Climate-Smart Conservation: securing our future

Melissa Pitkin and Point Blue StaffCA State Parks CommissionSeptember 19, 2014

We are totally reliant on nature

• Define Climate-Smart Conservation

• Introduce you to the 6 Principles

• Show examples of how to implement

Climate-Smart Conservation

Climate-Smart ConservationSpecifically addresses impacts of climate change with other environmental threats.

Prioritizes solutions for wildlife and people that includes nature:

• sustain vibrant, diverse ecosystems;

• reduce climate risks to human and natural communities,

• increase ability to respond and adapt (adaptation);

• reduce GHG emissions (mitigation).

Climate-Smart Conservation Key Principles

1. Focus on future conditions, not past 2. Design actions in watershed/ecosystem

context3. Employ flexible, adaptive approaches4. Prioritize actions for multiple benefits5. Collaborate & communicate across

sectors

6. Practice the 10% Rule

1. Focus on Future Conditions: including extremes —plan for and work with ecological change

2. Design Actions in an Ecosystem Context —keep ecosystems functioning, maintain diversity, plan for multiple benefits

Ecosystem Context

WA T E R

B I OD I V ERS I T YCARBON

3. Employ Flexible, Adaptive Approaches – monitoring is key to make this happen

1. Identify assumptions,

targets, indicators

2. Identify threats, vulnerabilities & opportunities

4. Implement actions & monitor

3. Identify options & prioritize

MONITOR, EVALUATE, ADAPT

4. Prioritize Actions– across range of future scenarios for multiple benefits to wildlife and people

We all have limited time and money – can’t do it all

Databases and models are available to project and plan decisions

5. Collaborate & Communicate Across Sectors - accelerate effective problem solving, share information openly, engage local communities – especially youth!

6. Apply the 10% Rule Every Day

T = Test &

E = Experiment

N = Now

To conservation decisions in the parks:

Applying the principles

• Climate-Smart Habitat Restoration• Wildlfire• Grazing/rangelands• Coastal Dunes• Engaging the public

Climate-Smart Restoration

Climate-Smart Restoration – look forward

past futureEcos

yste

m st

ate

e.g., drought and floods

= project adaptive capacity

Evaluate future conditions

• Drought – less rain• More rain, strong storms,

flooding• Warmer or cooler temperatures• Migration timing changes• Flowers fruit and seed at

different times• Increased wildfire

Expand Climate-Smart Riparian Restoration

Planting more species that:

• Withstand extremes

• Provide food year-round for disrupted phenologies

www.pointblue.org/restoratointools

STRAW Program

Wildfire

FIRE: implement mechanical thinning, prescribed burns + allow some high severity fires = fire

resilience, create a habitat mosaic for wildlife

Rangelands and Water

Dunes and Sea Level Rise

Talk About It, Write About It, Teach It!

SignsTrailsProgramsCampgrounds…. Make it Real

IN SUMMARY– Climate Smart

We must engage in Climate Smart actions daily:  

1. Focus actions on future conditions, not past2. Design actions in ecosystem/watershed context3. Employ flexible, adaptive approaches for timely

response to continual change4. Prioritize actions across multiple scenarios for

greatest benefits to wildlife and people5. Collaborate & communicate across sectors for

timely, long term solutions; convey science and hope!

6. Follow the TEN% Rule: Test and Experiment Now!www.pointblue.org

Talk About It, Write About It, Teach It!

SignsTrailsProgramsCampgrounds…. Make it Real

Thank you!