Transcript Enhancing the marketing effectiveness of the Conservancy

Biodiversity Conservation and Climate
Change
Dr. Patrick Doran, The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. Climate Change:
Challenges to Biodiversity Conservation.
Chris Hoving, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division.
A natural resource manager's perspective on the challenges of climate
change in Michigan.
Dr. Kimberly R. Hall, Michigan State University. Tools for Incorporating
Climate Change into Conservation Decisions.
Dr. Patrick Doran. The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. Case study:
Modeling Northern Minnesota Forests under Climate Change:
Management, Natural Disturbance and Species Migration.
Dr. Paul J. Steen, Dr. Michael J. Wiley, and Dr. Jeffrey S. Schaeffer, U.S.
Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center. Case study: Predicting
Future Changes in Muskegon River Watershed Game Fish under Land-Use
Alteration and Climate Change Scenarios.
Climate Change: Challenges to
Biodiversity Conservation
Dr. Patrick Doran, Director of Science
The Nature Conservancy in Michigan
9 April 2008
Multiple Impacts of Climate Change
Warming;
Amount, form, timing of precipitation;
Extreme and variable climate events;
Lake changes – water levels, temperature, ice
cover, etc.;
Secondary changes in disturbance regimes,
resources, disease dynamics, species
distribution.
The Nature Conservancy
Mission
The mission of The Nature conservancy is to preserve
the plants, animals, and natural communities that
represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting
the lands and waters they need to survive.
2015 Goal
By 2015, The Nature conservancy will work with others
to ensure the effective conservation of places that
represent at least 10% of every major habitat type on
Earth.
Threats to Biodiversity
Habitat Loss
Habitat Degradation
Climate Change
Species Introductions
The Challenge: What Can We Do?
Do we change where we work?
Do we change the scale of our work?
Do we change our conservation targets and
goals?
Do we change our strategies?
The Nature Conservancy
Central US Region Actions
Informal Survey – top 3-5 State-level activities
IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI
Policy, Science, Stewardship, Protection,
Planning
The Nature Conservancy
Central US Region Actions
8 States
All major habitat types
34 Actions
Policy
Science
Protection
Stewardship
Planning
8
8
5
11
6
The Nature Conservancy
Central US Region Actions
State-level differences
MN – Science and Planning
IL – Policy
IN, MI – Protection and Stewardship
The Nature Conservancy
Central US Region Actions
 Policy
 IL - Advocate for mandatory emissions cap at federal and
state level, along with establishing a carbon trading market
and funding for adaptation.
 WI - Participating on the Governor's Climate Change Task
Force. The process involves modeling to determine how
and in which sectors (transportation, agriculture, energy,
forestry, etc.) to reduce emissions and increase
sequestration in the state.
The Nature Conservancy
Central US Region Actions
Science
IA, OH – Long-term monitoring
MN – Lake portfolio examined watershed position,
depth, and location as possible indicators of
vulnerability to a warming climate.
The Nature Conservancy
Central US Region Actions
Protection
MI, WI – large working forest easements and
preserves.
MO, IA, MI – Working forest conservation
easement programs and BMP implementation in
agriculturally dominated watersheds.
M ichigan Forest Conservation by T he N ature Conservancy
LakeSuperior
Two Hearted River
Forest Reserve
Upper Peninsula Lands in Conservation
The Nature Conservancy Preserves/Reserves
Northern Great Lakes Forest Project
Working Forest Conservation Easements
State (Forests, Parks, Game Areas)
Federal (USFS, USFWS, NPS)
Industrial Forestland
Lak
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n
Lak
eH
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n
The Nature Conservancy
Central US Region Actions
Stewardship
MI – Restoration of fens where many unique
species occur and our restoration efforts (species
removal and protection and easements to restore
connectivity) are vital to maintain the viability of
the system.
MN, IL, IN – restoration and carbon sequestration
The Nature Conservancy
Central US Region Actions
Planning
Most states – incorporate climate change into
conservation planning
Great Lakes states – revise ecoregional planning
Research Needs
 Regional analyses of climate trends and projections;
 Effects of climate induced changes on existing
aquatic and terrestrial habitats;
 Effects of habitat changes on species;
 Long-term datasets of species’ distribution and
abundance;
 Long-term monitoring and measures of success.
Conclusions
Many current efforts currently being
implemented;
Strategies have multiple benefits;
Need for integration and cooperation;
But many questions still remain…
Effective Conservation
Protected LandsDatabase for Michigan - Ver. I I I
The Conservation and Recreational Lands (CARL) Database
Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy - November 2006
Viable
Biodiversity
Protected and Recreational Lands
in Michigan - 2006
Current CARL Database
Other Lands (e.g., Military/University Sites) (110,380 ac)
Federal Protected Land (3,198,350 ac)
State Protected Land (4,349,555 ac)
Local Government Protected Land (109,008 ac)
NGO Protected Land (109,510 ac)
Privately Protected Land (230,374 ac)
All Recreational Lands - Public/Private (582,318 ac)
0
Acceptable
Threats
25
Conservation
Management
50
100
Miles
150