Drivers of Environmental Change in Uplands (Routledge Studies in Ecological Economics)

The uplands are a crucial source of ecosystem services, such as water provision, carbon retention, maintenance of biodiversity, provision of recreation value and cultural heritage. This puts them in the focus of both environmental and social scientists as well as practitioners and land managers.. This volume brings together a wealth of knowledge of the British uplands from diverse but interrelated fields of study, clearly demonstrating their importance in 21st Century Britain, and indicating how we may through interdisciplinary approaches meet the challenges provided by past and future drivers of environmental change. The upland environments are subject to change. They face imminent threats as well as opportunities from pressures such as climate change, changes in land management and related changes in fire risk, increases in erosion and water colour, degradation of habitats, altered wildlife and recreational value, as well as significant changes in the economy of these marginal areas. This book presents up-to-date scientific background information, addresses policy related issues and lays out pressing land management questions. A number of world-class experts provide a review of cutting-edge natural and social science and an assessment of past, current and potential future management strategies, policies and other drivers of change. After appraisal of key concepts and principles, chapters provide specific examples and applications by focussing on UK upland areas and specifically the Peak District National Park as a key example for other highly valuable upland regions. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Foreword......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 11 List of tables......Page 13 List of figures......Page 16 List of contributors......Page 21 1 Introduction: Drivers of change in upland environments: concepts, threats and opportunities......Page 30 Part I Processes and policy – the overarching drivers of change......Page 40 2 Natural changes in upland landscapes......Page 42 3 Threats from air pollution and climate change to upland systems: Past, present and future......Page 63 4 Policy change in the uplands......Page 88 Part II Ecosystem services and drivers of change......Page 120 5 The carbon budget of upland peat soils......Page 122 6 Upland hydrology......Page 142 7 The state of upland freshwater ecosystems......Page 164 8 Condition of upland terrestrial habitats......Page 185 9 Burning issues: The history and ecology of managed fires in the uplands......Page 200 10 Moorland management with livestock: The effect of policy change on upland grazing, vegetation and farm economics......Page 215 11 International importance and drivers of change of upland bird populations......Page 238 12 Mammals in the uplands......Page 257 13 Managing uplands for game and sporting interests: An industry perspective......Page 270 14 Moors from the past......Page 290 15 Leisure in the landscape: Rural incomes and public benefits......Page 306 Part III Social change, land management and conservation: Driving change......Page 320 16 Description of the upland economy: Areas of outstanding beauty and marginal economic performance......Page 322 17 The future of public goods provision in upland regions: Learning from hefted commons in the Lake District, UK......Page 338 18 The economic value of landscapes in the uplands of England......Page 352 19 Landscape as an integrating framework for upland management......Page 368 20 Using scenarios to explore UK upland futures......Page 387 21 Effective policy-making in the uplands: A case study in the Peak District National Park......Page 405 22 How class shapes perceptions of nature: Implications for managing visitor perceptions in upland UK......Page 422 23 Moorland wildfire risk, visitors and climate change: Patterns, prevention and policy......Page 433 24 Moorland restoration: potential and progress......Page 461 25 Ecosystem services: A new rationale for conservation of upland environments......Page 477 26 Conclusions: Managing change in the uplands – challenges in shaping the future......Page 504 List of acronyms......Page 524 Index......Page 527 Addressing policy related issues, and providing up-to-date scientific background information relating to pressing land management questions, this interdisciplinary volume identifies and discusses key directions of environmental change in uplands, as well as providing an outlook into future management and conservation options Addressing policy related issues, providing scientific background information and laying out pressing land management questions, this volume identifies and discusses key directions of environmental change in uplands, as well as providing an outlook into future management and conservation options