Impacts of Climate Change on biodiversity in south east England
The following summarise possible climate change impacts on biodiversity in south-east England.
- Increased temperatures, in conjunction with increased demand for water resources, are likely to have detrimental effects on river and wetland ecology.
- Potential benefits for species favoured by warmer climates, especially those at the northern edge of their range in the South East at present.
- There may be a lack of opportunity for habitats/species to migrate in the face of climate change as a result of habitat fragmentation, obstacles to migration (e.g. widespread development in the South East) and the fast rate of change projected.
- The increase in frequency of extreme events, such as severe storms and droughts (and associated events, such as fire) may increase the likelihood of local extinctions.
- Likely long-term changes in the composition in all vegetation communities, with corresponding shifts in faunal communities.
