supports their quality of life.
“In A Living Landscape, wildlife and habitats are recovering and our use of the land is more environmentally sustainable. The natural environment is adapting well to climate change and natural systems like flood protection and pollination, which are essential to supporting life, are being restored and helping to reduce climate impacts.”
Story by RSWT