WARNINGS that climate change will have a big impact on the North York Moors National Park unless urgent action is taken now, have been given in its annual report.

The park authority has been told that the landscape character will change along with crop production, livestock productivity, sea levels, and increased rates of coastal erosion.

Caroline Skelly, the park's planning policy officer, said the vast park area would also be affected by increased flood risk and storms, greater risk of moorland fires, loss of wildlife species and habitats, and increased pressure onf water resources.

"The National park needs to help reduce the threats of climate change through encouraging sustainable development and the use of renewable energy sources," she said.

The authority was told that it needs to also encourage new development which minimises disturbance or damage to its historic environment.

While farming and forestry continue to be significant in the park's economy, tourism is now the biggest employer, with 7,813 people, and is worth £416 million a year according to latest figures.

"One of the most pressing issues that the park has to deal with its the steady increase of traffic generation and the reliance on the car in rural areas."

Ms Skelly said sustainable transport and development was vital in the park. "There is potential conflict between the variuous users of the park such as horse riders, walkers, cyclists and off-road vehicles and they need to be balanced and managed effectively."

The park authority has masterminded the undergrounding of overhead electricity wires in a scheme funded by OFGEM at Farndale, Kilburn, Lastgingham, Kildale, Thornton-le-Dale, Egton Easington, Appleton-le-Moors, Swainby and Castle. "The work has resulted in a significant improvement in the visual appearance of the villages," said Ms Skelly.

Now, a further 18 underground plans have been submitted to Northern Powergris, she added.

Some 18 mobile phone masts are to be erected in the park as part of a £150 million Government plan, said Ms Skelly.

The Forestry Commission has given a £10,000 grant to fell 6.7 hectares of conifers at Newtondale, which is to be repla nted with native broadleaved trees. A further 3,020 metres of traditional farm hedgerow has also been planted to enhance the park's landscape.