What is adaptation?
‘Adaptation’ refers to the need to ‘adapt’ to what we know are the inevitable impacts of climate change. For wildlife this means helping species and habitats move more easily as temperatures rise. The key adaptation principles are as follows:
- Developing ecologically resilient landscapes through establishment of ecological networks, linking up fragmented habitats.
- Protecting biodiversity, including protected areas and other wildlife habitat of high value.
- Reducing other sources of harm, such as pollution, inappropriate habitat management, and over-exploitation of resources (e.g. water abstraction).
We believe the development of ecological networks through a landscape scale approach to land management is key. This involves identifying where the wildlife-rich places currently are and how we might rebuild biodiversity to connect them together. It means providing room for wildlife to manoeuvre to shadier slopes, higher ground or alternative habitat.
» Click here for more information about the Trusts Landscapes for Living project.