Waves could swamp the
Giant's Causeway, the Trust
is warning
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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.
Areas such as Strangford Lough could also
be badly affected, says the Trust.
The Giant's Causeway is one of the most
popular tourist attractions in Northern
Ireland, and is a World Heritage Site.
The National Trust report warned access
to the site would become more difficult,
with problems as early as 2020.
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.
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GIANT'S CAUSEWAY
Made up of 40,000
interlocking basalt columns.
Causeway is result of
ancient volcanic eruption.
Located on the north-east
coast of Northern Ireland.
The 'discovery' of Causeway
announced in a paper to the
Royal Society in 1693.
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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.
