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Rising sea 'a threat to Causeway' Rising sea 'a threat to Causeway'
(about 1 hour later)
Rising sea levels are threatening parts of the Giant's Causeway and other coastal areas of Northern Ireland, the National Trust is warning. Rising sea levels and stormy weather may damage the Giant's Causeway and other coastal areas of Northern Ireland, the National Trust has warned.
A new Trust report says sea level rises of up to a metre this century will affect some of Northern Ireland's most important tourist and wildlife areas.A new Trust report says sea level rises of up to a metre this century will affect some of Northern Ireland's most important tourist and wildlife areas.
As well as the Causeway, areas such as Strangford Lough could be badly affected, says the Trust. Areas such as Strangford Lough could also be badly affected, says the Trust.
Rising levels in the lough could hit wildlife such as Brent geese. The Giant's Causeway is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland, and is a World Heritage Site.
The geese come each winter to graze the eel grass on Strangford's mud flats but the population could be seriously threatened by climate change, the Trust is warning. Predicted change
However, rising sea levels and stormier waters are not just a threat to wildlife. The National Trust report warned access to the site would become more difficult, with problems as early as 2020.
The Trust says sea walls will be overtopped more often while waves may swamp part of the Giant's Causeway and in time making access more difficult to some areas of the landmark stones. It also warned that rising sea levels in Strangford Lough could hit wildlife such as Brent geese and that the Murlough National Nature Reserve could see coastal erosion and flooding.
GIANT'S CAUSEWAY Made up of 40,000 interlocking basalt columnsCauseway is result of ancient volcanic eruptionlocated on the north-east coast of Northern IrelandThe 'discovery' of Causeway announced in a paper to the Royal Society in 1693
Brent geese come each winter to graze the eel grass on Strangford's mud flats but the population could be seriously threatened by climate change.
It could be affected by a 25cm rise in sea levels by 2050, the Trust is warning.
The report, Shifting Shores: Living with a Changing Coastline, predicted sea level rises of between 85 and 100cm by 2100.
Hilary McGrady, National Trust director for Northern Ireland, said it was essential for more detailed coastal data.
"Our planning system, and in particular development plans and planning policy statements, must take predicted coastal change into account," she said.