Contact details.
Name / Organisation Name: RSPB
Direct Contact: Alison Giacomelli
(if submitting on behalf of an organisation)
Address:
2nd Floor, Frederick House
42 Frederick Place
Brighton
BN1 4EA
Please tick box for most appropriate category:





Physical Environment (incl. biodiversity, coast, landscape)[Deadline 25th April]
Infrastructure (incl. transport) [Deadline 23rd May]
Wellbeing and society [Deadline 20th June]
Economy [Deadline 1st August]
Other [1st August]
Please note deadlines for evidence submission, evidence on each category must be
submitted prior to deadline. If you are unsure which category to submit your
evidence under please email: climate.commission@hants.gov.uk or telephone 01962
846828
Detail of Evidence:
Introduction
The RSPB considers climate change to be the biggest long-term global threat to wildlife. By
2050, up to a third of the world’s land-based plant and animal species may face extinction
from climate change – unless we take firm measures soon to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions1.
The RSPB has produced a booklet setting out the challenges for wildlife in the face of climate
change, and the action needed to address the problems. This booklet ‘Climate Change and
Wildlife in the UK’ is included as an appendix to this evidence.
Impacts on wildlife in Hampshire
Sea Level Rise
Sea levels around the UK coast are rising from two processes. Firstly, global mean sea level is
expected to rise due to global warming as oceans thermally expand and the melting of glaciers and
Arctic/Antarctic ice-sheets increases. Secondly vertical land movements are occurring as a
consequence of the British Isles continuing to adjust to the removal of the ice-cap after the last ice
age; land in the south and east is falling while the north and west rises.
Rising sea level rises and increased storminess result in many saltmarshes being ‘squeezed’
between an eroding seaward edge and fixed flood defence walls. Sea level rise will also lead to
more frequent overtopping of sea defences, increased flooding inland, and the subsequent loss of
coastal freshwater habitats. Saline intrusion into coastal freshwater aquifers may also increase.
Additionally, increased storminess will lead to greater turbidity with less productive waters and
1
Thomas et al (2004) Extinction risk fro climate change. Nature 427; 145-148
consequently a deleterious effect on phytoplankton and fish species.
Much of Hampshire’s coastline is internationally important for its breeding and wintering bird
populations. Three sites are designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the EU Birds
Directive: Solent & Southampton Water, Portsmouth Harbour, Chichester and Langstone
Harbours. These sites are also recognised under the Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance, particularly as waterfowl habitat (known as the Ramsar Convention). In addition, the
saline lagoon at Farlington Marshes is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under
the EU Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna (the
Habitats Directive). A map of these sites is attached to this evidence.
Intertidal habitats that form part of these designated sites are being lost to sea level rise and coastal
squeeze. The Solent Coastal Habitat Management Plan (CHaMP), produced in 2003 for the
Environment Agency and English Nature, identified losses of intertidal habitat on the Hampshire
coast of 617 to 693 hectares by 2100.
Defra guidance on the implications of the Habitats and Birds Directives for flood management
(http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/csqueeze.htm) makes it clear that where a decision
to hold the defence line is taken, which leads to loss of SPA to coastal squeeze, there is a
requirement to provide new habitat to compensate for that loss. Therefore, managed realignment
is necessary to replace the lost intertidal habitat. The RSPB’s view is that h abitat should be
created as close as possible to the point of loss and in advance of the loss, though not at the
expense of existing designated habitat. Where freshwater SPA is suggested as an area for
realignment, this would also require testing under the Habitats Regulations and provision of
freshwater compensatory habitat. To avoid the need to compensate twice, it is sensible to first
look for undesignated areas for managed realignment.
The BRANCH (Biodiversity Requires Adaptation in Northwest Europe under a Changing
Climate) project has investigated the implications for spatial planning options for biodiversity
at the coast in a changing climate (see www.branchproject.org). This project will be a vital
resource for the climate change Commission.
The RSPB’s experience at Langstone Harbour
The RSPB has owned and managed the Langstone Harbour nature reserve for the benefit of
wildlife since 1979. In the summer, the reserve’s islands are home to many breeding birds
including a large seabird colony including Little, Sandwich and Common Terns. The reserve
has also become the main breeding site for the rare Mediterranean Gulls in Britain. In the
winter, thousands of migratory wildfowl and waders are to be seen feeding on the food-rich
mudflats before flying off in spectacular flocks to their roosting places. A map showing the
RSPB’s reserve is attached to this evidence.
The saltmarsh parts of the RSPB reserve are assessed as being in unfavourable condition by
Natural England due to coastal erosion. Currents, deflected by the seawall surrounding the
adjacent Farlington Marshes Local Nature Reserve have been identified as the likely cause for
the unfavourable condition. However, the same seawall likely protects much of the island
features from erosion by wave action created by prevailing westerly winds.
In the longer term, the likelihood of sea level rise and the predicted increase in storm events
caused by climate change threatens the continued existence of the shingle and saltmarsh
habitats and their associated wildlife on the reserve. The area of food-rich intertidal mudflats
might expand as saltmarsh is eroded and replaced by mudflat, but the loss of safe roosting
sites on the saltmarsh might lead to over-wintering birds abandoning the harbour. Increases
in storm events during the seabird-breeding season have the potential to severely reduce the
productivity of the gulls and terns, particularly the Common and Little Terns which nest
close to high tide levels. Shingle recharging, creation of shingle/rubble islets and rigorous
protection of identified roosting sites (including outside of the SPA/Ramsar boundaries)
could mitigate for some of these potential losses.
Managed realignment is necessary to replace the losses of saltmarsh in the harbour.
Realignment at Farlington Marshes has been suggested through the Portchester to Emsworth
Coastal Defence Strategy. However, modelling will be needed to test whether realignment
will actually lead to a net loss of habitat due to potential erosion of seabird breeding islands.
In addition, as Farlington is designated as freshwater SPA, there will be a requirement to
compensate for losses of freshwater habitat.
Summary
 Losses of intertidal habitat to coastal squeeze should be compensated. Where the
intertidal habitat is designated as SPA or SAC, provision of compensatory habitat is a
legal requirement. Compensatory habitat should be provided as close to the loss as
possible, but not at the expense of existing freshwater designated habitat.

Locations for managed realignment in Hampshire are restricted due to the built up
nature of large parts of the coast, particularly the harbours. As sites for realignment are
limited, a strategic, Solent-wide, approach to identifying losses and compensatory habitat
is needed.
Water Resources
Water is our most precious natural resource. It is vital to people’s health and happiness, vital
for the environment and our wildlife, and vital to our economy.
Our water environment is in crisis. Providing enough clean, safe water is becoming ever more
difficult and expensive, and climate change is increasing the challenge. Our rivers and lakes
are under pressure from pollution and abstraction, while most of our wetlands have been lost
to drainage.
The RSPB has joined with partners to set out its ‘Blueprint for Water’ – the report is attached
to this evidence. The Government has made a commitment to meet the objectives of the
Water Framework Directive, which says the ecology of our waters must be restored to health
by 2015. This Blueprint sets out the steps needed to meet this target.
Water Resources and the New Forest
The New Forest contains some major wetlands, home to very important populations of
breeding waders. The New Forest LIFE3 project is restoring vulnerable wetland habitats of
the Forest for wildlife and people (see www.newforestlife.org.uk). As part of the LIFE3
project, the RSPB carried out a survey in 2004 of breeding waders in the Forest. This survey
was designed to be able to be compared with a similar survey in 1994. The 2004 survey
recorded around 117 pairs of Lapwings, up a third since 1994. Curlew, at around 99 pairs
were down 25% since 1994, but still 15% of the population of southern England. Redshank
numbers were also down, with an estimated 42 pairs recorded. Around 111 pairs of Snipe
were found, down 29% on 1994, but still representing a vital 5% of the English population.
Wading birds rely on open wetland habitats where they feed by probing for worms and other
invertebrates. They can only reach these if the soil remains soft throughout the summer.
Climate change, and predicted hotter, drier summers may impact waders in the New Forest.
Action for water resources
 Reduce water use for public supply, agriculture and industry. Manage abstraction in
catchments (Environment Agency Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies) to
ensure that sufficient water remains for the environment.

Create additional wetland areas as buffers to those designated as internationally
important. This will reduce losses of water from wetland habitats and increase their
resilience to drier summers.

Restore rivers, streams and their floodplains, and reduce drainage. Floodplain
wetlands act like sponges and ensure that winter rainfall is retained rather than
draining out to the sea. This will create vital wildlife habitats, improve water quality
and quantity, and reduce urban flooding.
Additional Items submitted (please list, including numbers that relate to specific documents or other items):