Natural world is under threat
May 19 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
THE importance of the natural environment to the North East is highlighted in a study out today which warns that this key asset faces increasing threats.
The report is Natural England’s first into the state of the natural environment and sees it call for a new approach to managing the natural environment if it is to stand any chance of adapting to the next 50 years of climate change and the modern pressures of development.
Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of Natural England, said: “We need a new approach to conservation if we are to effectively tackle the modern pressures on land created by climate change and development.
“We need to find ways to manage our landscape to create a mosaic of uses so that we can help wildlife survive – be it through a new national park around the length of England’s coastline, better use of the green belt or improved use of public funding for farmers to deliver a better natural environment.
“If we don’t act, there’s a real danger some of our most precious wildlife will be lost forever and our lives will be poorer for it.”
The report underlines the importance of the North East which has a very high proportion of designated landscapes – 30% of its area in comparison to 8% nationally.
In the North Pennines the region also has the largest of the three English Geoparks, designated because of the quality of their geological features, while Moor House/Upper Teesdale is the largest of the three English Biosphere reserves at 7,149 hectares.
The report outlines that the North East has over 20% of England’s upland heathlands and blanket bog in addition to 15% of the country’s sand dunes.
The region is the English stronghold of the red squirrel and has 70% of the known English and Welsh sites for the large heath butterfly, while the Tyne Bridge has the largest inland breeding population of kittiwakes in the UK and the Farne Islands have 75% of England’s grey seal population.
Its natural attractions pull in the visitors, with over 500,000 visits a year to Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve – the second highest number of visits to a Natural England managed NNR.
More than 15 million visits to the Northumberland National Park were made in 2005.
The North East has the highest percentage of its area mapped as open access (18.4%) which complements walking as being the most popular recreational activity (36%). The highest number of Doorstep Greens – 28 – have also been developed in the region.
Natural England’s report says that the natural environment in England is much less rich than 50 years ago and remains under pressure from a significant range of threats, including more intense use of the land and sea, continuing economic development and climate change.
The findings in the report have led Natural England to publish a Manifesto for the Natural Environment, which outlines what needs to be done to set the nation on a greener path by tackling difficult questions to help protect natural assets.
This will include helping find areas in England for renewable energy by publishing a map of suitable locations for onshore wind energy developments.
