Acquiring Information on the Climate Vulnerability of Appalachian Species and Habitats
A new report out of the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment research project addresses how the Cooperative should acquire information about the climate vulnerability of Appalachian species and habitats and share with its partners.
An expert panel was assembled by NatureServe to address the selection of species and habitats to assess, approaches to vulnerability assessment, and the availability of downscaled climate data. The panel recommended specific approaches for the Appalachian LCC to adopt. They include:
- Determine the appropriate target of the assessment. In some cases, focusing an assessment on a habitat can inform and potentially reduce the need for assessments of individual species;
- Use coarse-filter or rapidly-applied index methods to assess the vulnerability of many priority species. The Climate Change Vulnerability Index tool for example, works for most aquatic and terrestrial plant and animals species occurring in the Appalachian region;
- For habitats, use expert-interview methods similar to that developed by the North Atlantic LCC, or index methods such as the Habitat Climate Change Vulnerability Analysis, to yield credible ecological information and timely analyses;
- Perform more in-depth assessments of the species and habitats flagged as highly vulnerable to climate change.
Rich in biodiversity, the Appalachian LCC region is threatened by the impacts that climate change could have on natural resources. Thus identifying the steps necessary to acquire climate vulnerability information and using this information to inform climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies is a major research priority for the Appalachian LCC.
