Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment for Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor National Park Authority: 2025

In 2025, Adapt40 worked with the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) to develop a comprehensive Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment for Dartmoor National Park, UK. Drawing on Met Office climate projections, consultations with DNPA experts, and extensive literature review, the team devised a methodology which led to an assessment summarising the key risks and threats to Dartmoor across key features including:

• The Natural Environment - Habitats (e.g. assessing Blanket Bog, Rivers, Temperate Rainforest, Upland Meadows)

• The Natural Environment – Species (e.g. assessing Otters, Dunlin, Greater Horseshoe Bat)

• Historic Environment (e.g. Premier Archaeological Landscapes)

• National Park Special Qualities and Landscape Character (e.g. ‘Distinctive Culture and Traditions)

• Recreation and Access (e.g. Paths, Tracks and Trails)

Several other categories were assessed, to see the summary report view here.

The risk assessment is fully aligned with the IUCN best practices and the UK’s Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Programme. As part of the project, the Adapt40 supported the visualisation of the potential cascading risks from climate change by creating innovative Impact Chain Maps, shown below.