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Climate change and the US Wildlife Refuge System

Current management philosophy for biodiversity protection in the US Wildlife Refuge System is inadequate in the face of climate change, argue a legal scholar and biologist writing in the Natural Resources Journal.

The article, “Beyond Trust Species: The Conservation Potential of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Wake of Climate Change," is available at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1561948&download=yes.

Summary from co-author Rob Fischman (with Robert Adamcik): "The article argues against a prevailing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service theme for its programs to increase populations of an ill-defined collection of “trust species.” Adamcik and I propose a focus on ecological integrity for the Service’s management of the national wildlife refuges. We employ both legal analysis and biological research to support our vision.  We also try to show, with specific examples, how our approach would more effectively adapt refuge conservation to climate change."

 Journal abstract: Over the last two decades, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has come to define its conservation mission in the context of species protection. The concept of “trust species” is now a common focal point for the myriad responsibilities of the FWS. This has become problematic for one of the major programs of the agency: management of the world’s largest biodiversity conservation network, the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). A major legislative overhaul of the NWRS charter and the imperatives of climate change adaptation have weakened the concept as a reliable touchstone for NWRS management and expansion. The FWS should build on its culture and history to respond to new challenges that the conservation network cannot meet with the “trust species” concept alone. While management to benefit specific species offers a simple measure of accomplishment, as a policy tool it creates more problems than it solves. Adherence to the “trust species” theme limits full engagement with, and abdicates the FWS leadership role in, contemporary conservation challenges and science. This article makes the case for alternative measures of NWRS conservation success that move beyond just counting populations. Ecological integrity offers a more accurate theme for NWRS goals, a more robust tool for adapting to climate change, and a concept that the scientific literature recognizes and quantifies.

Posted by Charles Chester on Wednesday, September 14, 20112:24PM

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