Assessing and Adapting to Climate Change Intermountain Region. Natalie Little Forest Service Ogden, Utah

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1 Assessing and Adapting to Climate Change Intermountain Region Natalie Little Forest Service Ogden, Utah

2 We have lots of information!

3 Adapting to climate change: USFS information & tools Climate Change Resource Center U.S. Forest Service

4 National Climate Assessment for forests

5 High-profile book in international literature

6 Adaptation guidebook for National Forests

7 Climate Change Adaptation Library

8 Climate Change Scorecard = accountability Organizational Capacity 1 Employee Education 2 Designated Climate Change Coordinators 3 Program Guidance Engagement 4 Science and Management Partnerships 5 Other Partnerships Adaptation 6 Assessing Vulnerability 7 Adaptation Actions 8 Monitoring Mitigation and Sustainable Consumption 9 Carbon Assessment & Stewardship 10 Sustainable Operations

9 Assessing and adapting to climate change Vulnerability Assessment Evaluation of the degree to which organisms and systems are susceptible to the effects of climate change Adaptation Adjustment in natural or human systems to reduce harm, facilitate transitions, or exploit benefits of climate change Monitoring Vulnerability Adaptation

10 The adaptation process 1. Education Hold workshops and webinars to increase climate change knowledge. 2. Vulnerability Assessment Review climate projections and identify resource sensitivities. Start with a sciencemanagement partnership 3. Adaptation Planning Develop sciencebased adaptation options. 4. Implementation Incorporate adaptation strategies into existing management plans.

11 Typical assessment topics Vegetation (ecological disturbance) Wildlife Water Fish New assessment topics Recreation Infrastructure Ecosystem services Cultural resources

12 Boots on the ground: Adaptation partnerships Olympic Peninsula North Cascadia Blue Mountains South-Central Oregon Southwest Washington Northern Region Intermountain Region 3 more anticipated in near future

13 We re making progress Assessments completed or in process

14 Products and outcomes Climate change thinking and awareness Climate change partnerships Data gathering and information sharing Website ( USFS General Technical Report and other scientific publications Follow-up projects in the region

15 Products and outcomes The most important outcome is building organizational capacity to address the effects of climate change on natural resources.

16 What does a climate change assessment look like? Progress report for Region 4

17 The Intermountain Adaptation Partnership (IAP) Goals for the sciencemanagement partnership: Increase climate change awareness Assess vulnerability of natural resources Develop adaptation strategies and tactics

18 IAP Vision and Strategy Identify key resources critical to ongoing resource management and planning Provide specialist training to apply climate change knowledge in land management Guide national forest planning and NEPA analysis Create partnerships with other agencies and stakeholders Publish a peer-reviewed assessment

19 Leaders and Partners USFS: Region 4, S&PF, RMRS, PNW National Park Service Bureau of Land Management USFWS Landscape Conservation Cooperatives USGS Climate Science Centers Tribes States NGOs Universities Conservation groups

20 Two-Day Workshops Dates Location Total Attendees Forest Service Partners May 4-5 Ogden, Utah May Boise, Idaho May Salt Lake City, Utah May Reno, Nevada June 1-2 Idaho Falls, Idaho

21 IAP Focus Areas Climate Hydrology, Soil, and Water Aquatic Species Vegetation Disturbance Terrestrial Animals Recreation Infrastructure Cultural Heritage Ecosystem Services

22 Climate Average temperature has increased 1.5F in the past 50 years. Average temperature will increase 3-4F by 2050, 7-10F by Precipitation may increase slightly in winter (uncertain)

23 Hydrology, soil, water Snowpack will become intermittent at low-mid elevations Reduced snowpack will cause (1) higher winter peak flows, (2) lower streamflows and higher stream temp. in summer Groundwater and water supplies will decrease

24 Aquatic species Higher stream temps. will reduce habitat for coldwater fish, especially bull trout, cutthroat trout Less water & higher temp will stress amphibians, mussels, & springsnails Habitat for most species will be retained at higher elevations

25 Vegetation Most low-mid elevation forests will grow slower; some high-elevation forests will grow faster Distribution & abundance of species will shift Increasing fire & insects will reduce dominance of susceptible species

26 Disturbance Wildfire area burned, 2050 Area burned by wildfire will increase % by mid-21st century Bark beetle outbreaks will be more common in lodgepole pine & ponderosa pine Mass wasting & flooding will be more common in some areas

27 Terrestrial animals Snow-dependent mammals (wolverine, lynx) will be especially vulnerable Amphibian species will be vulnerable to changes in ponds & riparian areas Animal species that require specific vegetation (e.g., sage-grouse) may be vulnerable

28 Recreation Warm-weather activities will expand (esp. shoulder seasons) Winter activities will decrease, especially at low-mid elevations Water-based activities will probably increase, as recreationists avoid heat

29 Infrastructure Increased flooding will damage roads, culverts, & bridges Increased flooding & avalanche hazard will reduce visitor safety Increased road damage will reduce visitor access, especially in floodplains

30 Cultural heritage Increased fire & flooding will threaten the integrity of artifacts Increased aridity & erosion will make artifacts more vulnerable to illegal collecting Altered vegetation may affect some cultural sites & landscapes

31 Ecosystem services Less productive range & altered land use will reduce grazing values Less snow, more drought, & more fire will reduce water supplies & quality Ranges of native pollinators may decrease Increased disturbance will reduce carbon storage

32 Extreme weather + increased disturbance: Our primary challenge

33 Adaptation strategy Increase landscape diversity Diversify spatial distribution of forest age and structure Implement thinning and fuel treatments across large landscapes. Orient the location of treatments in large blocks to modify fire severity and spread.

34 Adaptation strategy Treat large disturbances as an opportunity Develop management strategies and on-theground actions for implementation following wildfire and insect outbreaks. Include long-term experimentation. Get the plans approved.

35 Adaptation strategy Incorporate risk assessment Quantify or at least estimate the risk of climate change effects on natural resources. Use risk assessment to guide adaptation responses.

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38 Vulnerability assessment & adaptation strategies will inform: Forest plan revisions NEPA documents Local management projects Restoration efforts Monitoring programs

39 Adaptation is a marathon, not a sprint