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Reports and publications

Final report - a summary of BRANCH’s research findings and recommendations how current spatial planning practices should be improved to incorporate adaptation to climate change. Also available in Dutch and French

Final report annexes:

(Most of the annexes are very large documents, so they have been divided up into smaller sections. If you would prefer to have them as single documents, please contact Emily Ball for a CD of this report.)

Annex 1 - A review of spatial planning policies now being used to protect and enhance biodiversity under a changing climate. The review assessed EU and national policies as well as planning documents at various levels, across England, France and the Netherlands.

Annex 2: Parts 1: pp1-53, Chapters 1-2 (0.99 mb),   2: pp54-95, Chapter 3 (2.23 mb),    3: pp96-114, Figures 3.21-3.39 (1.84 mb),   4: pp115-132 Figures 3.40-3.57 (1.65 mb),   5: pp133-161 Figures 3.58-3.86 (3.45 mb),   6: pp162-208 Chapter 4 (1.64 mb),   7: pp209-253 Chapters 5-6 and Appendices (2.30 mb)
An assessment of the vulnerability of terrestrial and coastal habitats and species in Europe to climate change. The report includes the development of transferable methodologies for identifying area vulnerable to climate change and begins to identify strategies for adaptation for specified habitats and species, within the context of spatial planning.

Annex 3: Parts 1: pp1-110, Chapters 1-5 (5 mb),   2: pp111-297 Chapter 5 appendix, Chapters 6-9 (3.05 mb)
A report on the methods and approaches used to assess the impact of sea-level rises on coasts, at scales from European to local case study. It presents analysis of extensive survey and modelling results and details how final outputs were developed through a programme of stakeholder consultation.

Annex 4: Part 1: pp1-39 Chapters 1-2 and Limburg chapter 3 (3.83 mb),   2: pp40-45 Limburg case study maps (6.07 mb),  3: pp46-82 Chapter 3-4 Kent case study (3.15 mb)
An analysis of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in terrestrial case studies. This report details research approaches and modelling results, focusing on the development and strengthening of ecological networks. It discusses the policy implications of these findings and adaption strategies for planners.

Annex 5 - A report on workshops for planners designed to increase understanding of practical actions planners can take to facilitate wildlife adaptation to climate change. It provides guidance to enable partnerships and authorities to run their own workshops.

Final report on French case studies (French only)

'BRANCH OUT' – Issue 3 of BRANCH newsletter, also available in Dutch and French

Hampshire and the South Downs report

'Creating networks for nature in Kent' - report

Common blue butterfly. English Nature; Boating threat to lagoon sandworm, Lymington river. Peter Wakely/English Nature

APaNGO newsletter March 2007 - BRANCH report (page4)
An introduction and update on BRANCH is featured in the INTERREG IIIB APaNGO's project's newsletter for regional planners and community engagements officers.

Spring 2007 stakeholder events

March has been full of events presenting and discussing emerging results with stakeholders from across our three partners countries. Click on the link to view presentations and any reports:

* BRANCH and South East Climate Change Partnership seminar for Local Biodiversity Partnerships - 27 March 2007
* Changing climate, changing wildlife - what can Hampshire's planners do? - 19 March 2007
* Dutch National conference in Den Haag - 13 March 2007
* "Creating networks for nature" - Planning for the impact of climate change on Kents wildlife (3) - 1 March 2007

BRANCH and South East Climate Change Partnership seminar for Local Biodiversity Partnerships - 27 March 2007
This seminar in Kingston-upon-Thames, provided an opportunity to introduce examples of climate change projects in South East England region, discuss the implications of climate change on Biodiversity Action Plans and consider what is needed to move forward with climate change work in our region. Following a series of presentations in the morngins session, the afternoon was given to considering the implications of climate change on some specific LBAP examples.

Changing climate, changing wildlife - what can Hampshire's planers do? - 19 March 2007
This morning workshop in Winchester presented the results of recent research on the vulnerability of key Hampshire habitats to climate change and the vulnerability of areas identified for potential recreation. BRANCH partners discussed with the audience of local planners and ecologists, how the final report could be refined and made most applicable to their work and advice.

Dutch national conference in Den Haag - 13 March 2007
Delegates from national Dutch Ministries, Provinces, NGOs and project partners came together in The Hague to discuss BRANCH's preliminary results, especially those coming out of the case studies in the three partner countries.

"Creating networks for nature" - Planning for the impact of climate change on Kents wildlife (3) - 1 March 2007
This event was the third in a series of workshops aiming to work with Kent stakeholders to help design spatial solutions to reconnect Kent's fragmented habitats.

Autumn 2006 stakeholder events

UK Coastal workshops 'Practical spatial planning options for biodiversity under a changing climate' October 2006.

UK partners presented some of the coastal working group's results of the Langstone harbour and river Hamble case studies, at two workshops. The aim was to gauge initial reactions to the results from stakeholders and ask how the outputs can be used and further developed to aid planners.

Transnational science conference and site visit 'From science to local policy: Planning for the impacts of climate change on wildlife in Kent (2)' Maidstone, Kent, 10 October 2006.

During the morning delegates were updated on outputs from ECI's modelling of climate space for a variety of species at the European scale and the work Alterra are doing modelling species networks and future viability in Kent under a changing climate. In the afternoon delegates were able to debate some of the resulting issues and questions in the context of the Kent landscape on a site visit which, took in Wye National Nature Reserve and land sited for development under the Greater Ashford Development Framework.

Archive publications

'BRANCH OUT' - Issue 2 of BRANCH newsletter, also available in Dutch and French.

Nature's Place newsletter August 2006 - BRANCH: wildlife and climate change no longer out on a limb (page19)
An update on BRANCH appears in this newsletter for England's Local Authorities. The map (source: ECI) shows a projection of potential suitable climate space for bluebell (Hyacinthoides) using HadCM3 (a warmer model) under a high emissions scenario for the 2050s.

INTERREG IIIB North West Europe Newsletter July 2006 (page 2)
This edition of the programme's news includes an article about BRANCH's attendance at DG Environment's Greenweek in Brussels

Greenweek stand - In June 2006 BRANCH took part in the Greenweek exhibition. The links below detail some of our display material.

Spatial planning for biodiversity in our Changing Climate - A review of spatial planning policy relating to biodiversity and climate change across France, the Netherlands and UK. Includes executive summary.

Report on Kent County Council seminar 'Planning for the impact of climate change on Kent's wildlife'. Click on seminar documents below:

'BRANCH OUT' - Issue 1of BRANCH newsletter

BRANCH summary - Policy review (page 13).
An information sheet summarising the work of BRANCH including the review of planning policies to identify approaches which can enable wildlife to survive in a changing climate.

URBIO magazine Autumn 2005 - Climate change strategies (page 13).
An issue looking at the effects climate change is already having on our surroundings and the need for strategies to anticipate and adapt to its further impacts on biodiversity.

English Nature Magazine May 2005 - Coping with Climate Change (page 11).
An article looking at how the effects of a changing climate on nature are already becoming apparent and what English Nature is doing to help, including the BRANCH project.

Kent Coastal Bulletin Winter 2005 - BRANCHing Out (page 8).
This article introduces the project with a focus on the objectives of the 'Coastal' work packpackage.