South West Observatory Annual Conference Weathering Storms: Regional Resilience and

Future Proofing

Janette WardRegional Director

Overview

• Challenges facing our natural environment• The sea• The coast• The uplands• Thinking about the future – an example from

Dorset/Wiltshire• Nature deficit• Planning for the future

Biodiversitygenes-organism-ecosystem &landscapes

Challenges to our natural environment

Challenges to our natural environment

Vulnerability assessment

adaptive capacity

exposuresensitivity

Adaptive capacity

least adaptive

most adaptive high capacity

low capacity

The South West Nature MapIdentifies the best areas in our region to conserve, create and connect wildlife habitats at a landscape scale.

The sea - solutions!

Win-win!

The coast

The uplands

7

Thinking about the future

Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase

Nature deficit

Planning for the future

Summary

• Biodiversity is hugely important to our welfare • The challenge of a changing climate...food and

energy security• Look after the sea, coast & uplands• Embrace uncertainty, work pro-actively, and with

good data• Thanks