CONSIDERING CLIMATE CHANGE IN LAND

CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP

www.forestadaptation.org

Maria Janowiak, mjanowiak02@fs.fed.us Scientist, Climate Change Adaptation

& Forest Carbon Management

How do we respond?

Workshop Outline Introduction

A Few Key Adaptation Ideas

Adaptation Workbook: “Turbo” version • Example from CT/NY

• Your lands & projects (Choose Your Own Adventure)

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

www.forestadaptation.org Click ‘Demonstration Projects’

Adaptation Demonstrations

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 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

What actions can be taken to enhance the ability of a system to

cope with change and

meet conservation goals and objectives?

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Workshop Format Adaptation Workbook: “Turbo” version

For each step: • Individual thinking time • Example (via H2H)

Discussion at end

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.

DecemberWorkshop

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

H2H Focal Areas 13 Focal Areas

• High ecosystem resilience • Important for water

Identify key parcels Engage landowners in

stewardship activities

1. WHERE ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU CARE ABOUT?

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

2. HOW IS THIS PARTICULAR PLACE VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments

2. HOW IS THIS PARTICULAR PLACE VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

2. HOW IS THIS PARTICULAR PLACE VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

Climate Change Impacts Regional Ecosystem Impacts 1) Less Snow, More Rain 2) Potential for Summer Drought 3) Rising Sea Levels 4) Longer Growing Season 5) Changes in Suitable Habitat 6) Invasive Plants 7) Extreme Events 8) Forest Pests and Diseases

Specific to H2H Landscape • Varied by Focal Area • Biggies: 1) Extreme Precipitation

(runoff, erosion, flooding) 2) Other Extreme Events 3) Invasive Species

3. WHAT CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES DOES CLIMATE CHANGE PRESENT?

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

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)

4. WHAT ACTIONS CAN HELP SYSTEMS ADAPT TO CHANGE?

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

Conservation Practices – Most beneficial in light of climate change

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

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

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!

5. HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHETHER THOSE ACTIONS WERE EFFECTIVE?

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)

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

Climate Change Communication

Yale Center on Climate Change Communication

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

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)____.

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.

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)____.

Using new information and ideas

Beginning to take small steps

Being creative and flexible

Working and learning with others

What does adaptation look like?

Desired Conditions Natural Forest

Dynamics

Wildlife Habitat

Past Management

History

Invasives Timber Sale Revenue

Disturbance: Past + Future

Recreation

Forest Health

And more!! Climate Change

Plan & Project Requirements

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

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.org Kunkel et al. 2013, CT 2013, Janowiak et al. in prep

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

Adaptation Demonstrations

forestadaptation.org

Learn through examples!! Diversity in lands Diversity in objectives Acknowledge difference,

build on similarities Demonstrate shared

perspectives