It’s good to step out occasionally and gain a wider perspective on things, and the three-day Bonn meeting on climate change and nature conservation in Europe was a particularly good occasion. It mixed ecology, policy and economics – ambitious, but the three pillars needed to get things done!
Setting the scene, we had thoughtful challenges about future conservation objectives, about moving on from goals of ‘traditional’ notions of nature, as climate change brings novel climates and novel species and communities. A five-metre stride across the lecture hall demonstrated the average daily shift north for a wide range of wildlife. Nevertheless there was a strong theme of building resilience to the impacts of climate change as the priority action for now, with counterpoint insights into the role non-native species are already playing in some ‘novel’ ecosystems, stepping in to provide ecosystem functions and services previously performed by ‘traditional’ species now lost to these ecosystems. Certainly a sign of times to come, and opening up thinking on how we might consider the arrival of new species into once-familiar communities.
It was fascinating to see what others are doing to develop adaptation knowledge. We were treated to a hornbill’s eye view of what habitat fragmentation looks like, with GPS tracking and satellite mapping showing journeys between forest patterns and the importance of two farm’s garden trees – real-life stepping stones. A really exciting parallel to the fragmentation and connectivity modelling of imaginary species in hypothetical landscapes – smaller GPS units and more GPS studies please! Another virtual trip, this time to the mountains, opened eyes to the range of micro climate within just a few metres distance. The huge range of climatic conditions hidden behind the coarse-scale data opens up adaptation management opportunities for other habitats too, where climate projections hide a similar wide range of micro-climatic conditions.
A really important message, that Natura 2000 sites form the backbone of nature conservation in Europe. The suite of sites and the wider landscape activities are an impressive achievement of the EU. Their value is perhaps not widely recognised – yet they provide 200 to 300 billion Euros worth of ecosystems services and 5-9 billion Euros of real income, from just a tiny fraction of that investment. These and complementary EU mechanisms and funding that already provide many opportunities for developing nature adaptation. Much discussion of ecosystem based adaption and the value of ecosystem services opens up further opportunities for progressing adaptation and developing green infrastructure for multiple benefits – nature alongside health, recreation, flood control, water quality, climate mitigation and more.
From our own perspective, I gave a talk on the RSPB’s adaptation assessment process. We’re basing these straightforwardly on 2°C and 4°C global average temperature rise, freeing climate projections from the uncertainties of different emissions scenarios. We're also using the lens of vulnerability rather than risk – nature needs good conditions every year, and incremental adaptation is just as important as making the big step changes. We also shared a poster with Natural England on our forthcoming joint Adaptation Manual project, which will provide web-based practical management information for a wide range of conservation habitats.
Adaptation, indeed all conservaiton, needs to be underpinned by effective communications, talking in plain language and engaging partners, stakeholders and communities. Our wildlife and natural world is becoming increasingly distant to many people, and we need to re-connect. Citizen science can help to do this, and help find solutions to the ‘wicked problems’ we face. And wider engagement is crucial to build wider green infrastructure in our cities and towns, along our roads and rivers; helping nature to help us.
Underpinning too is the urgency required, despite uncertainties about the precise nature of what the future will bring. The future is a place we all will live and, as one speaker put it, we cannot wait until we know we will win, because by then we will have lost; making some mistakes will be part of the process. Despite the problems, the current low political interest, there is broad support for a better planet – we need to harness this, be more positive about our successes, and more aggressive in pursuing conservation and environmental improvement.
So thanks to the German conservation agency BfN for bringing us all together. Sharing cultures and experiences helps build our knowledge, building a stronger basis for adaptation and conservation. And this richness of experience parallels the diversity we’re working to encourage in the natural world, to put nature in strongest position possible for our shared future.