Presentation from the 2015 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference by Maria Janowiak. Climate change creates substantial uncertainty about the future, but it is certain that there will be substantial effects on natural ecosystems. This session will help to begin a discussion of how climate change information can be integrated
into conservation activities in Connecticut, with an emphasis on terrestrial ecosystems and land management.
Through a workshop with land trusts and conservation organizations, we discussed key climate change impacts and ways to enhance the ability of ecosystems to cope with changing conditions.
3. Workshop Outline
Introduction
A Few Key Adaptation
Ideas
Adaptation Workbook:
“Turbo” version
• Example from CT/NY
• Your lands & projects
(Choose Your Own Adventure)
4. Adaptation Resources
Designed for a variety of land
owners with diverse goals and
objectives
Tailored to eastern forest types;
the first version is now in revision
Does not make recommendations
Menu of adaptation strategies and
approaches for forest ecosystems
Being expanded and developed
into an online tool!
Swanston and Janowiak 2012; www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/40543
6. Adaptation
Adaptation is the adjustment of human or
natural systems in response to climate
change.
Parry et al. 2007, SCBD 2009, Groves et al. 2010
7. Adaptation
Adaptation is the adjustment of human or
natural systems in response to climate
change.
Parry et al. 2007, SCBD 2009, Groves et al. 2010
Adaptation complements mitigation by
sustaining healthy, functioning ecosystems
8. What actions can be taken to
enhance the ability of a system to
cope with change
and
meet conservation goals and
objectives?
9. Adaptation Actions
Climate Change Filter = Intentionality
Actions specifically address climate change
impacts & vulnerabilities in order to meet
climate-informed goals/objectives.
Actions might be the same/similar to what
you’re already doing, but its necessary to
explore potential modifications to address
climate change.
10. Swanston and Janowiak 2012; www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/40543
1. DEFINE area of
interest, management
objectives, and time
frames.
2. ASSESS climate
change impacts and
vulnerabilities for the
area of interest.
3. EVALUATE
management objectives
given projected impacts
and vulnerabilities.
4. IDENTIFY and
implement adaptation
approaches and tactics .
5. MONITOR and
evaluate effectiveness
of implemented
actions.
Adaptation Process
11. Adaptation Process: Deciphered
1. Where are you
and what do you
care about?
2. How is that
particular place
vulnerable to
climate change?
3. What challenges
or opportunities
does climate
change present?
4. What actions
can help systems
adapt to change?
5. How can you
know whether
those actions were
effective?
Swanston and Janowiak 2012; www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/40543
12. Adaptation Actions
Manage for Persistence:
Ecosystems will still be recognizable
as being the same system (character)
Manage for Change:
Ecosystems will fundamentally
become something different
13. When you might emphasize…
Persistence (Same/Similar)
High ecological value or
unique/rare condition
High social value associated
with current condition
Inherent ability to buffer
changes
Highly vulnerable, but place
represents best chance of
success
Change (Future-adapted)
High likelihood that current
conditions will fail, making
change is necessary
Changes are already
occurring, and can be
enhanced
Good opportunity to try
something new
14. There isn’t a single answer.
Each decision is unique and will vary based upon:
Place: Location & Ecology
Purpose: Conservation Goals & Objectives
People: Values, Culture, & Resources
16. Hudson to Housatonic
Conservation Initiative (H2H)
Inter-state collaboration of 25+
local and regional conservation
organizations and municipal
partners
Southwestern Connecticut and
adjacent New York counties
Led by Highstead Foundation,
Fairfield County Regional
Conservation Partnership,
Westchester Land Trust,
Mianus River Gorge, and
Housatonic Valley Association.
December
Workshop
17.
18. H2H Conservation Goals
1) Sustain and enhance water resources and wildlife
habitat and quality
2) Adapt these resources to climate change in ways
that support state open space and watershed
objectives:
• Identify key parcels for acquisition
• Ensure that forests continue to mitigate and
adapt to climate change
• Protect high quality watershed and riparian areas
19. H2H Focal Areas
13 Focal Areas
• High ecosystem resilience
• Important for water
Identify key parcels
Engage landowners in
stewardship activities
21. 1. WHERE ARE YOU AND WHAT
DO YOU CARE ABOUT?
H2H
Primary: Protect and enhance water resources
Also:
• Maintain & improve wildlife habitat
• Maintain & improve forest/ecosystem health
*acquisition is a means to achieve these goals
22. 2. HOW IS THIS PARTICULAR
PLACE VULNERABLE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE?
27. 3. WHAT CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES
DOES CLIMATE CHANGE PRESENT?
H2H Challenge Examples
• Rapidly changing environment – feel overwhelmed!
• Funding diverting to addressing impacts and not
prevention (treating symptoms, not cause)
• Increased cost of land maintenance
• Increased need for expertise
• Increased frustration with owning property/home
28. 3. WHAT CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES
DOES CLIMATE CHANGE PRESENT?
H2H Opportunity Examples
• Green infrastructure becomes cost effective
• Areas resilient to climate change = higher property
values
• Increased interest/membership in land trust
• Increased forethought or action planning
• Raise awareness among homeowners (what to do)
30. 4. WHAT ACTIONS CAN HELP SYSTEMS
ADAPT TO CHANGE?
H2H Conservation Practices
• Compiled a starter list of practices from watershed
plans and NRCS conservation practices
• Focal groups identified top 10 and evaluated 3
32. Practice Benefits? Drawbacks or barriers?
Buffer
zones along
waterways
• Prevents erosion
• Improves water quality
• Reduces risk from extreme
events
• Restores habitat
• Cost
• Landowners like lawn
• Landowners want access to
water
• Landowner resistance
Remove
invasives
• Slows expansion
• Favors native species
• Cost
• Getting message to owners
Improved
lawn care
practices
• Lower carbon impact
• Improves water quality
• Cost
• May not like look
• Adoption by lawn service
Examples of practices evaluated for conservation + adaptation
33. Practice Benefits? Drawbacks or barriers?
Woods
walks &
forums
• Gets message out to diverse
groups of landowners
• Promotes changes in
values/culture to conservation
• Doable (time/money)
• Implementation (can be
done poorly) – need right
size and balance
• Requires careful planning
• Adequate attendance?
Forest plan
for wildlife
habitat
• Increases forest health and
resilience
• Helps protect water downstream
• Cost
• Landowner
apathy/resistance
Permeable
surfaces
• Reduces impact of extreme rain
(flooding, runoff)
• Protects wetlands
• Cost
• May not like look
• Adoption by lawn service
Examples of practices evaluated for conservation + adaptation
34. H2H: Up Next
Further refine lists of practices
• Likelihood/ease of implementation
• Funding from NRCS or other sources
• Conservation impact
• Landowner willingness
Tools for Engaging Landowners Effectively (TELE)
Go out and talk to people!
35. 5. HOW CAN YOU KNOW
WHETHER THOSE ACTIONS
WERE EFFECTIVE?
36. 5. HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHETHER
THOSE ACTIONS WERE EFFECTIVE?
H2H Monitoring
Didn’t discuss at workshop (too early)
Examples might include things like
• Water quality, runoff, erosion following extreme
rainfall (areas with vs. without practices)
• Forest/tree stress and mortality
• Understory composition (future-adapted,
desirable, or invasive)
37. What actions can be taken to
enhance the ability of an ecosystem
to cope with change
and
meet conservation goals and
objectives?
Putting it Together
39. Five Tips for Talking about Climate Change
1) Keep it Relevant to Place & Priorities
2) Listen to People & Their Needs
3) Provide Resources & Work on Solutions
4) Use Examples & Make it Real
5) Be Creative & Flexible
40. Telling Your Story
Here in/at ____(Place)____
we care about ____(Value related to place)____.
Implementing ____(Stewardship practice)____ helps,
while also ____ (Environmental benefit) ____,
____(Environmental or economic benefit)____,
and ____(Climate change adaptation benefit)____.
41. Telling Your Story
Here in our neighborhood
we care about keeping our water clean.
Establishing buffer zones along creeks help,
while also creating habitat for wildlife,
reducing lawn maintenance costs,
and reducing damage from severe rain storms.
42. What’s your story?
Here in/at ____(Place)____
we care about ____(Value related to place)____.
Implementing ____(Stewardship practice)____ helps,
while also ____ (Environmental benefit) ____,
____(Environmental or economic benefit)____,
and ____(Climate change adaptation benefit)____.
43.
44. Using new information and ideas
Beginning to take small steps
Being creative and flexible
Working and learning with others
What does adaptation look like?
46. Observed Climate Trends
Altered Precipitation
CT precipitation increased
nearly 3” since 1895
Extremely high variability
from year to year
Slight decrease in spring;
increase of 2” in fall
Substantial increases in
extreme rain events: 71%
increase across northeast
since 1958
Annual Precipitation Change since 1895
Sea-level
rise >1 foot
since 1900
NOAA, Melillo et al. 2014
47. Anticipated Climate Changes
Warmer temperatures
3-9°F increase annually
Altered precipitation
High variability: slight
decrease to >15% increase
Generally increasing in
winter & spring
Potential decreases or less
substantial increases in
summer & fall
More extreme rain
Sea-level Rise
12 to 23” by end of century
CT DEEP 2011, Climatewizard.orgKunkel et al. 2013, CT 2013, Janowiak et al. in prep
48. Adaptation Demonstrations
Provide real-world examples of forest management
activities that:
• Enhance the ability of forests to cope with changing
conditions
• Achieve land owner management goals
Foster cross-ownership dialogue and learning