Twenty-eighth Report Adapting Institutions to Climate Change Cm ...

4.70
There was a dilemma running through much of the evidence we received from conservation
bodies about the impacts of climate change, which on the one hand generally welcomed the arrival
in the UK of new species that are ‘nice’ (little egrets being a good example), whilst lamenting the
potential loss of native species (2.84-2.90; and Arctic–alpine plants, for instance), and the invasion
of aliens that are deemed ‘nasty’ (2.92). There are some very difficult issues here that involve
people’s cherished world views, and an understandable human desire to maintain the status quo
(even though we know it will ultimately be futile) that goes to the very heart of what conservation
is trying (or hoping) to achieve.
IMPLEMENTATION
4.71 Implementation is the second component in addressing the challenges of adaptation. Implementation
has two aspects: institutions need to make the decision to take action (‘decide to do things’)
and to take action (‘do things’). ‘Deciding to do things’ involves such activities as valuation (see
4.36-4.42 on economic efficiency), consultation and ongoing public engagement.
4.72
Issues when considering implementation are discussed further below and comprise:
up-scaling local and small-scale initiatives (4.73-4.74);
enabling mechanisms for adaptation goals (4.75-4.78);
engaging public support (4.79-4.85);
co-ordination between actors, both horizontally and vertically (4.86-4.89);
resources – people, skills and finance (4.90-4.91); and
distribution of costs (4.92-4.99).
Up-scaling local and small-scale initiatives
4.73 There are many examples of adaptation actions being taken at a relatively small, local scale. There
are, however, questions about how institutions take the experience of small-scale exercises and
scale these up to larger projects, whether this is appropriate, and how it can best be achieved. The
Exmoor Mire Restoration project (Box 4E) is a good example where the partners are keen to
expand the initiative from Exmoor (relatively small scale) to Dartmoor (a much bigger scale).
4.74
Enabling successful small-scale demonstration projects to continue in the longer term is a related
issue. The catchment sensitive farming (CSF) scheme from the River Glaven (Box 3D) is an
example of a small-scale initiative that the conservation agencies have applied elsewhere, and
which many are keen to continue past the current round of funding. This type of project allows
members of different organisations to work together, exchange practice and learn from one
another in ways that large-scale formalised partnerships may not permit.
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