'Climate change and natural forces - the consequences for landscape character'

Topic Paper 9 published by the Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, 2003

Authors: Robert Deanwood, Entec UK Limited; Kay Adams, Entec UK Limited; Jim Kersey, Entec UK Limited

This summary sheet produced September 2006

Topic Paper 9 explores evidence of how our climate is changing and is likely to change in the future, focussing on those of particular relevance to the landscape. It describes methods by which climate change can be considered as part of Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) stage one (characterisation) and stage two (making judgements), suggesting how climate change impacts can be responded to through mitigation and adaptation.

The paper explores and discusses the evidence that climate change is already happening, commenting on the various models and scenarios that can be used to gain understanding of future climate change.

The discussion widens to consider the potential impact of climate change on landscape character, assessing the impacts on three components of landscape: natural environment, land use and cultural heritage. The natural environment is discussed with regards to changes in habitat and species composition, habitat fragmentation, soil quality and water resources. The paper looks primarily at agriculture and forestry when considering land use, but also discusses tourism and recreation, land use planning policies and sea level rises. Cultural heritage is classified as historic landscapes and heritage gardens, and impacts such as weathering and flooding are described.

Having identified these impacts, the paper moves on to assess how climate change can be incorporated into LCA, using examples of published assessments to discuss the various ways of incorporation through characterisation and forces for change. The paper notes that few LCAs incorporate climate change during the judgement-making stage, and explains ways in which climate issues can be considered as part of this process.

The paper highlights the need to further understand the impacts of climate change on the character of our landscapes.

Download a print version of this summary (58kB)

Download TP9 (351kB)