Climate change in the uplands: is this the end of cheap and free services?

摘要

Uplands support rural employment, are part of our cultural heritage and provide valuableecosystem services,' which help maintain a well-balanced, regulated environment. For example,aplands provide 70% of the UK's water supply, as well as diluting pollutant discharges downstream.While we make use of this resource, the true benefits and costs of these 'ecosystem services'remain unknown or assumed in the local economy. There have been long-running tensions arisingfrom the conflicting land uses of from agriculture, forestry and conservation. For example, heathermoorland has decreased by about 23% since the 1940s, replaced by new conifer plantations oreonverted to grazing land. Recent population growth and economic development have added newpressures, with tourism particularly exerting demands on both infrastructure and the landscape.The established environmental services delivered by well managed uplands are not valued bythe market. This has led to degradation of the uplands, particularly in England and Wales, withpollution and certain land use practices taking their toll on the landscape.