{"id":39397,"date":"2024-08-14T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a77377e4-6435-4b80-b0be-de328b1c7e90"},"modified":"2024-08-14T02:26:37","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T00:26:37","slug":"drought-the-biggest-threat-to-uk-nature-reserves-finds-new-report","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/drought-the-biggest-threat-to-uk-nature-reserves-finds-new-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Drought the biggest threat to UK nature reserves, finds new report\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pollution, invasive species and habitat fragmentation are also listed as threats in the Embracing Nature report, published today by The Wildlife Trusts. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 14 August 2024 at 00:00 AM<\/p>

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A new report by The Wildlife Trusts\u00a0identifies drought as the current leading threat to their 2,600 nature reserves. <\/strong><\/p>

The\u00a0Embracing Nature<\/a><\/em> report, published today,\u00a0predicts that drought, and other climate-related dangers such as heatwaves and wildfires, will continue to be the main threats to nature reserves<\/a> for the next 30 years.<\/p>

Pollution, invasive species and habitat fragmentation are also considered high risks.<\/p>

The report focuses on how The Wildlife Trusts \u2013 who are one of UK\u2019s largest landowners with nearly 100,000 hectares \u2013 can adapt to climate change.<\/p>

A wildfire burns through Portway Hill nature reserve (Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust). Credit: Andy Beaton<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Based on a predicted 2\u00b0C warming by 2100, half of The Wildlife Trusts’ reserves will be in areas at risk of extreme wildfire.<\/p>

Work to future-proof against climate change is already underway in nature reserves throughout the UK, with habitat regeneration, as well as restoration of peatlands, grasslands, woodlands, freshwater, marine and coastal areas a top priority.<\/p>

\u201cThe Wildlife Trusts are taking action to adapt to climate threats across all our land and marine habitats through helping nature to recover, slowing the flow of rivers, and restoring peatlands,” says Kathryn Brown, director of climate change and evidence at The Wildlife Trusts.<\/p>

“This, in turn, supports wildlife and people to be more resilient to drought, wildfire, heatwaves and flooding. Nature-based solutions are now nature-based necessities, and we must all embrace the role that nature can play in enabling landscapes to adapt.\u00a0<\/p>

\u201cWe’ve seen one climate record after another broken over the past 12 months. The UK\u2019s natural habitats, and the wildlife that depends on them, are under huge pressure so it\u2019s vital that UK Government raises ambition on adapting to climate change.\u201d<\/p>

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Lowland peat restoration at Bettisfield Moss in Shropshire. Credit: Shropshire Wildlife Trust<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Wildlife Trusts highlight several case studies where future-proofing projects are already underway.<\/p>

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire has boosted fenland resilience through its acquisition of Speechly\u2019s Farm. The 134 hectares of former degraded farmland now connects Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserves<\/a>, increasing the peatland restored in the Great Fen to 1,900 hectares. This has improved connectivity and the habitat will retain more carbon stores in times of drought.<\/p>

The Norfolk Wildlife Trust has been working with the Environment Agency to adapt Cley and Salthouse Marshes<\/a>. They have rejuvenated reedbeds and moved a section of the \u2018New Cut\u2019 flood drain to evacuate flood water more effectively and help the marshes maintain freshwater coastal habitats.<\/p>

Meanwhile, Manx Wildlife Trust has planted 8,000 trees to create a new temperate rainforest at Creg y Cowin and they are planning to plant a further 27,000 over the next four years.\u00a0As the canopy closes this will create a cool, damp refuge for animals away from extreme temperatures benefitting birds such as pied flycatcher and wood warbler<\/a>.<\/p>

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Restoration work can help to support species at risk, such as water vole (Arvicola amphibius), seen here in Kent. Credit: Terry Whittaker, 2020 Vision\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Embracing Nature<\/em>\u00a0report has been submitted to the UK Government under its Adaptation Reporting Power, a provision of the 2008 UK Climate Change Act which allows the government to invite organisations of strategic national importance to report on their adaptation activities.<\/p>

The Wildlife Trusts’ report includes a list of priorities that they believe the UK Government should commit to:<\/p>