Experts believe climate change will result in a very different Cairngorms
The UN climate change conference in Copenhagen is under way, amid warnings that the world must act to avert potentially catastrophic global warming. But what could that mean for Scotland? BBC Scotland's environment correspondent, David Miller, reports on the impact climate change may have on one of the country's most cherished landscapes - the Cairngorms.
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From my viewpoint on the south side of the Ryvoan Pass, the Cairngorms dominate the skyline. Loch Morlich lies to my right and Glenmore Forest stretches out beneath me. The Cairngorms hold a special place in the hearts of the nation. So, what could climate change mean for this mountain landscape and the species which depend upon it? The Scots Pine is one of Scotland's most iconic species and plays a key role in the eco-system of the Cairngorms. It is also sensitive to changing weather patterns. Colin Edwards of Forest Research has joined me here to explain the potential consequences of climate change for our woodlands. 'Kill the roots' He said: "Climate change could have two impacts. You've got an increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall and precipitation which will, on slopes which are south-facing and with freely-drained soils, affect the ability of the tree to grow and photosynthesise. "On the west coast, we'll see an increase in rainfall as well as an increase in temperature. "In those soils which are likely to have a fluctuating water table, it'll kill the roots in the winter and in summer they'll have less available soil from which to draw moisture." The Scots Pine is at home here in the Cairngorms. It's also at home in the Swiss Alps. But there are fears that climate change could be having an impact on Scots Pine there. Researchers believe drier, warmer summers have already killed Scots Pine trees.
Research suggests Scots pine has declined
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Dr Thomas Wohlgemuth of the Swiss Federal Research Institute in Zurich is one of the scientists who are monitoring the situation closely. He said: "Scots pine is a good indicator of extreme climatic conditions. Our research has shown that Scots pine has declined after a period of three or four consecutive years of increased drought." There are also concerns about the impact global warming could have on another iconic Scottish species - the Atlantic salmon. On the windswept banks of the River Tanar, Eric Baird of the Cairngorms National Park explains the potential dangers and one possible solution. He tells me: "This is important habitat for the Atlantic salmon. It's a breeding space for them. They find shingle, they find gravels here and that's where they lay their eggs. "If the water gets too hot, a degree or two, then these eggs are not going to be viable and the salmon are not going to be able to breed. "It's important that we keep that water cool and one way to do that is to shade it. And one way to shade it is to plant trees along the river bank." New challenges On Scotland's river banks that will mean planting more trees. Lots of trees. Mark Bilsby of the Dee Salmon Fishery Board believes that will be a huge job. He explained: "We're looking to plant trees over about 50 to 100 kilometres of the upper tributaries of the Dee. It's to create shade, to help reduce these temperatures. "It promotes good conditions for young salmon so that they grow, migrate out to sea, come back and support both conservation value and also the 500 jobs which depend on the salmon coming back every year." The Scots Pine and the Atlantic salmon are two of Scotland's most iconic species and both could be seriously affected by climate change. If climate projections are accurate, they won't be the only Scottish species to find themselves facing new challenges in the fight to survive. But they will be two of the first species to demonstrate that climate change is having an impact. The advice from the experts is to think of them as an early warning system, a reminder of the challenges we face.
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