Transcript A New York Workshop Case Study

Climate Adaptation Planning:
from Vulnerability Assessment
to Strategy Identification
-A New York Workshop Case Study-
Chris Hilke
Climate Change Adaptation Program
National Wildlife Federation
[email protected]
Identifying Adaptation Strategies:
Utilizing the “New Hampshire
Method”
1. Identify adaptation targets (species-habitats)
2. Summarize the vulnerability of the targets
3. Develop full range of adaptation options
4. Prioritize adaptation options
5. Identify potential implementation partners
6. Group, Filter, and Highlight
NY Adaptation Workshop
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Stage 3:
Stage 4:
Summarize Vulnerability Data
Identify Vulnerable Targets
Delineate Breakout Groups
Identify “Operationally Feasible”
Adaptation Strategies
Stage 6: Prioritize strategies
Adaptation Strategy Gradients
Identifying “Operationally Feasible” Strategies
General
Low cost
Low engineering
Near-term
Implementation
Specific
High cost
Multi-phase
Long-term
Implementation
Stage 1: Summarize Vulnerability
Data
• New York Habitat Vulnerability Assessment
Galbraith, H. et al. 2012
• Vulnerability of At-risk Species to Climate
Change in New York
Schlesinger, M. et al. 2011
Stage 2: Identify Vulnerable Targets
Upland Systems
Species:
• Spruce Grouse
• Indiana Bat
• Karner Blue butterfly
• Moose
Freshwater Systems
Species:
• Dwarf Wedge Mussel
• Bog Turtle
• Lake Sturgeon
• Hellbender
Habitats:
• Montane Spruce-fir
• N. Hardwood forests
• Tundra
• Boreal bog
Habitats:
• Cold water habitats
• Emergent marsh
• Shrub swamp
• Stratified lakes
Stage 3: Delineate Breakout Groups
1. Upland Systems
2. Freshwater Systems
• Target Vulnerability
Summary
• Climate Exposure
Summary
• Example Adaptation
Strategies
Stage 4: Identify “Operationally
Feasible” Adaptation Strategies
FHWA
• 30 minutes per target to
identify as many
strategies as possible
that increase the
resiliency and/or
adaptive capacity of the
targets
Stage 5: Prioritize Strategies
Group, Filter and Highlight
1. Group strategies by common theme,
category
2. Filter groups based upon feasibility,
cost, implementation potential
3. Highlight a suite of top 5 strategies
for each target
Upland Systems: Habitats
Montane spruce-fir
• Patch clear cut management for fir regeneration
• Expand Catskills to ADK to Canada connectivity
N. Hardwood forests
• Manage for southern spp./promote climate-resilient
assemblages
• Conduct deer management based on vegetation cover metrics
Tundra
• Limit visitation impacts with trail carrying capacity limits
• Monitor tundra pollinators
Boreal bog
• Reduce bog draining and peat harvest on private lands
• Implement existing wetland protection strategies
Upland Systems: Species
Spruce Grouse
• Facilitate range shift through connectivity
• Monitor likely disappearance
• Facilitate translocation for isolated populations
Indiana Bat
• Landowner incentives to maintain snags
• Increased investment in fungal disease research
• Increased hibernacula protection measures
Moose
• Improve connectivity across altitudinal gradients - over-underpass
• Reduce deer population for disease management
Karner Blue butterfly
• Continue/expand prescribed fire for habitat restoration
• Protect/manage islands around core habitat to facilitate metapopulation dynamics
Freshwater Systems: Habitats
Cold water habitats
•Acquire intact “in fee” lands along shores and stream banks
•Stream management programs for local communities
Emergent marsh
•Amend state wetland maps to include > wetlands – utilize previous wetland
map expansions
•Increase staff to implement current program objectives
Shrub swamp
•Remove obsolete impoundments to restore natural hydrology
•Increase capacity-funding for existing water protection program
implementation
Stratified lakes
•Improve sewage facilities for lakeshore residents – stormwater
•Expand watershed management focus for nonpoint discharges
Freshwater Systems: Species
Dwarf Wedge Mussel
•Decrease in-stream disturbance
•Increase aquatic connectivity - dam removal
•Improve water quality
Bog Turtle
•Control sediment runoff
•Acquisition of habitat for key populations
•Develop captive breeding program
Lake Sturgeon
•Reduce length of harvest season
•Minimize water withdrawal impacts - entrainment
Hellbender
•Unblock migration routes – aquatic connectivity
•Population re-establishment in climate-appropriate habitats
Thank You
Lake Champlain, VT
Chris Hilke
National Wildlife Federation
[email protected]