National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

Climate change impacts are becoming ever more apparent. Average temperatures are increasing, extreme events are becoming more frequent and intense, and ocean acidity levels are rising. Climate change impacts are also affecting our ecosystems, which not only provide habitat to an array of biodiversity, but also provide us with important services such as drinking water, nutrient cycling, and aesthetic and recreational activities.

As climate change impacts cross boundaries and affect many different ecosystems, the issue overlaps local and state government protection. With the introduction and release of the Obama administration’s Climate Adaptation Strategy in January 2012, climate change impacts have been addressed on a national level for the first time.

The following seven goals are set by the Strategy:

1. Conserve & Connect Habitat to Support Populations and Ecosystem Functions
2. Manage Species & Habitats to Protect Ecosystem Functions
3. Enhance Management Capacity
4. Support Adaptive Management through Integrated Observation and Monitoring
5. Increase Knowledge & Information in Impacts and Responses of Wildlife and Plants
6. Increase Awareness & Motivate Action
7. Reduce Non-Climate Stressors

In order to achieve climate change adaptation success among these goals, The Strategy outlines actions to be instilled within existing wildlife management practices over the next five years. These guidelines urge the consideration and practice of sustainable management with climate change impact adaptations kept in mind. Resiliency to climate change is very important for the future of our environment.

A consideration of shifting ecosystems, the formation of new wildlife corridors, and the adaption of species to altering climates are some of the issues addressed in the strategy, all of which are adverse effects of climate change impacts. Additionally, modeling of climate change impacts on species and ecosystems will be included within management practices. This is a step in a different direction for traditional wildlife and habitat management. This Strategy will mark the first call to arms of natural resource professionals and other decision makers on a national level.


EESI released a public comment regarding the strategy:


The world’s climate is changing now; therefore, we applaud this important initiative to develop a thoughtful, comprehensive adaptation strategy, as both climate mitigation and adaptation are necessary. This proposed Strategy recognizes the need for not only climate change adaptation on a local, species scale, but across ecosystems as well. Incorporation of climate adaptation guidelines into wildlife and habitat management practices is a valued step toward adjusting to climate change impacts. While the Strategy requires collaboration across many sectors and levels of government, the overall hopeful outcome of climate adaptation is outlined throughout this guidance to preserve wildlife and habitat against future climate change impacts.

A consideration of some of the most important issues affected by climate change includes shifting ecosystems, the formation of new wildlife corridors, and the adaption of species to altered habitats are addressed in the Strategy. Additionally, the modeling of climate change impacts on species and ecosystems aspects included within management practices of the Strategy provide further insight that has not been tapped in traditional wildlife and habitat management. This Strategy will mark the first call to arms of natural resource professionals and other decision-makers on a national level—a very important step.

An improvement EESI would suggest is that the strategy needs to lay out a plan for communicating its goals to its targeted audience. For the goals set forth to be accomplished, the Strategy must make it into the hands of local, state, and national parks officials and supporters, environmental education organizations, local, state, and federal political officials. Specifics for completing this outreach and education as well as seeking out participation across the needed sectors and governments are not laid out in the Strategy.

Perhaps the Strategy could be included in a broad variety of public venues to further climate change education. Along this same topic, expanded education and public awareness efforts could help deter public denial of climate change. EESI would encourage climate change education to be part of an interdisciplinary approach to science and sustainability courses in our educational systems, including higher education. This is critical to instilling greater public awareness, an essential element of addressing effective adaptation needs and strategies.

The necessity of action, formation of goals, and overall science-based approach all seem to be heading in the right direction towards climate change adaptation for wildlife and their habitats. There is much to be done and learned on an ongoing basis. EESI supports the goals of the Strategy.