BRANCH: Biodiversity Requires Adaptation in North-west Europe under a Changing Climate
2005-2007

BRANCH was funded by Interreg and involved nine project partners, including Hampshire County Council.

In response to climate change, species will attempt to disperse into areas of more suitable climate. To enable such adaptation, land use planning at local and European level is required to accommodate the movement of wildlife. BRANCH brings together spatial planners, policy makers and scientists from across North West Europe to: (1) Model how wildlife of land and coast will respond to climate change; (2) Demonstrate good adaptation practice in spatial planning and protected area management; (3) Use case studies in Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Kent, Limburg and Normandy to develop planning options and tools to help wildlife adapt to climate change along the coast and inland; (4) Engage stakeholders, so that adaptation to climate change is integrated at all planning levels.

Managing the coastal zone in a changing climate is an important issue for SCOPAC and the BRANCH project provides useful information and advice, informing spatial planning in relation to biodiversity and environmental management.

www.branchproject.org