History and ecology in the reconstruction of the South Yorkshire Fens: past, present and future

摘要

England's third largest fenland, bordering North Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and South Yorkshire was almost totally destroyed by the early 1900s, as a consequence of the long-term impact of intensive land management and the drainage efforts of theDutch engineers. The consequences and impacts of these changes are discussed. This paper reports the mapping and reconstruction of the former wetlands across South Yorkshire and adjacent counties. Field and archival research have informed the generationof GIS computer maps indicating the extent of wetlands in the region from pre-Roman to the present day. A variety of sources were accessed to provide insight into the likely fauna of this wetland and area-based case studies demonstrate the drivers for change through history. The outcomes of this research are being used to inform proposals to reconstruct the wetlands in the post-industrial and post-agricultural landscapes. These changes are justified by a matrix of drivers and factors issues including water management (both flood and drought) and the need to foster rural economies through farm diversification and related leisure and tourism. Other key drivers of this process are the need to comply with the Water Framework Directive, to halt and reverseregional declines in biodiversity and to address issues of carbon sequestration through wetland creation. The latter is in response to UK Government policy on climate change and is made more urgent by developments such as the new international airport atFinningley. Barriers to change and issues arising from short-term approaches and a lack of corporate vision are discussed.