We can't afford to let the North East environment suffer

Jun 20 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

Environment Editor Tony Henderson on the pressures bearing down on the North East’s precious natural assets

Surviving climate change

SEVERAL Natural England projects revolve around tackling and adapting to climate change.

The organisation is preparing the way for a climate change adaptation study in south east Northumberland.

The region’s uplands already have the Peatscapes and Climate Proofing the Cheviots schemes. So it has been decided to choose a coastal district with significant urban areas.

The first results from the study should be available in the autumn.

Peatscapes is a project run by Natural England, the North Pennines AONB Partnership, the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water.

The North Pennines has 27% of England’s peatlands, and the project involves restoring upland blanket bogs by blocking drains. Peatlands are important for water quality and flood prevention, as a record of vegetation change over 10,000 years, as a habitat for birds and plant species and as a sink for carbon.

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill will also influence future projects.

Natural England will set up a network of marine protected areas and will provide access to the region’s 112 miles (180km) of coastline. At present only 66% is accessible.

Natural England provides £26m a year for the North East through the agricultural environmental stewardship scheme.

In urban areas the organisation is working to provide more green spaces.

This is seen as important health-wise for a region which has the lowest life expectancy at birth, the highest smoking rates, the most deaths from cancer, the second-highest rate of heart disease and 17% of the population living in the most deprived areas in England.