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Conservation in the face of climate change: The roles of alternative models, monitoring, and adaptation in confronting and reducing uncertainty
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The broad physical and biological principles behind climate change and its potential large scale ecological impacts on biota are fairly well understood, although likely responses of biotic communities at fine spatio-temporal scales are not, limiting the ability of conservation programs to respond effectively to climate change outside the range of human experience. Much of the climate debate has focused on attempts to resolve key uncertainties in a hypothesis-testing framework. However, conservation decisions cannot await resolution of these scientific issues and instead must proceed in the face of uncertainty. We suggest that conservation should precede in an adaptive management framework, in which decisions are guided by predictions under multiple, plausible hypotheses about climate impacts. Under this plan, monitoring is used to evaluate the response of the system to climate drivers, and management actions (perhaps experimental) are used to confront testable predictions with data, in turn providing feedback for future decision making. We illustrate these principles with the problem of mitigating the effects of climate change on terrestrial bird communities in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA.
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Six Common Mistakes in Conservation Priority Setting
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A vast number of prioritization schemes have been developed to help conservation navigate tough decisions about the allocation of finite resources. However, the application of quantitative approaches to setting priorities in conservation frequently includes mistakes that can undermine their authors’ intention to be more rigorous and scientific in the way priorities are established and resources allocated. Drawing on well-established principles of decision science, we highlight 6 mistakes commonly associated with setting priorities for conservation: not acknowledging conservation plans are prioritizations; trying to solve an ill- defined problem; not prioritizing actions; arbitrariness; hidden value judgments; and not acknowledging risk of failure. We explain these mistakes and offer a path to help conservation planners avoid making the same mistakes in future prioritizations.
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Climate and Conservation Coffee
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Join others in the Triangle area landscape conservation and climate change community for coffee and conversation on the 1st Thursday of each month at 9 am. In June, let’s meet at Cup a Joe in Mission Valley shopping center, probably at one of the outside tables. This is a new format for what used to be the Triangle Climate and Landscape Researchers’ Brown Bag lunch
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Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture Management Board Meeting
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This meeting will provide board members with updates on the AMJV staff, administration, and the presentation of a strategic communications plan.
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Private Land Conservation Programs from the Farm Bill and Other Sources
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Join us for a discussion of current and future Farm Bill programs administered by the Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Farm Service Agency that support private landowner efforts to protect working forests and conserve open space.
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Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Conservation 2012 Broadcast Series
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An effective conservation strategy includes engagement of people within diverse populations. To be relevant, we need to be innovative, resourceful and also respectful of what’s important to the people we are attempting to reach. Welcoming all groups and individuals, including those who traditionally may not be as directly connected.
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New Jersey Wildlife and Conservation Conference
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Hosted by Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, the NJ State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs and the Division, the NJWCC will present panels and seminars about New Jersey's wildlife and how sportsmen, wildlife enthusiasts, biologists and others can come together around our shared commitment and passion for protecting New Jersey's wildlife. Together, we can set the stage for innovative, productive partnerships in the years to come.
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Maryland Statewide Land Conservation Conference
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This year’s Maryland Land Conservation Conference, The Challenge of Perpetuity, will address the many challenges facing land conservationists throughout the State. Peter Forbes, writer, photographer, farmer, conservationist and highly-acclaimed inspirational speaker, will provide the keynote address and a follow up workshop.
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USDA and Interior Reach Historic Agreement to Support Voluntary Wildlife Conservation Efforts on Working Agricultural Lands
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Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe today announced an agreement that will provide long-term regulatory predictability for up to 30 years to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners participating in NRCS’s Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Initiative.
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Lock Haven, Nature Conservancy Protect 5,200 Acres in Conservation Effort
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Lock Haven City Authority, as a partner in The Nature Conservancy’s Working Woodlands Program, agrees to forever protect and sustainably manage its forest and freshwater resources.
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