We show here how, through the efforts of a range of governmental and
non-governmental organisations, habitats and species are now being
managed to preserve our biodiversity for the future. In this period of
rapid environmental change and ever increasing human impact, the success
of such conservation initiatives has never been more vital. Over the
past half-century there have been many changes in the Yorkshire
countryside. Deciduous woodlands have been felled and replaced by
conifer plantations; wetlands and ponds have been drained; grasslands
have been reseeded, and arable fields have been intensively farmed. Our
river systems and coastline have also been subjected to increasing
pressure and pollution. All these changes have had dramatic effects on
Yorkshire's semi-natural habitats and their associated wildlife. Added
to these effects, our climate is altering more rapidly than at any time
in the last 10,000 years, leading to further challenges for plants and
animals.