15 years of monitoring environmental change on Snowdon - New report released

Fifteen years of monitoring changes in the environment on Snowdon is revealing that shifts in temperature, atmospheric pollutants and land management are all having an impact on the mountain – beyond what could be put down to natural variation.

Monitoring at Snowdon, photo ©CCW

Monitoring at Snowdon, one of 12 terrestrial Environmental Change Network (ECN) sites across the UK, is jointly funded by the Welsh Government and Countryside Council for Wales. Fifteen years on, it is starting to yield some interesting findings….

In terms of pollution from the atmosphere, there is some good news. As a direct result of the UK’s drive to cut sulphur dioxide emissions, there is significantly less acid rain – or sulphur dioxide pollution - contaminating Snowdon’s natural habitats.

But habitats don’t recover overnight – it’s a slow process. And ongoing pollution – from nitrogen oxides, mainly from vehicle exhausts, and ozone, mainly from industry - are still having a negative impact on vegetation.

Much has been made of whether Snowdon will, one day, be without snow due to a warming climate. This winter has been one of the mildest on record, but there was plenty of snow over the last couple of winters. ECN looks at the bigger picture and, over the last 15 years of monitoring, the data suggests the climate has changed slightly on Snowdon – spring and summer temperatures have risen, and winters have become wetter and less cold. More butterflies than ever have been recorded here due to the warming trend – they are well known indicators of environmental change.

In terms of land use, there has been a major change in our uplands in general over the last 10 years including large falls in the number of sheep on the site. Fewer sheep grazing the vegetation has led to an increase in the amount of heather and purple-moor grass on Snowdon, and less grassy areas – a more diverse mix of plantlife which is good news for wildlife.

photo ©A.J.Turner

Dylan Lloyd, CCW’s Environmental Surveillance Officer and one of the report’s authors said: “As our monitoring work progresses, Snowdon ECN will continue to track changes in the climate, in airborne pollution and land management, revealing valuable information about the impact of changes on Snowdon’s natural habitats.

“Being part of a broader network of ECN sites across the UK strengthens our findings. We can differentiate short-term variation from long-term patterns of change, making ECN sites invaluable to investigate the health of the ecosystems we all rely on,” he added.

Read the full report on CCW’s website – http://www.ccw.gov.uk/environmental-change/ecn-site.aspx

The findings of the report will be presented and discussed at the CCW Terrestrial Natura 2000 Monitoring Workshop in Aberystwyth on 21st & 22nd February.

Our upland environments provide vital services to society. For example, Wales’ uplands play a crucial part in providing clean water. Indeed, about 70% of the UK’s drinking water comes from the uplands. Upland soil, in good condition, helps purify water, enhancing the condition of water in our lakes and reservoirs.

Uplands also help reduce floods – in good condition, upland habitats act like sponges, releasing their water to lower lying areas at a steady and manageable rate. If we look after our mountain habitats, they will help look after us.

Ends.

For more information contact CCW press Officers: Helen Evans on 01248 387377 or 07717225589 or Brân Devey on 02920 77 2403 / 07747767443 or bran.devey@ccw.gov.uk.

Interviews on Snowdon regarding the ECN report are available with CCW Senior Pollution Impacts Adviser Simon Bareham.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The Environmental Change Network (ECN) is a UK-wide monitoring network dedicated to investigating how our environment changes over time. There are 12 terrestrial sites in the network, with Snowdon the only one in Wales. At each site, different components of the ecosystem are recorded to give us an important insight into the health of the ecosystems, and the impacts of environmental change, including climate change, on them. The breadth and detail of recording carried out at ECN sites means they are among a very small number of long-term monitoring sites that can provide us with comprehensive information on environmental change.
• CCW works with several Welsh Universities and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) to provide opportunities for students to undertake research projects at the Snowdon ECN site. This ranges from providing site visits and lectures to undergraduates to supporting longer, more detailed postgraduate research.
• The Countryside Council for Wales is a Welsh Government Sponsored Body, working for a better Wales where everyone values and cares for our natural environment. More information about our work is available on www.ccw.gov.uk