Adaptation to Climate Change in Public Lands Management

This issue brief recommends a number of short- and long-term changes in federal land management policy to adapt to climate change.  Policy recommendations include the use of vulnerability assessments and strategic planning, development of effective monitoring systems, implementation of adaptive management and ecosystems management, coordinated research programs, and use of public lands planning and management processes to test adaptation strategies and tactics.

This policy assessment also examines options and barriers to adapting to climate change in federal lands management.   Focusing on the four largest public lands systems managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service, agency-specific decision making recommendations are delineated.

Publication Date: February 2010

Authors or Affiliated Users:

• Joel B. Smith
• William R. Travis

Related Organizations:

• Resources for the Future (RFF)

Sectors:

• Biodiversity and ecosystems
• Agriculture and food
• Fish and fisheries
• Forestry
• Land management and conservation
• Tourism and recreation
• Wildlife

Resource Category:

• Law and Governance

Resource Types:

• Policy analysis/recommendations

Impacts:

• Air temperature
• Wildfires

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