Transcript Mediators of Change? The relevance and potential of

Mediators of change?
The relevance and potential of protected areas
for adaptation to climate change
Aliances Workshop at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2008 in Barcelona, Spain
Workshop
Main organizer: Prof. Dr. Susanne Stoll-Kleemann
Moderation: Nadine Fritz-Vietta
Introductory presentation: Monika Bertzky
Case study presentations:
(1) Roberto Pedraza (Mexico);
(2) Elsa J. Sattout and Nizar Hani (Lebanon);
(3) Ian Walker (Australia)
• Summary: Martin Hirschnitz-Garbers
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Workshop agenda
• Introductory presentation
• Case study presentation (1) (2) (3)
• Open discussion
• Brief summary and conclusion
Mediators of change?
The relevance and potential of protected areas
for adaptation to climate change
Introductory presentation, Monika Bertzky
Structure
1. Introduction:
Protected areas and
climate change
2. Adaptation potential and
limitations
3. The role of risk perception
4. Open discussion points
07.10.2008
M. Bertzky
Introduction
• Protected areas…
…are cornerstones of in-situ biodiversity conservation
…cover ~11.6% of the total territorial area of the world
Data source: WDPA 2006 and 2007: UNEP-WCMC and IUCN WCPA
07.10.2008
M. Bertzky
Introduction
• Protected areas…
…offer some defense against climate change impacts

Buffering coastlines against weather extremes

Maintaining important climate refugia

Conserving genetic diversity
for species’ adaptation
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M. Bertzky
Introduction
• Protected areas…
…are affected by climate change impacts, e.g. through

Sea level rise and warming waters

Changing precipitation patterns

Shifting species distribution
ranges
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M. Bertzky
Adaptation potential and limitations
• Protected area managers…
…are asked to support adaptation processes in “their” PAs

Considering climate change impacts in management

Increasing the resilience of ecosystems

Allowing species to move
- create PA networks
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M. Bertzky
Adaptation potential and limitations
• Protected area managers…
…must prioritize limited resources according
to most pressing (and competing) risks, such as

Invasive alien species

Illegal activities

Pollution
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M. Bertzky
Driver of prioritization: Risk perception?
1. Is climate change perceived as
a major threat to the
achievement of conservation
targets by PA managers?
2. What are the factors influencing
their risk perception?
07.10.2008
M. Bertzky
The role of risk perception
 Four given threats were ranked by survey respondents
according to their perceived severity within “their” BR:
climate change, illegal activities, invasive alien species,
pollution (1 = the biggest threat, 4 = smallest threat)
Threats
Valid replies
Normalized value
Rank
Illegal activities
199
1.000
1
Climate change
193
0.824
2
Invasive alien species
197
0.822
3
Pollution
198
0.767
4
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M. Bertzky
What are influencing factors?
Hypothesis: Vulnerable ecosystems within the PAs
Finding: Economic power of countries where survey
respondents work
non-high-income
high-income
Threats
Valid replies
Normalized value
Rank
Climate change
83
1.000
1
Invasive alien species
84
0.949
2
Pollution
83
0.868
3
Illegal activities
82
0.486
4
Illegal activities
117
1.000
1
Invasive alien species
113
0.523
2
Pollution
115
0.500
3
Climate change
110
0.496
4
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M. Bertzky
An attempt to explain
“There is quite a lot of [climate] modeling going on. Instead of
watching this, you would better watch the current [rural and
urban] development, it’s transforming the landscape at the
same time. (…) [It] is going much faster than global warming
is.” (Interviewee from South Africa)
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M. Bertzky
Full paper available
1. At our exhibition booth
No. 048
2. For download at
www.
biodiversitygovernance.de
07.10.2008
M. Bertzky
Open discussion points
“There is nothing
we can do anyway”
“Proactive
management is the
key to adaptation”
“More resources are needed to
implement adaptation measures”
Protected areas &
adaptation to
climate change
“Other threats are much more
serious than climate change”
07.10.2008
“Our idea of static
conservation needs
to be adapted”
“Clear guidelines for
adaptation strategies
are lacking”
M. Bertzky
Thank you!
[email protected]
www.biodiversitygovernance.de
07.10.2008
M. Bertzky