Regional climate change adaptation strategies for biodiversity conservation in a midcontinental region of North America (Minnesota)

Using climate projections from 16 models, this research assesses climate impacts on the biodiversity in a "mid-continental area of North America" (focused on Minnesota). The likely impacts are described, and adaptation options for eight landscape regions within the planning area are proposed, based on a resistance, resilience, and facilitation framework. The research addresses how to adjust Minnesota's conservation practices so the protected areas network continues to support the state's biodiversity facing climate change.

Specifically, the objectives were: to develop climate projections for different regions of Minnesota; to assess likely impacts to wetland, forest, and prairie ecosystems; and to propose a range of key adaptation strategies for each region based on the resistance/ resilience/ facilitation framework.

Key resilience actions discussed include:

providing buffers for small reserves,

expanding reserves that lack adequate environmental heterogeneity,

prioritizing protection of likely climate refuges, and

managing forests for multi-species and multi-aged stands.

Publication Date: May 7, 2009

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