Fish and
wildlife provide many important ecosystem and cultural services that support
people, communities and economies across the country. Many observed changes in
the global climate are impacting valuable
natural resources. These impacts are expected to compound existing threats to fish and wildlife and
their habitats, making it more difficult and costly for state fish and
wildlife agencies to manage.
Climate change
adaptation, defined as an adjustment in natural and/or human systems to a new
or changing environment that exploits beneficial opportunities and moderates
negative impacts, is a new and rapidly expanding part of fish and wildlife
conservation.
The
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Climate Change Committee cited a
need for a greater understanding of the available resources from federal
agencies and natural resource conservation non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and universities to which state fish and wildlife agency managers can
refer for climate adaptation information and assistance.
As
a result, the Association has released two, new publications–the Resource Guide to Federal Adaptation Climate Programs for State Fish & WildlifeAgencies and the Resource Guide to NGO Climate Adaptation Resources andTools for State Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Each guide summarizes available tools or resources and provides
a brief description and link.
The federal
government has emphasized the importance of preparing fish and wildlife for
future climate conditions as well as improving preparedness among human
communities. For example, the Executive Order—Preparing the United States for
the Impacts of Climate Change, created a federal Council on Climate
Preparedness and Resilience. It also created a State, Local and Tribal Leaders
Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, indicating that states will
have an invaluable role in adaptation. State fish and wildlife agencies, having
the major responsibility for fish and wildlife management, can lead the nation
in facilitating fish and wildlife adaptation to novel climate and other
conditions.
In addition, natural
resource conservation NGOs and universities have made significant investments in
climate adaptation planning and data management. This has led to a vast and
growing system of resources that state fish and wildlife managers can use in
conservation planning, including in the revision of State Wildlife Action
Plans.
The goal of the
NGO Resource Guide is to provide that understanding and to encourage state fish
and wildlife managers to fully engage with NGOs on climate adaptation work on
the state level. This guide is organized in a generalized framework for
stepping through a planning process starting with resources that provide free
access to data for download and visualization followed by resources for
completing vulnerability assessments; adaptation frameworks and planning
resources; and digital adaptation networks including forums for collaboration
and communication on climate adaptation.
The
specific implications of climate change on fish and wildlife are uncertain and
vary on a regional and state basis. The resources and tools suggested throughout both guides can be
combined with information from state climatologists and state-wide climate
adaptation plans to support efforts to understand and respond to the
anticipated impacts of a changing climate on fish and wildlife.
> Download the Resource Guide to Federal Adaptation Climate Programs for State Fish & WildlifeAgencies
> Download the Resource Guide to NGO Climate Adaptation Resources andTools for State Fish & Wildlife Agencies
