Transcript The Nez Perces and Climate Changex

THE NEZ PERCES AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
Aaron Miles, Sr.
Executive Director, Department of Natural
Resources
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
WITH CLIMATE CHANGE?
CLIMATE CHANGE OR GLOBAL WARMING
NATURAL TRENDS VS. SHORT TERM CHANGES
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Anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change is not the question,
rather the question “is climate change human induced?”
Evidence shows that chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) have been identified
as a catalyst in the beginning of climate change. The CFC’s poked a
huge hole in the Ozone layer, actually have been breaking down the
ozone layer. The ozone layer protects harmful ultraviolet rays from
entering the earth’s atmosphere.
Climatologists/scientists are able to compare the Pliocene Era (5.3 to
2.6 million years ago) with marine and terrestrial fossil records vs.
present-day empirical data measuring carbon dioxide.
The Pliocene Epoch Era was a period in earth’s history (5.3 – 2.6
million years ago) when mastodons lived and the North Atlantic
Ocean was much warmer. Rhinoceroses became extinct in North
America at the beginning of this era. Camels and horses were
abundant and lived in the northern hemisphere.
The compromised ozone layer now allows harmful UV rays to escape
into our atmosphere creating a warming of our atmosphere.
The oxygen, and carbon cycles are regulated by the ozone layer which
allow for the photosynthesis to create energy and life as we know it.
CARBON CYCLE AS PART OF
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT OR INSIDE YOUR CAR ON
A HOT SUNNY DAY WITH YOUR WINDOWS
ROLLED UP EFFECT
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Natural Process vs. Human
induced problems
Natural Process =
Photosynthesis which is a
process used by plants to
converts light (UV) energy
to chemical energy to
provide energy to the
organism.
Human caused
More UV as long wave
radiation escaping into the
earth’s atmosphere
 Reflected off earth’s surface
as short wave UV which
creates more heat
 Short wave can’t escape back
out of the atmosphere
(stratosphere)
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GREENHOUSE GASES
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Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the most abundant
greenhouse gas and is a natural occurrence through
photosynthesis where plants are able to use for
growing
Methane gas (CH4) is the second most common
greenhouse gas. Landfills, large livestock operations,
and other human activities are the cause.
Nitrous oxide is no laughing matter and used in
fertilizer, water vapor, and ozone account for the
other greenhouse gases. Not only causes acidity in
soil but can cause acid rain events.
Ozone in the atmosphere has different effects to
humans and animals on the earth’s surface vs.
serving as a protective layer from UV rays. Ozone is
harmful for humans and animals to breathe. It is
used in refrigerants, propellants, etc.
U.S. OPTS OUT OF KYOTO PROTOCOL
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George Bush did not sign the Kyoto Treaty stating
that it would have wrecked the U.S. economy.
Kyoto Protocol would have insured a cap and trade for
carbon emissions by big polluters in the developed
world/countries.
Nez Perce Tribe was involved in the CCX up until
that point in time. The Tribe has 4 afforestation
projects at the Tramway Reserve where marginal
agricultural land was converted into forested land.
Kyoto would make developed countries more
responsible. Undeveloped countries would work
towards cap and trade over time.
MILESTONE – 400 PPM CO2 READING AT
MAUNA LOA OBSERVATORY AT HAWAII
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National Oceanic
Atmospheric Administration
and Scripps Institute of
Oceanography verified the
milestone
Pliocene Era never reached
300 ppm of CO2.
Human caused
More UV as long wave
radiation escaping into the
earth’s atmosphere
 Reflected off earth’s surface
as short wave UV which
creates more heat
 Short wave can’t escape back
out of the atmosphere
(stratosphere)
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WHO WE ARE
Since Time
Immemorial
 10K+
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REMEMBER THIS?
WHAT HAVE WE DONE THUS FAR?
Clearwater Basin
 On-reservation
Wetlands
 Tribal Trust
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DOCUMENT FINDINGS
Forest Health
 Water
 Invasive Species
 Agriculture
 Recreation/Tourism
 The Trust Doctrine
 Human Health
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FOREST HEALTH
Fire
 Drought
 Insect/Pathogen
Outbreaks
 Introduced Species
 Landslides
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WATER
Smaller Snow Pack
 Earlier Runoff
 Warmer Summers
 Dried Wetlands
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INVASIVE SPECIES
Plants
 Insects
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AGRICULTURE- WHEAT
2020- 2080
 CO2 Concentrations
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RECREATION/TOURISM
Jobs
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 Hiking, boating,
fishing, hunting
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THE TRUST DOCTRINE
Federal-Tribal
Relationship in a time
of uncertainty
 Planning and
Consultation
 The Exercise of
Sovereignty
 Diverse Arenas
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HUMAN HEALTH
Allergens
 Temperature
Extremes
 Rain Extremes
 Food Security
 Mental Health
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OTHER IMPACTS: TRANSPORTATION
Roadway Inundation
 Erosion, Scour
 Mudslides/Avalanche
 Closures
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OTHER IMPACTS- HYDROPOWER
Production and
streamflow
 Increased winter flows
 Significantly reduced
summer flows
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WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW?
DNR
 DFRM
 NPT
 Regionally
 Nationally
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DNR
DNR-DFRM CC TF
 IRMP
 Carbon Sequestration
 Land Use
 Wildlife
 Emergency Response
 Cultural Resource
Protection
 Elders
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DFRM
Ridgetop to Ridgetop
 Lifecycle
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NPT
Governance
 Strategic Planning
 Organizational
Structure
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REGIONALLY
USFS
 EPA RTOC
 BIA
 DOE Hanford
 BPA, USACE
 CRITFC, ATNI,
PFMC, GNLLC
 DEQ, BAG, Soil &
Water Conservation
Districts
 Universities
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NATIONALLY-INTERNATIONALLY
NCAI
 Congress
 Administration
 Columbia River
Treaty
 PSC
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OUR HOME OUR NEIGHBORS
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Here we are. How we
move forward is up to
us all.
QECIYEWYEW, YOX KALO!