Current condition, vulnerability and adaptive capacity of features

Paths, tracks and trails

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Paths, tracks and trails in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to moderate sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a varying current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

The condition of routes often depends on their popularity with those heavily used becoming worn quite quickly and needing more maintenance and upkeep. Routes are sensitive to severe weather including wind and rain that can cause erosion. Increases in this damage due to climate change pose a significant risk to their condition. Damage to the physical infrastructure such as bridges may also occur. However, both the constituent highway authorities and PDNPA work to maintain routes and while funding is limited, campaigns have successfully raised money for specific work such as the Great Ridge.

Open access land and public access

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Open access land and public access in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to moderate sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a varied current condition, and with moderate adaptive capacity.

Erosion could be one of the key potential impacts of climate change, as many paths are susceptible to extreme weather events and the most popular routes that are heavily used already suffer from erosion.

There is limited funding available particularly for larger projects. However new initiatives for fundraising such as the ‘Mend our Mountains’ campaign are having a positive impact for specific routes.

Transport links into the PDNP

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Transport links into the PDNP have been rated ‘low’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to moderate sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a reasonable current condition, and high adaptive capacity.

Transport links in the PDNP are generally in good condition, but subject to some pressures including weather. Major routes are already susceptible to adverse weather with snowfall often leading to the closure of the high level routes. Increases in extreme weather conditions are therefore a key potential impact of climate change on the transport infrastructure.

However, research is now being carried out by organisations responsible for transport infrastructure to look at what measures can be undertaken to increase resilience to the potential impacts of climate change.

Healthy soil

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Healthy soil has been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, a varied current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Soil health in the PDNP is likely to have followed the general nationwide decline over the past 50 years, with Dark Peak peat soils being in the worst condition. Erosion caused by extreme droughts and storms are one of the major potential impacts on healthy soils. A change in soil moisture levels and chemistry have the potential for a significant impact on soil biota and therefore health.

While some soils can recover without intervention, most will require active management steps to be taken. Replenishing organic matter and making radical changes to landscape level management including the creation of woodland, scrub and diverse flower-rich meadows would increase the adaptive capacity of soils.

Blanket bog

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Blanket bog and associated features in the PDNP have been rated ‘very high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a very poor ‘non-functional’ current condition, and a low adaptive capacity.

Historically in an extremely degraded condition, many areas are recovering under SSSI and SAC designations and through landscape scale conservation works. Areas undergoing conservation works are likely to be less vulnerable than those which are not; and modelling suggests that the lower altitude bogs on the eastern edge of the Dark Peak may be among the most vulnerable areas, whilst the more continuous and higher altitude areas in the north of the PDNP may be less vulnerable. The area and quality of active blanket bog in the PDNP may be reduced by climate change.

Wet woodland

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Wet woodland in the PDNP has been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a poor, highly fragmented current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Wet woodlands in the PDNP are already highly fragmented, but many of the remaining patches are in good condition. Wet woodlands with low tree species diversity are likely to more vulnerable than those that are more diverse. The area of wet woodland in the PDNP may be reduced by climate change.

Woodlands

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Woodlands in the PDNP have been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a poor fragmented current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Woodland condition in the PDNP is variable, with smaller patches generally in poor condition, but larger areas under Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) protection faring better. Smaller woodlands with low tree species diversity are likely to be more vulnerable than those that are larger and more diverse. The area of woodland in the PDNP may be reduced by climate change, especially single species woodlands, though the demand for climate change mitigation may encourage new woodland creation.

Good water quality

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Good water quality in the PDNP has been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a moderate current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Increased sedimentation and nutrient leaching may negatively affect water quality in the future. Furthermore, increased nutrient availability coupled with increased erosion and disturbance may facilitate increases in non-native invasive species. Good water quality in the PDNP has been attributed a moderate adaptive capacity. This is due to strong legislation and regulatory processes being in place and the potential for catchment wide management policies to positively impact water quality.

Reservoirs and water management

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Reservoirs and water management in the PDNP have been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, with a variable current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Increased rainfall could impact on reservoirs and water management features if there is not enough storage or carrying capacity. The risk of flood to areas downstream could damage historic buildings and mills.

As the historic sites cannot be moved or relocated their adaptive capacity is moderate. While repairs or adaption may be possible they may result in the reduction in historic value.

Rivers and streams

Vulnerability rating
Potential impact rating
Adaptive capacity rating

Rivers and streams in the PDNP have been rated ‘high’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, with a reasonable current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.

Most major rivers and streams are in a relatively good condition, with localised contamination and invasive species issues. The greatest effects on watercourses are likely to be from changes in precipitation cycles. Watercourses will become more variable, with higher flow in winter and lower flow in summer. Freshwater plant and animal communities are likely to be altered by these changes. Higher temperatures are also likely to affect freshwater communities, with suitable climate space moving northwards and upstream, and warmer conditions causing changes in water chemistry. Rivers and streams are relatively adaptable, with freshwater species having developed dispersal techniques and the watercourses having diverse forms. Much legislation exists to protect and improve rivers and streams, and some funding is available for water quality and flood management works, which will improve river and stream resilience.