26 Conclusions Managing change in the uplands – challenges in shaping the future Aletta Bonn, Tim Allott, Klaus Hubacek and Jon Stewart Introduction Change in the uplands is occurring at an accelerating pace. Over the com- ing decades, contemporary drivers of widespread change such as land use, diffuse pollution and demographic challenges are likely to be exacerbated by climate change and associated socio-economic pressures. The underlying health of upland ecosystems and their component habitats and biodiversity, and their ability to supply vital ecosystem services such as food, water, cli- mate regulation, opportunities for recreation and businesses for thriving com- munities, will therefore be subject to increasing pressures and choices. The value of some of these services, e.g. carbon storage or flood control, may become more important to society and political agendas. The chapters of this book draw out and discuss a wide range of environmental, social, eco- nomic and political drivers of change in upland environments and demon- strate their inter-relatedness. Both natural and anthropogenic drivers act over a range of spatial and temporal scales, and owing to the complex inter- relationships there are no easy solutions for managing change. We can, however, draw some overarching conclusions from the contributions to this volume that could help us develop more effective approaches to making deci- sions for maintaining both healthy upland environments and communities that can continue to benefit from their services. We have sought to set these out in the hope of stimulating thought and debate but ultimately informed action. Does the ecosystem services concept work for the uplands? Can it help our understanding and inform sustain- able management? How can science help us move forward? How do we advance with only partial understanding of complex systems, and with numerous and varied interested parties – many with important stakes in the uplands that sometimes conflict? What are the big issues and questions we still need to answer, and can they help us manage land-use conflicts and develop a shared vision? A sustainable future for the uplands relies on creating support for shared visions, adoption of a holistic approach, tackling both ecological and social 9780415447799_4_026.qxd 16/10/2008 04:18PM Page 475