South Downs Centre SOUTH DOWNS North Street Midhurst West Sussex NATIONAL PARK GU29 9DH T: 01730 814810 SOUTHDOWNS.GOV.UK Climate Change Adaptation Plan SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK Climate Change Adaptation Plan Pond dipping in July ©SDNPA/ Mischa Haller 2 South Downs National Park CONTENTS Introduction 04 The National Park Partnership 06 Management Plan Why produce a climate change 07 adaptation plan? Building resilience into ecological 08 networks The Adaptation Approach 09 (methodology) Evidence Base 10 National level projections till 2050 11 Primary habitats vulnerable to 12 climate change Impacts and observed changes on key 13 National Park assets and interests Ecosystem Services and climate change 20 Assessment of the risks and 22 opportunities Summary of high risk impacts over 24 short, medium and long term Interdependencies, barriers 25 and opportunities Next Steps – Implementing and 26 reviewing the Action Plan Annexes Annex 1 – Ecosystem Service Impacts 28 Annex 2 – Assessment of the principal 38 climate change risks and opportunities Annex 3 – Climate Change Action Plan 80 Annex 4 – Policy responses to climate 98 change within the Partnership Management Plan (PMP) Annex 5 – Bibliography 100 Climate Change Adaptation Plan 3 INTRODUCTION At the upper range of current predictions 1 ‘Where there are threats Climate change is one of the of serious or irreversible The South Downs National Park we may start to exceed the thresholds at damage, lack of full principal drivers of environmental scientific certainty shall which these services function adequately. not be used as a reason for postponing cost change for the South Downs Godalming The current understanding of environmental effective measures that ALTON prevent environmental Binsted National Park in the future. Its limits is insufficient, but in terms of planning Four KECRAWLEYY EAST degradation’ (United GRINSTEAD Marks South Downs National Park Railway adaptive responses we have adopted a Nations General New A31 Bordon impacts are likely to be significant 1 Assembly, 1992’. Alresford Haslemere South Downs Way Settlement precautionary approach . Liphook South Downs Way Crowborough WINCHESTER Selborne Horsham and profound across a whole range Northchapel (footpath only) Liss Railway Stations of areas and assets. The impact Change is inevitable, and the ability of natural systems to be resilient or adapt Twyford West Meon PETERSFIELD Haywards MIDHURST Heath Upham East Meon Petworth upon some of the key Ecosystem to climate change varies. Planning for Eastleigh River Rother Uckfield Cocking Pulborough Hurstpierpoint Burgess Hill Heathfield Services of the National Park are adaptation requires ‘adjustment in natural Bishopstoke River Meon Storrington or human systems in response to actual or Rowlands Castle Singleton Ditchling also potentially significant. SOUTHAMPTON Steyning expected climatic stimuli or their effects, River Arun LEWES Lavant Hailsham which moderate harm or exploits beneficial Havant River Adur River Ouse Arundel opportunities’ (Intergovernmental Panel on FAREHAM Alfriston CHICHESTER WORTHING BRIGHTON & HOVE Cuckmere Climate Change, 2007). River LITTLEHAMPTON EASTBOURNE GOSPORT N PORTSMOUTH BOGNOR REGIS 0 10 km East Dean The adaptive responses we have set out ENGLISH CHANNEL in this report have been informed by the This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey five main adaptation principles (see below on behalf of the Controller of her majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown copyright 100050083 2011 diagram) and seek to work with the dynamics of natural systems. The role of the South Downs National Park Authority The Purposes and Duty of the Diagram 1: Five principles National Park Authority of adaptation, England The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has Biodiversity Strategy: a key role in meeting the challenges and opportunities The National Park Authority has two statutory Climate Change climate change may present. We need to ensure we purposes: Adaptation Principles Maintain Accommodate have a full understanding, underpinned by adequate ‘To conserve and enhance the natural (Defra, 2008) and increase evidence, of the risk posed to the National Park and change 1 beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage ecological its key assets. of the National Park area’; resilience Our work, both in terms of policy and delivery, needs and to be sighted on the full range of potential impacts relating to climate change. Through our Partnership ‘To promote opportunities for the Take Management Plan and other action plans we need to 2 understanding and enjoyment of the practical ensure we properly co-ordinate our work in relation to special qualities of the National Park action now climate change adaptation and mitigation. by the public’; We need to use our convening power to achieve In carrying out these purposes, it also has a the necessary joined-up and shared action with our duty to: external partnerships as well. This climate change ‘Seek to foster the economic and social Integrate Develop adaptation report, the risk assessment and its well-being of the local communities within action across knowledge and accompanying action plan set out how we intend the National Park’. to do this. all sectors plan strategically In addition, Section 62 of the Environment Act 1995 requires all relevant bodies to have regard for these purposes in terms of their activities, plans and programmes. 4 South Downs National Park Climate Change Adaptation Plan 5 THE NATIONAL WHY PRODUCE A CLIMATE PARK PARTNERSHIP CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN? MANAGEMENT PLAN In terms of its plan making Core Values and The requirement to report also The Climate Change Act (2008) in building resilience to climate n Preparing proposals and policy covers the impact on the rural gave a new directive power to the change across sectors, taking responses to adapt adequately and policies we, the SDNPA, Guiding Principles economy and how resilience for Secretary of State for Environment, into account the full range to the risks to their business that have sought to develop from the PMP that the future might be built in through Food & Rural Affairs. This allows of social, economic and relate to climate change; adaptive responses. them to ask public authorities, environmental impacts. an integrated approach n Co-operating with other are relevant to this statutory bodies and other to managing land, water The UK government is preparing reporting authorities to achieve organisations performing functions adaptation plan ‘Promoting good governance – to update the UK Climate Change that purpose. and the living resources of of a public nature, to report on considering how to encourage Risk Assessment and the supporting the National Park. It also their progress in adapting to The structure and approach taken ‘Living within environmental active participation’ evidence reports in 2017. To climate change. This is known in this report has been informed seeks to promote their inform this process, the Secretary limits – considering the The requirement to report also as the Adaptation Reporting by Defra’s reporting guidance. conservation and sustainable of State for Environment, Food & impact on the environment’ means that we need to identify Power (ARP). The ARP places a The previous National Adaptation Rural Affairs invited the National use, to ensure that these risks associated with climate requirement on these bodies to Programme report also provided This adaptation report and action Park Authorities to undertake change and plan effectively to produce a report that sets out how a good basis for defining some essential natural services are plan is about identifying the risks a second round of reporting. mitigate or adapt in response to they are responding to the risks of the principle topic heading protected and enhanced relating to climate change and The SDNPA formally agreed to those challenges. This reflects and focal areas. how they might impact upon and impacts presented by climate now and for the future. and promotes good governance. participate in this. the environmental, social and change to their core business. The reports submitted through The Adaptation Report, once Voluntary guidance on how to The Partnership Management Plan economic assets of the National In July 2013, the government the second round will help the completed, is a mechanism produce an Adaptation Report was (PMP) for the South Downs was Park. This is fundamentally about published the first National government assess the level of through which we can encourage issued to all reporting authorities published in 2013. It is the first living within environmental limits Adaptation Programme. This capacity within each sector to action by actively communicating giving them advice on: – either through highlighting develop adaptive responses. over-arching five year strategy for the findings of the report. summary report was based upon the South Downs National Park. mitigation or adaptation responses. data from the first ‘Adaptation n Assessing the current and The information provided will also Preparation of the PMP was led ‘Using evidence to support Plan’ reporting round. Based upon predicted impacts of climate inform the review of the National ‘Ensuring a strong healthy and change in relation to their Climate Change Risk Assessment and co-ordinated by the National proposals – taking account of current modelled projections, it Park Authority working jointly with just society – considering social sets out the current