Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change

Transcription

1 Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Dr. Patrick Doran, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. Climate Change: Challenges to Biodiversity Conservation. Chris Hoving, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division. A natural resource manager's perspective on the challenges of climate change in Michigan. Dr. Kimberly R. Hall, Michigan State University. Tools for Incorporating Climate Change into Conservation Decisions. Dr. Patrick Doran. The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. Case study: Modeling Northern Minnesota Forests under Climate Change: Management, Natural Disturbance and Species Migration. Dr. Paul J. Steen, Dr. Michael J. Wiley, and Dr. Jeffrey S. Schaeffer, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center. Case study: Predicting Future Changes in Muskegon River Watershed Game Fish under Land-Use Alteration and Climate Change Scenarios.

2 Climate Change: Challenges to Biodiversity Conservation Dr. Patrick Doran, Director of Science The Nature Conservancy in Michigan 9 April 2008

3 Multiple Impacts of Climate Change Warming; Amount, form, timing of precipitation; Extreme and variable climate events; Lake changes water levels, temperature, ice cover, etc.; Secondary changes in disturbance regimes, resources, disease dynamics, species distribution.

4 The Nature Conservancy Mission The mission of The Nature conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive Goal By 2015, The Nature conservancy will work with others to ensure the effective conservation of places that represent at least 10% of every major habitat type on Earth.

5 Threats to Biodiversity Habitat Loss Habitat Degradation Climate Change Species Introductions

6 The Challenge: What Can We Do? Do we change where we work? Do we change the scale of our work? Do we change our conservation targets and goals? Do we change our strategies?

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11 The Nature Conservancy Central US Region Actions Informal Survey top 3-5 State-level activities IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI Policy, Science, Stewardship, Protection, Planning

12 The Nature Conservancy Central US Region Actions 8 States All major habitat types 34 Actions Policy 8 Science 8 Protection 5 Stewardship 11 Planning 6

13 The Nature Conservancy Central US Region Actions State-level differences MN Science and Planning IL Policy IN, MI Protection and Stewardship

14 Policy The Nature Conservancy Central US Region Actions IL - Advocate for mandatory emissions cap at federal and state level, along with establishing a carbon trading market and funding for adaptation. WI - Participating on the Governor's Climate Change Task Force. The process involves modeling to determine how and in which sectors (transportation, agriculture, energy, forestry, etc.) to reduce emissions and increase sequestration in the state.

15 Science The Nature Conservancy Central US Region Actions IA, OH Long-term monitoring MN Lake portfolio examined watershed position, depth, and location as possible indicators of vulnerability to a warming climate.

16 Protection The Nature Conservancy Central US Region Actions MI, WI large working forest easements and preserves. MO, IA, MI Working forest conservation easement programs and BMP implementation in agriculturally dominated watersheds.

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18 The Nature Conservancy Central US Region Actions Stewardship MI Restoration of fens where many unique species occur and our restoration efforts (species removal and protection and easements to restore connectivity) are vital to maintain the viability of the system. MN, IL, IN restoration and carbon sequestration

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20 Planning The Nature Conservancy Central US Region Actions Most states incorporate climate change into conservation planning Great Lakes states revise ecoregional planning

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22 Research Needs Regional analyses of climate trends and projections; Effects of climate induced changes on existing aquatic and terrestrial habitats; Effects of habitat changes on species; Long-term datasets of species distribution and abundance; Long-term monitoring and measures of success.

23 Conclusions Many current efforts currently being implemented; Strategies have multiple benefits; Need for integration and cooperation; But many questions still remain

24 Effective Conservation Viable Biodiversity Acceptable Threats Conservation Management