In the Atlantic Region, nowhere is more than 300 km away from the sea and because much of the land is flat and low lying, the oceanic climate penetrates far inland bringing mild winters, cool summers, predominantly westerly winds and moderate rainfall throughout the year.

In terms of species, the Atlantic Region may not exhibit the high levels of biodiversity found in other regions but it more than makes up for this in terms of sheer animal abundance. The Waddensea alone harbours around 12 million migratory birds at various times of
the year.

This abundance of life continues beneath the waves. The Gulf Stream, which travels right up to the north coast of Scotland and Norway, brings warm currents all year round and a rich supply of nutrients from the Caribbean. In the shallower waters of the continental shelf and the North Sea, this creates an ideal environment for a wide array of marine organisms from plankton, crustaceans, bivalves and fish to seabirds and mammals at the top of the food-chain.

On land, the situation is rather different. The most recent glaciation, which ended some 10,000 years ago, had a considerable effect in reducing the biodiversity of the region. So too has the long history of human exploitation, which has created a heavily altered and often degraded environment.