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
Authors or Affiliated Users:
- Susan Galatowitsch
- Lee Frelich
- Laura Phillips-Mao
Related Organizations:
- University of Minnesota
Sectors:
Resource Category:
Resource Types:
- Assessment
States Affected:
Impacts:
- Air temperature
- Drought
- Extreme storms and hurricanes
- Invasive species and pests
- Precipitation changes
- Water supply
- Water temperatures
- Wildfires