| Climate change is a global issue, but
uplands may be especially vulnerable to climate change:
Ecosystems can be vulnerable, for example some upland systems
(especially those in the UK) contain alpine plant species on the edge of
their natural range.
Upland systems are key providers of ecosystem services to lowland
areas, especially water. Climate change may effect the ability to do
this.
Upland ecosystems contain vast areas of blanket bog which can, if
managed in good condition, help to mitigate against climate change by
storing carbon from the atmosphere.
Social and economic systems are likely to be impacted by the need to adapt to, and
mitigate against the effects of, climate change.
It is important to realise that there are two linked action areas for
climate change:
Mitigation - this is action to try to reduce our human induced
effects on climate
Adaptation - this is to change our lifestyles and activities to
cope with future change in climate
Adaptation may mean
changed farming and land management as well as adapting to the migration
of people from stressed lowland areas, or changed patterns of tourism.
Mitigation may mean changes in lifestyle, currently rural living is
often associated with a high carbon footprint, this will need to change
as everybody needs to play their part by reducing their use of carbon
based energy.
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