Dartmoor National Park Authority

05 August 2009

South West National Parks play leading role in tackling climate change

Dartmoor & Exmoor Low Carbon Festival 2009 announced:

9th – 12th October 2009

Forming part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the 1949 ‘National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act’, the very first Dartmoor & Exmoor Low Carbon Festival will promote low carbon living in and around the South West’s two National Parks.

The aim of the event is to involve communities, individuals and businesses in meeting the challenge  of tackling climate change through devising and promoting innovative solutions to low carbon living. It also aims to celebrate existing low carbon activity on the two moors and to share knowledge on how to achieve low carbon living.

The Met Office in Exeter will host the Festival’s opening event. Taking place on Friday 9th October, the Dartmoor and Exmoor Low Carbon Festival 2009 Summit will engage leaders from key public, private and community sector organisations to explore and debate the challenges for National Parks posed by climate change.

Tim Stokes, Sustainability and Economy Manager of Exmoor National Park Authority said, “National Parks are vitally important to the nation in tackling climate change. Most National Parks have large peat deposits which help to store carbon. They are also host to significant levels of farming and forestry activity which if well managed can contribute to storing carbon and mitigating climate change. Well managed uplands can also help to reduce flooding downstream by holding water and releasing it more slowly. National Parks are also visited by millions of people each year and are in a great position to communicate with the public on climate change issues.”

A number of events have been organised in and around both National Parks between the 9th and 12th October inclusive by community groups on both moors. Open to visitors and residents alike, one such event will enable participants to learn about the re-wetting and restoration of Mires and bogs - extremely valuable wildlife habitats - on Exmoor through ditch blocking and water management.

Moor farmers will benefit from an event focussing on how farmers can adapt their farming methods to reduce emissions, while the wood fair and a renewable energy study tour will highlight the ways in which the moors can help us all reduce our reliance on fossil fuels while maintaining energy production to fulfil our needs.

Tim Stokes went on to say that, “The National Parks have abundant renewable energy resources, of which only a small proportion has been exploited and the way in which land is managed within the National Parks offers the potential to absorb and store large quantities of greenhouse gases.”

Low carbon living is necessary due to the issues of 'Peak Oil' and climate change - in particular a low carbon economy will take the sting out of future oil price rises likely as a consequence of Peak Oil, increased demand for oil globally and increasing fossil fuel taxation. By moving towards a low carbon economy we can all lower the greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change and the National Parks and their communities are well placed to lead the way in doing so.  

For further information about the Festival and its events, visit www.lowcarbonfestival.co.uk. The website will constantly be updated with new events and any Exmoor and Dartmoor community member interested in running their own event as part of the Festival should contact Tim Stokes on 01398 322235 / TCStokes@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk. Events can be big or small but must be in keeping with the ethos of the festival.

Ends

Notes to editors

English National Park Authorities

There are 14 members of the National Parks family, beautiful areas of mountains, meadows, moorlands, woods and wetlands. They are areas of protected countryside that everyone can visit, and where people live, work and shape the landscape and each one has an organisation that looks after the landscape and wildlife and helps people enjoy and learn about the area.

2009 marks the 60 year celebration of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

Dartmoor & Exmoor Low Carbon Festival 2009

Part of the National Park’s 60-year celebrations

Use the Summit as a platform to engage key public, private and community sector organisations in the issues and to launch both DNP and ENP’s Carbon Neutral programme initiatives

Engaging key public, private and community sector organisations from  across the region to learn about the actions each Park Authority and their communities are taking to make the transition from oil dependency to a low carbon future

Mass appeal for people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds concerned about climate change

Opportunity to educate visitors about sustainable ways of enjoying the moors

Accelerating the pace of transition to a low carbon future by sharing knowledge and facilitating community participation in addressing this challenge

For further press information, interviews or images, please contact Alexis Thornely on 01392 278801 or email pr@onevoicemedia.co.uk

Page updated 5 August 2009