THE Dartmoor landscape may become fundamentally altered if carbon emissions go unchecked, according to the Dartmoor Property Manager for the National Trust. At a talk in Tavistock last week, Adrian Colston said if global warming continues unabated, Dartmoor could lose its upland ancient oak woodland, bird species could become extinct, and important archaeological sites could be overtaken by invasive scrub. Mr Colston, who manages several properties on Dartmoor including Lydford Gorge, land on the Upper Plym, and Finch Foundry, told a meeting organised by Devon environmental charity Westden that a ?business-as-usual? scenario for carbon emissions could lead to ?quite dramatic changes in a really quite short space of time?. Working with projections from the International Climate Change Panel and the UK Climate Impact Programme he predicted that within 80 years, mean summer temperatures could rise by more than four degrees centigrade on Dartmoor; the area could see a 90 percent decrease in snow; wind speeds could increase by up to 4% in the South West; the growing season could extend by up to 90 days; and a sea level rise would impact on the coast of Devon and Cornwall. Mr Colston said Dartmoor?s ancient woods could find it hard to adapt to higher temperatures and could die out within eighty years. Woodland and moorland birds could also disappear within this timeframe. Other species such as the Dartford warbler and the silver studded blue butterfly might increase due to the warmer temperatures, whilst other rare and less adaptable species could find climate change a real challenge. Lower stocking levels due to changing agricultural practices and a longer growing season could mean heather, gorse and bracken would be likely to smother and hide many of Dartmoor?s 1,000 scheduled ancient monuments. Mr Colston said predictions were for 50% less rainfall on the top of the moor which would compromise wet heaths, wet grassland and wet bogs. Lower summer rainfall would also mean lower river levels, affecting the migration of breeding salmon and trout. Mr Colston said: ?If we mess up this major aquifer due to climate change we will really regret it. We could also be looking at longer drier summers which could lead to more wild fires.? He said climate change would also have an impact on the running of National Trust properties. Warmer temperatures in summer could bring the benefit of increased visitor numbers and warmer winters might lead to lower heating bills. However, excessively hot summer days could put off visitors and create higher costs from air conditioning, grass cutting due to longer growing season, and repairs and replacement due to leaks and damage from heavy rainstorms and more extreme weather. ?Climate change is a major issue for the National Trust,? he said. The talk at the Parish Rooms was the first in a series of speakers on climate change organised by Westden as part of a climate change awareness challenge funded by Defra. Westden director Anna Kennedy said: ?These predictions for Dartmoor give us a stark picture of the changes ahead if the challenge of climate change is not urgently addressed by governments, business and individuals. We can all play a part in reducing our carbon emissions whether by cycling to work, using low energy light bulbs or switching off electrical appliances instead of using the standby mode.?