Peak District Management Plan- Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Climate change.
One of the most significant and comprehensive areas of the Peak District National Park Management Plan centres around Biodiversity, Ecosystems and protecting the park from the detrimental effects of climate change.
In regards to biodiversity one must first be aware of the fact that the Peak District has one of the most diverse ranges of wildlife in the whole of the United Kingdom, and the type of wildlife in the park is affected significantly by human activity. More rapid change in recent times however has meant that many of the Peak Districts indigenous species have had their habitats destroyed and many new species of animals have been introduced to the park. Change however in some regards in an inevitable process and the park authority does not look to stop change happening full stop, but instead looks to manage change in the most effective manner possible. This is done in a number of ways which includes ensuring soils are healthy as well as making sure that water courses remain un polluted. The general aim of the management plan in regards to bio diversity and wildlife is to ensure that the Peak District maintains a diverse range of wildlife within the park, which is there for future generations to enjoy.
The benefits of bio diversity are not just limited to ensuring that animals have their habitats protected, but often benefit communities as a whole. The benefits that spill over into local communities are often referred to as ecosystem services, and basically highlight the fact that a protected and well functioning natural environment is paramount to both maintaining prosperous communities and promoting economic growth. Ecosystem services have however been strained due to the increasing level of pressure that they are being placed under. The management plan recognises this and aims to tackle this problem in order to ensure that the ecosystem services remain.
The final aspect of managing the parks natural environment centres around the challenged faced by the park due to the advent of climate change. The park authority accepts that climate change is to some degree inevitable so sets out to ensure that the park can best deal with the inevitable change. The plan aims identify ways in which it can protect both landscapes and wildlife from climate change in order to ensure that the Peak District National Park continues to be an environmental asset to the whole country.