WILDLIFE and plants face a ‘real challenge’ following the Island’s hottest year on record, an environmentalist has said.
The average temperature in the Island went up by 0.2C to 13.56C last year, which also saw the hottest day on record in July when it reached 37.9C, according to Jersey Met.
Nature writer Bob Tompkins said the impact of a warming climate, with extremes of temperature, droughts, flash floods and coastal erosion, presented ‘a real challenge’ for Jersey’s wildlife in the coming years.
He said: ‘I think you won’t recognise the countryside in 20 years’ time and I think one of the crucial factors is that it takes wildlife a long time to adapt to changes because it affects their entire world, where they nest, what they eat, so it’s going to be a real challenge for every species.’
The invertebrates, worms and insects, both on land and in the water, are the main food source for other wildlife so when the smallest species suffer the rest of the food chain will follow, he explained.
Mr Tompkins said: ‘Also plants that produce seeds and fruits will be threatened and that in turn will impact other wildlife. It’s a no-win situation. A lot of our plants and tree species have started to suffer already.
‘We’re going to get more extremes and even if we stopped using oil and gas immediately it would take 15-20 years before we would see any real improvement in the climate.’
He added: ‘Jersey’s sea level is increasing by nearly 1cm a year so in 10 years there’ll be coastal erosion and the sea defences will need to be raised.
‘And we still haven’t got anywhere near the rain we need to avoid drought next summer, despite all the rain we’ve had recently.’
He added: ‘This isn’t going to go away. It’s time for everyone to think seriously about what they can do to alleviate it. We all need to reduce how much water we use, have water butts in our gardens, take shorter showers, use the car less, wear an extra jumper instead of turning up the heating.
‘People think the government is sorting this out but it takes everyone to do it. I think everyone is responsible for this.’
