Climate change in the UKOTs an overview of the ... - JNCC - Defra

Box 12 cont’d
uprooted or snapped off, causing considerable damage to utilities and buildings on the
island. Surviving introduced vegetation also suffered complete defoliation and
considerable dieback from wind and salt spray blown over the islands during the
hurricanes.
By contrast, tree and plant species endemic or native to Bermuda are mainly found as
isolated specimens or small stands on coastal cliffs, rocky areas or offshore islands. The
most noteworthy of these plant species are the Bermuda cedar (Juniperus bermudiana),
Bermuda olivewood (Cassine laneanum), Bermuda palmetto palm (Sabal bermudana)
and yellow-wood (Zanthoxylum flavum).
A number of Nature Reserve and Park areas have had invasive vegetation removed and
endemic vegetation planted as part of a native reforestation program. The most
noteworthy of these are the Nonsuch Island Nature Reserve and Walsingham Trust
reserve, where reforestation efforts have been underway for over forty years. In both
areas, an immature closed-canopy forest has developed, with a high diversity of
understory plant species. These restored endemic/native woodland areas have shown
significant resistance to both hurricane-force winds and salt damage. On Nonsuch
Island, less than 2 per cent of the mature trees in the restored native forest were
uprooted or damaged, despite the extremely exposed aspect of the island. Salt damage
to foliage was also much less than that with introduced trees on more sheltered areas
on the main island of Bermuda, and new foliage was re-sprouting within two weeks on
native trees.
The increased resistance stems from adaptations common to most of Bermuda’s
endemic and native tree species, including a shorter, dense growth form, salt-resistant
foliage and robust root systems which can penetrate deep into cracks in the limestone
rock which underlies Bermuda’s generally thin soils. These adaptations have given the
endemic tree species an advantage over the introduced tree species in extreme
hurricane conditions, and have led to the increased propagation and use of endemic
species in replanting and landscaping uses on Bermuda. Much of the seed and
seedlings used for this purpose are now obtained as surplus from the regenerating
native forest on Nonsuch Island.
Source: Jeremy Madeiros, Conservation Officer (Terrestrial),
Department of Conservation Services, Bermuda
Meeting multiple objectives
through effective adaptation
When investments in climate change
adaptation, biodiversity and sustainable
development, and disaster management
intersect, there is a ‘win-win-win’ situation
(Figure 13). The triple dividend of this
investment payback translates into ‘safer,
sounder models of development’ and
improved resilience to natural disasters
and climate impacts. Each dollar spent
goes towards climate impacts, disaster
66
Climate
adaptation
Disaster
management
Biodiversity
& Sustainable
development
Figure 13. The Triple dividend
Source:UNEP Finance Initiative, 2006
Triple
Dividend