Natural Coastal Resources-England

Siobhan Browne- Senior Specialist Coastal Geomorphology

Contents

• Who are Natural England?• Natural England and the coast• Natural England’s long term vision for the coast• Using the vision to shape our work• How we use projections of future change• Strategic thinking over long timescales• Limitations to long term sustainable management • Conclusions

Who are Natural England?

Our remit • The government’s advisor on the natural environment. • Ensure sustainable stewardship of the land and sea so that people

and nature can thrive. • It is our responsibility to see that England’s rich natural

environment can adapt and survive intact for future generations to enjoy.

Image from Windygap.co.uk

SSSI’s, SAC’s, SPA’s, MCZ’s (geology, habitats, birds)

Landscape & seascape (National Parks, Heritage Coasts)

Agri-Environment Schemes

Coastal Access

Natural England’s Long Term Vision for the coast

• Management should focus on the development of a dynamic environment resilient to the action of coastal processes and sea level rise.

• Sediment supply is vital for healthy coastal systems and needs to be managed.

• Natural Change is acceptable on designated sites- even if this results in a change to designated features.

Image courtesy of Sue Rees Image courtesy of Sue Rees

How we use the vision to shape current delivery

• Involvement with shoreline management planning and input to government planning guidance

• SSSI boundaries need to be robust to coastal change- a 50yr boundary

• Review of NNR Management plans, embedding coastal and climate change into site management for 100 year period.

• Coastal access- rollback of the trail.

Projections of Future Change

• Predominantly rely on data from other sources e.g. UKCP09 for data such as sea level rise and EA for coastal change through NCERM and SMP’s.

Central estimate of relative sea level change (cm) by 2095 (medium emission scenario. Image © UK Climate Projections 2009

Strategic thinking over long timescales

• Limited to a 50-100 year perspective due to planning timeframes (e.g. SMP’s) and “certainty” of data

• Decisions need to be evidenced based

Image Environment Agency

Limitations to long term sustainable management

• Uncertainties in longer term change predictions

• Perceptionsof coastal change- “It can and should be defended”

• Difference of opinion-differing reasons why people use the coast

• The “value” of nature conservation

• Lack of understanding of the wider benefits of coastal sites

Photograph Neil A White

Cley (Norfolk)- October 2013

Cley-December 2013

Image Environment Agency

Conclusions

• Natural England accept that coastal change is a reality

• Climate change is likely to result in further challenges in managing the coast

• Our vision needs to be evidenced based and so is limited to a 100 year time frame.

• Constraints are around communication and value of conservation

Image Dave Caulkin/AP

Image from English Heritage

Questions?