Natural England

Action is needed now to prevent the loss of some of the UK's most valued plants and wildlife as a result of climate change, according to a new report launched by Natural England.

The MONARCH report illustrates potential impacts of climate change on some of our most rare or threatened species, under different projected levels of greenhouse gas emissions to the 2080s.

The report is the result of a seven-year research programme, led by Natural England in partnership with conservation bodies throughout the UK.

'Climate change is the most serious threat to biodiversity in the 21st Century. It is already happening and its impacts will continue for decades to come'

Environment Minister Barry Gardiner said, "Climate change is the most serious threat to biodiversity in the 21st Century. It is already happening and its impacts will continue for decades to come. We need to take action now to ensure that our plants and wildlife are able to adapt."

Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of Natural England, said, "In order to help species migrate and adapt to climate change in a managed environment there is a pressing need for land mangers and farmers to start to work with us to look at ways of adapting their practices and land to help create new habitats.

"We need to start planning now so that super eco-highways to link existing habitats with new ones are in place when we will desperately need them. This requires a new partnership between Britain's farmers and Natural England to use existing farmland in a creative way."

Mr Gardiner also launched "Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate", guidance which explains six key strategies that can be used now by land managers, to help wildlife adapt to climate change. The guidance recommends that to allow species to find new homes as climate changes, it will be necessary to manage entire landscapes, not just the protected sites where species now occur.

Climate Change and Environment Minister, Ian Pearson said, "Climate change is already a reality - action must be taken now if we are not to see a deeper decline in global biodiversity.

"MONARCH highlights the need to consider biodiversity issues in all adaptation planning across the UK. Successful adaptation measures for nature conservation need decades to become effective. That is why adaptation planning must start now. This must be combined with meaningful international efforts to reduce emissions, such as investment in clean energy technologies and action to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency."

See the full press release.