Climate change, coastal heritage and community engagement – reflections from the CHERISH project

Sarah DaviesAdran Daearyddiaeth ac Gwyddorau Daear / Department of Geography and Earth Sciences,

Prifysgol Aberystwyth University

‘Climate change has become one of the most significant and fastest growing threats to people and their cultural heritage worldwide.’

Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

Cynllun Llesiant Lleol/ Local well-being plans

‘Creu cymunedau amgylcheddol gyfrifol a diogelsy'n medru addasu ac ymateb i effeithiau newidhinsawdd’

‘Create environmentally responsible and safe communities that can adapt and respond to the effects of climate change’

‘Rhaid cymryd camau yn awr i leihau effeithiauandwyol a pharatoi cymunedau fel y gallant ymatebyn briodol.’

‘…the importance of communities being prepared for the extreme events before they happen…’

Cambrian News, 16th January 2014

Kendon and McCarthy (2015) Weather Volume 70, Issue 2, pages 40-47 DOI:10.1002/wea.2465

Aberystwyth, Jan 2014

St Patricks Chapel

Submerged forest, Borth

Climate impacts on coastal heritage

• Storms

• Sea level rise

• Increased rainfall intensity

• Rising temperatures

• Drought

New archaeological and palaeoenvironmentalinvestigation of at risk sites

Improved evidence base for statutory protection, decision-making and adaptation strategies.

Raising awareness of climate change in coastal communities through heritage

Illauntannig, Co Kerry

From land, sea & air?

April 2018Dunbeg promontory fort, Dingle Peninsula

Penpleidiau / Caerfai Camp

1890s County Series mapping

16m loss in 100 years

16m loss in 100 years

• Cadw scheduled monument & SSSI

• A severely eroding coastal site

• Some past monitoring

• Excavation planned

Llyn Maelog

Llyn Coron

Morfa Dinlle

Aberffraw

NiwbwrchRhuddgaer

Dinas Dinlle

Caernarfon

Dinas Dinlle, Gwynedd

Byw gyda newid / Living with change

Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser12th October 1899

Courtesy of National Library of Waleshttps://newspapers.library.wales/

BGS Image ID: P252866

• Impacts of coronavirus on activities

• Value of individual and community memories

• Language matters

• Managing expectations

• Heritage and history have an important role to play in the climate change conversation

Diolch / Thank you

www.cherishproject.eu