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TNC’s Knowledge Base for Climate Change Adaptation

DOI National Park Service (NPS)

The mission of the NPS is to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and intrinsic values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The agency cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.  NPS manages the 392 units of the National Park System and also helps administer dozens of affiliated sites, the National Register of Historic Places, National Heritage Areas, National Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Historic Landmarks, and National Trails. It also is involved with the Land and Water Conservation Fund program.

As caretakers of the nation's unique and special places, NPS is facing one of its greatest challenges in responding to climate change. The issue will require thinking about the effects of climate change in a systems context and a new way of looking at park management that removes the assumption that the future foundation of the landscape will look mostly like the present one. New management strategies will need to be implemented with an unprecedented level of cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries. Effective conservation will require an even greater emphasis on partnerships and multi-agency collaboration, as well as interdisciplinary teams. The NPS response to climate change is through the agency Climate Change Response Program that is supported by the Inventory and Monitoring Program.

National parks are visible examples of how climate change can affect natural and cultural resources. These park resources are among the most vulnerable in the country, but also possess the ability to teach NPS and the public about our changing planet. For it is within parks that we begin to understand the larger questions of where we came from, what is our relationship to nature, and what do we want our future to look like. Through clear communication, NPS will prepare park staff and connect visitors with information concerning the impacts to parks and steps the agency is taking to preserve our heritage.

  • http://www.nps.gov/index.htm, for the NPS homepage; select ‘About Us', ‘Explore Nature', ‘Working with Communities' and other topics from the menu bar at top of page
  • http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/index.htm, for ‘About Us' and link to NPS overview and other information
  • http://www.nature.nps.gov/parkscience/index.cfm?ArticleID=406&page=1, for short article that describes the transformation of NPS over the years to a scientific institution dedicated to addressing park resource management concerns from a landscape perspective; systematic inventories and monitoring of resource conditions, new programs to address challenges of climate change and other issues, and increased public education and partnerships with researchers/scientists are part of this transformation (from the editor, NPS Park Science bulletin 27 (1), Spring 2010).

 

> DOI Strategic Plan

DOI Strategic Plan FY 2007-2012 sets out specific goals for Interior's four mission responsibilities: Resource Protection, Resource Use, Recreation, and Serving Communities. It establishes measurable performance targets in each area along with targets for Departmental management initiatives. Recognizing the pressures on the nation's resources have never been greater and will continue to grow, the DOI response must be a constant focus on efficient use and careful management of diminishing resources. Only by effectively measuring the results can DOI adjust the tactics and strategies used to meet its goal of management excellence.

As the nation's primary land, water and wildlife manager, DOI has an obligation to address the impacts that climate change is having on America's resources. The DOI response to climate change includes investing in scientific research to better understand climate-change impacts, designing science-based adaptation strategies to protect our resources and people from climate change, and developing mitigation strategies that decrease greenhouse-gas emissions into the atmosphere.

 

> Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs)    

LCCs are applied, self-directed conservation partnerships among DOI agencies, notably U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), other federal agencies, states, tribes, non-governmental organizations, universities and others to address the challenges of climate change, land use, and other stressors across broad areas in an integrated fashion. LCCs link science and management and are fundamental units of planning and science capacity in carrying out the functional elements of FWS strategic habitat conservation (SHC). They provide scientific and technical support for on-the-ground strategic, landscape-scale conservation in an adaptive management framework that emphasizes science-based biological planning, conservation design, research, inventory and monitoring. The products that LCCs develop help to inform and improve conservation delivery efforts on the ground.

Guided by DOI's newly created Energy and Climate Change Council (formerly Climate Change Response Council), LCCs will provide new science capacity for FWS and partners and will complement USGS Climate Science Centers (CSCs) from a FWS mission and partner-based perspective. Regional CSCs and a LCC network were established by DOI Secretary Ken Salazar via Secretarial Order 3289 to develop strategies for managing climate change and other impacts on natural resources. Efforts will focus on impacts that typically extend beyond traditional jurisdictional boundaries, such as the effects of climate change on wildlife migration patterns, wildfire risk, drought, or invasive species.

DOI has established 21 (22?) LCCs encompassing all 50 States and U.S. Pacific Islands. FWS is a primary lead on LCCs and has invested the most resources into establishing and staffing them. Eight LCCs received funding in FY10 through FWS. Additional LCCs are being established with support from U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, NPS, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

       

> NPS Programs, Products, Tools

Climate Change Response Program and Strategy

The NPS response to climate change begins by examining policy, planning and decision-making. A Climate Change Response Steering Committee representing parks, regions, managers, and subject-matter experts has been established to provide guidance to NPS. It serves both the NPS Climate Change Response Program (CCRP) and the NPS National Leadership Council. Central to the agency's response is the Climate Change Response Strategy, released in September 2010, that will guide the CCRP.

Climate change is creating a new and dynamic decision-making environment in which a continuation of historical patterns cannot be assumed. Effective decision-making and planning will require decision support systems that are flexible to shifting conditions. Six principles from the National Research Council have been adapted for the Climate Change Response Strategy, and current efforts of the CCRP are coordinated around four areas of emphasis: science, adaptation, climate mitigation, and education.

Inventory and Monitoring Program

The primary role of the NPS Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program "is to collect, organize, and make available natural resource data and to contribute to the Service's institutional knowledge by facilitating the transformation of data into information through analysis, synthesis, and modeling." Two of the five primary goals of the program are to 1) integrate natural resource inventory and monitoring information into NPS planning, management, and decision making; and 2) share NPS accomplishments and information with other natural resource organizations and form partnerships for attaining common goals and objectives.

Twelve baseline natural resource inventories serve as the baseline for establishing long-term ecological monitor­ing, known as "Vital Signs Monitoring". Vital signs are a subset of physical, chemical, and biologi­cal elements and processes of park ecosystems that are selected to represent the overall health or condition of park natural resources, known or hypothesized effects of stressors, or elements that have important human values. Vital signs monitoring provides scientifically sound information on park resources from systems-based monitoring. Monitoring the composition and structure of selected plant communities, for instance, is a critical step to understand park systems, set desired future conditions, and interpret future trends. Moni­toring data supports management decision-making, park planning, research, education, and promotes public understanding of park resources.

To facilitate collaboration, information sharing, and econo­mies of scale in inventory and monitoring, the NPS has organized more than 270 parks with significant natural resources into 32 ecoregional networks to conduct inven­tory and monitoring activities. The I&M Program is increasingly collecting and analyzing information to detect ecological changes associated with climate change, and NPS has a series of "Climate Change Briefs" or reports about climate change monitoring and other activities in Park ecoregions of the country.

  • http://www.nature.nps.gov/, for ‘Explore Nature' and Natural Resource Stewardship and Science page and link to Inventory and Monitoring page on left sidebar
  • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/index.cfm, for I&M Program page and links to program networks, resource inventories, ‘vital signs' monitoring, data management, natural resources GIS, applications & databases, reports and documentation, and other  information
  • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/I&M_ProgramBrief.pdf, for brief description of I&M Program, including background, primary program goals, highlights and accomplishments, map of the 32 I&M ecoregional networks, list of 12 baseline natural resource inventories for the parks and other
  • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/inventory/Inventory_Strategic_Plan.pdf, for the "Strategic Plan for Natural Resource Inventories, FY 2008 - FY2012", including chapter on major programmatic challenges and issues associated with natural resource inventories over the next 10-15 years; one challenge is adapting to changing needs and priorities as a result of climate change and other emerging issues
  • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/monitor/index.cfm, for ‘Vital Signs Monitoring' page and links to background documents, program framework, guidance for designing an integrated monitoring program, network monitoring plans, and other links 
  • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/monitor/docs/Monitoring_Park_Condition.pdf, for "Monitoring the Condition of Natural Resources in US National Parks" (2009); describes basic steps in planning and designing a long-term ecological monitoring program for a range of ecological systems . The broad-based, scientifically sound information obtained through this systems-based monitoring program has multiple applications for management decision-making, research, education, and promoting public understanding of park resources
  • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/climate/index.cfm, for a series of "Climate Change Briefs" or reports about climate change monitoring and other activities in Park ecoregions of the country; all 32 I&M networks are monitoring indicators relevant to addressing rapid climate change

NPS also is developing NPScape, a "landscape dynamics monitoring project" to provide landscape-level data, tools, and evaluations for natural resource management and planning at local, regional, and national scales. It provides information about changes and trends in landscape-scale indicators, including human population trends, road density and land cover. NPScape is designed to address questions related to resource conservation Vulnerability and Opportunity. These dynamics are shaped at the landscape scale by three major factors: Natural Systems, Human Drivers, and Conservation Context. NPScape quantifies these components and provides a suite of products to assist resource managers and planners. A strong overlap appears to exist between NPScape and BLM Rapid Ecological Assessments (REAs), but no formal linkages between programs are made in external documents of either program.                                              

 

> Other NPS Programs, Resources, Products

NPS Park Science

This research and resource management bulletin reports the implications of recent and ongoing natural and social science and related cultural research for park planning, management and policy.

  • http://www.nature.nps.gov/, for ‘Explore Nature' and Natural Resource Stewardship and Science page and link to Publications and Science & Research pages on left sidebar; then access Park Science page from these two pages
  • http://www.nature.nps.gov/parkscience/, for Park Science page; type ‘climate change' in search window for publications and information; link to Nature and Science (Natural Resource Stewardship and Science page) at bottom of Park Science page

Reviews, Abstracts, Reports on Climate Change Adaptation/Response:

(Below is a sampling of information available using search engine on Park Science page; articles of further interest on page margins can be selected.)

      Resource Management, Planning Education

      Public Policy, Values

      Ecosystems

      Vegetation, Wildlife

      Water

 

Research Learning Centers

The Centers have been developed to facilitate research efforts and provide educational opportunities for all people to gain new knowledge about the national parks.

  • http://www.nature.nps.gov/, for ‘Explore Nature' and Natural Resource Stewardship and Science page and link to Science & Research page on left sidebar; then access Research Learning Center page from this page
  • http://www.nature.nps.gov/learningcenters/, for Research Learning Center page; go to ‘What's New' right sidebar column for links to climate change issues

 

> National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)

The NPCA mission is to protect and enhance America's National Park System for present and future generations. As an advocate for the national parks and NPS, NPCA formally established the Center for Park Management (CPM) in 2002 to support the NPCA mission and to promote and enhance the management capacity within NPS. Working directly with park staff throughout the NPS, CPM works to identify management challenges; provide fact-based analysis and management expertise; and promote tools, skills, and strategies that result in increased leadership and management capacity.

Additionally, NPCA initiated the State of the Parks® program in 2000 with the goal of developing the first complete, comprehensive, and informed understanding of natural and cultural resource conditions in national parks throughout the country. To determine the condition of resources and identify resource threats, the State of the Parks® program developed comprehensive, peer-reviewed methodologies. As the State of the Parks® program has developed and gained more expertise and broader insights into park resource conditions, its role has expanded to also include research aimed at better understanding system-wide conditions, including such things as preeminent threats to resource integrity and the relationship between funding and resource protection. In 2005, the program became a formal center within NPCA, and is now known as the Center for State of the Parks®.

Americans expect the national parks to have clean air and healthy wildlife, and that the nation's historical treasures will be well-cared for. But years of underfunding and external threats such as air pollution and climate change are taking their toll. NPCA is working on clean air, climate change and other key initiatives to restore America's national parks by the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016. One report, NPCA's "climate change survival guide"* calls for broad steps to safeguard the wildlife of America's national parks from climate change: 1) Stop contributing to climate change; 2) Reduce and eliminate existing harms that make wildlife more vulnerable to climate change; 3) Give wildlife freedom to roam; 4) Adopt ‘climate smart' management practices; and 5) Empower national parks to lead by example.                   *"Climate Change and National Park Wildlife: A Survival Guide for a Warming World" (August 2009)

 

> Other Programs, Resources, Products

U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)

USGCRP is a Congressionally-authorized consortium of 13 federal agencies, including DOI, responsible for various aspects of global change research, including coordinating climate change research activities of the agencies. It has produced important products related to climate adaptation for wildlife and ecosystems and maintains a comprehensive website with a variety of climate change science resources and publications. Research aims to provide science-based applications and tools for sustainable natural resource management.

 

U.S. Fire Learning Network (USFLN)

The USFLN is a joint effort of The Nature Conservancy, the  U. S. Forest Service and several DOI agencies, including NPS, with a goal of accelerating the implementation of ecologically appropriate and culturally acceptable fuels reduction and fire regime restoration in high-priority habitats and landscapes. It fosters innovation and transfers knowledge acquired from numerous multi-agency, community-based projects to other landscape projects, scientists and decision makers.

 

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network

The CESU national network has been established with an overarching goal of improving the scientific base for managing federal lands by providing high-quality scientific research, technical assistance, and education to resource and environmental managers. It is a nationwide consortium of federal agencies, universities, conservation organizations, and other partners working together to support agency missions and informed public trust resource stewardship. One objective is to build capacity and enhance coordination of climate change management and adaptation efforts among management agencies.

CESUs are based at host universities and focused on biogeographic regions of the country. To date the nation had been divided into 17 biogeographic regions, each served by a distinct CESU that is structured as a working collaboration among partners. Each regional unit operates independently and in association with one national network and is directed by specific mission, vision, goals and objectives and a strategic plan.

  • http://www.nature.nps.gov/, for ‘Explore Nature' and Natural Resource Stewardship and Science page and link to Science & Research page on left sidebar; then access CESU homepage from this page
  • http://www.cesu.psu.edu/, for CESU homepage with national network map and regional CESU networks

 

Program Proposal, "A Landscape-scale Conservation Initiative for the U.S."                          

Sixteen conservation and environmental organizations, including NPCA, drafted this document in February 2010 that since has been updated with information from America's Great Outdoors listening sessions. Noting that "open space corridors should conserve whole functioning ecosystems that will be resilient to climate change," the program proposal lists seven ‘key goals', the fourth of which is to "assist fish, wildlife and other natural resources and human communities to adapt to climate change. The conservation of large, connected landscapes is a key factor in helping natural systems to be resilient to climate change. Protection of large watersheds and their wetlands is essential to mitigating the impacts of flood and drought that result from changing weather patterns."

 

Organizations Urge U.S. Action on Climate Change & Natural Resources                                          

Led by five of the larger U.S.-based conservation organizations, including NPCA, on September 15 2009 a group of more than 600 conservation, outdoor, sportsmen, recreation and faith organizations "called on the Senate to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation that not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but also dedicates a significant portion of funding towards helping wildlife and natural resources that are currently threatened by global warming." Other lead groups included Defenders of Wildlife, National Wildlife Federation, The Wilderness Society, and The Nature Conservancy.

 

Guidance Document, "Scanning the Conservation Horizon: A Guide to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment"

This 2011 document is a product of an expert workgroup on climate change vulnerability assessment convened by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The workgroup draws from state and federal agencies, including NPS, non-governmental conservation organizations, and universities. Financial support for the publication was provided by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, DoD Legacy Resource Management Program, and several other organizations and agencies, including NPS. 

Vulnerability to climate change, as the term is used in the guide, has three principle components: sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity. The document focuses on providing practical guidance to practitioners for assessing climate change vulnerability of species, habitats and ecosystems in the U.S. It includes 1) an overview and basics of climate change vulnerability assessment; 2) methods and tools available for combining climate change exposure and species/system sensitivity in developing an assessment of climate change vulnerability (incl. types of data and models that can be used for vulnerability assessments); 3) measures to deal with uncertainty in these assessments; 4) specific case studies of vulnerability assessments; and 5) a reference section on climate change vulnerability assessment resources (publications, web-base tools).

Currently sufficient guidance is available on the likely physical change that will occur due to climate change and on developing climate change adaptation strategies and actions. However, little guidance is available on assessing the vulnerability and sensitivity of biological systems to the physical changes. This document fills a gap in available guidance, will be useful to TNC and its partners, and will nicely complement the TNC "Climate Change Project-Level Guidance" document.

 

Report, "Assisted Migration: Redefining Nature and Natural Resource Law under Climate Change"

This report argues for the necessity of assisted migration, owing to ongoing and projected climate change, and suggests changes in the U.S. ESA and regulatory policies for making this possible. The paper boldly addresses ethical concerns and the need for public discussion in the context of how assisted migration is a leading-edge issue that reveals the scope to which ecological preservation, restoration, and management will need to be thoroughly in light of the new awareness of significant climate change.

A key quotation, page 245: "Similarly, natural resource management must be transformed away from a primary focus on preserving or restoring historical biotic assemblages. With significant alterations in climatic conditions anticipated for many ecosystems, preservation and restoration goals will be increasingly unsustainable. Accordingly, statutes like the National Park Service Organic Act and Wilderness Act that primarily seek to preserve historical conditions will need to be reconceived away from a strict fidelity to the past toward a greater focus on promoting desirable future conditions in light of climatic changes."

 

Report, "Impact of a Century of Climate Change on Small-Mammal Communities in Yosemite National Park, USA"

Report provides a century-scale view of small-mammal responses to global warming. Substantial upward changes in elevational limits for half of the monitored species are shown. Formerly low-elevation species expanded their ranges and high-elevation species contracted theirs, leading to changed community composition at mid- and high elevations. Though some high-elevation species are threatened, protection of elevation gradients allows other species to respond via migration.

 
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