Vital Futures: Conservation Adaptation Planning for Landscape and Climate Change in the Southeast
Project Description
Project Completion: December 2019
Implements Science Plan Theme: 2-6
Principal Investigator(s): Nils Peterson, NC State University
Co-Investigator(s):
Kirstin Dow, Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments
Naomi Edelson, National Wildlife Federation
John Kupfer, University of South Carolina
Kirsten Lackstrom, , Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments
Ross Meentemeyer, NC State University
Bruce Stein, National Wildlife Federation
Adam J Terando, Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center
Key Points
- Supports the SECAS by building collaborative networks, goals, and regional management plans
- A review of State Wildlife Action Plans showed an emphasis on species persistence rather than adaptation
Overview
The Southeast US has high rates of population growth and land use change. At the same time, the region is experiencing climate change impacts. These changes are threatening wildlife and their habitats. But, most conservation activities focus on habitat maintenance rather than adaptation.
This project supports the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS). SECAS has a network of conservation partners, shared conservation goals, and regional management strategies. The partnership works to conserve resources into the future. We conducted a detailed review of southeastern State Wildlife Action Plans. We found that while states are concerned about climate change, adaptation strategies tended to be general and vague. Wildlife management goals tended to focus on the persistence of species and habitats. Ideally, these goals would consider and manage for future changes in ecosystems. We recommended multiple steps for including future change projections in regional wildlife conservation. This included starting a state-based list of Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need (RSGCN). We mapped future urban development, fire hazards, and climate shifts. These maps show how these projected changes impact conservation goals and objectives. This project helps visualize future changes in the Southeast.
Project Goal 1: Assess conservation and resource management plans for existing goals and objectives
Goal one was met by conducting systematic thematic analysis of all State Wildlife Action Plans in the Southeast.
- Climate Change and Conservation in the Southeast: A Review of State Wildlife Action Plans Report Summary, October 2018
- Climate Change and Conservation in the Southeast: A Review of State Wildlife Action Plans Final Report, October 2018
A drill-down analysis was conducted focused on longleaf pine management plans (Clark et al., 2018).
Project Goal 2: Evaluate existing goals and objectives with respect to scenarios of future climate and land change
We addressed goal two by mapping future impacts of urban development, fire hazards, and climate shifts to demonstrate how these impact conservation goals and objectives with respect to plausible future scenarios of land and climate change impacts.
SECAS/SE CASC Science Seminar: Perspectives on Prescribed Fire Management in Longleaf Pine Ecosystems
Project Goal 3: Facilitate development of climate aligned goals, objectives, and strategies and develop principles and propositions for managing change in the Southeast
This goal was addressed in multiple ways that were specifically aligned with the evolving nature and needs of the SECAS initiative.
SECAS Third Thursday Web Forum: How Decision-makers View Wildlife Conservation Challenges
SE CASC Science Seminar: Lessons for Landscape-scale Conservation Learned from the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy