• Ecosystems Resources

Biodiversity and Ecosystems Resources

This tab includes all resources relevant to biodiversity and ecosystem adaptation. Apply filters to view resources for a particular region, state, resource category, or jurisdictional focus. Resources are automatically presented by date, but can also be sorted by title. 

 

 

1260 results are shown below.

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Forest Resilience Bond - Fighting Fire with Finance

2017

Blue Forest Conservation is developing the Forest Resilience Bond (FRB) to monetize the benefits of forest restoration for climate resilience. Similar to an Environmental Impact Bond or sustainable infrastructure financing, the FRB is a public-private partnership that deploys private capital to support climate resilient national forests. The FRB creates value for a diverse set of stakeholders or beneficiaries of healthy forests - including the U. S. Forest Service (USFS), water and electric utilities, private water-dependent companies, state governments, and insurance companies.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Sustainable Climate Change Adaptation in Indian Country

July 2017

Limited land and resource rights allocated to indigenous peoples in the United States create structural barriers that restrict many tribes’ ability to sustainably manage natural resources and adapt to climate change. This article reviews these barriers, and how land fragmentation and policies that hinder a tribe’s authority and control of natural resources restrict their capacity to manage climate change risks. After describing the history of political barriers for tribes, the report is primarily a case study of water rights and management at the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.

Resource Category: Law and Governance

 

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The Economic Impact of the 2016 Loma Fire

2017

Developed by Earth Economics and requested by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (OSA), this report offers an assessment of the comprehensive economic impact of the 2016 Loma Fire that occurred in the Santa Cruz mountains of California. The report details the cost of lost ecosystem services, and the process of assessing these costs. Earth Economics also provides recommendations for mitigating future fire-related risk. The OSA requested this analysis in order to better understand the true costs of wildfire events, and how management practices and policies can be modified to reduce overall risk as climate change increases the incidence and intensity of wildfire events.

Resource Category: Assessments

 

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14 Solutions to Problems Climate Change Poses for Conservation - Examples from the WCS Climate Adaptation Fund

2017

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation created the WCS Climate Adaptation Fund to “incentivize new and innovative efforts to help wildlife and ecosystems respond to climate change. ” As of 2016, the WCS Climate Adaptation Fund awarded more than $12 million to 66 adaptation projects across the United States.  This report presents 14 climate change adaptation strategies or “solutions” for sustaining wildlife populations and ecosystems, with examples of projects supported by the Climate Adaptation Fund that exemplify each solution.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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An Equitable Water Future - A National Briefing Paper

June 6, 2017

From the U. S. Water Alliance, An Equitable Water Future explores the implications of water supply stress and management on vulnerable or disadvantaged communities and discusses the opportunities to build more equitable water systems. The report identifies the ways in which water issues like affordability and aging infrastructure disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, and highlights the potential to leverage water systems to build water equity. The Alliance determined that the focal elements to building water equity are to ensure that all people have access to safe, clean water; benefit from water infrastructure investments; and are climate resilient.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Louisiana 2017 Coastal Master Plan

June 2, 2017

In June 2017, the Louisiana State Legislature unanimously approved the state’s 2017 Coastal Master Plan, which updates the state’s 2012 plan.   The Coastal Master Plan provides a 50-year blueprint for directing Louisiana’s investments, regulations, and programs in coastal restoration, resilience, and protection. The plan recommends 124 projects to restore coastal ecosystems, build flood control structures, and enhance land-use policies to reduce flood risks in coastal Louisiana communities and to enhance coastal economies and ecosystems.

Resource Category: Planning

 

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Planning for Climate Resilience City of Asheville, North Carolina: Phase I Assessment

June 1, 2017

The City of Asheville, North Carolina has identified climate-relate threats and hazards in this assessment to inform Asheville's climate resiliency planning efforts. The city used the information from the Assessment in updating its comprehensive plan, "Living Asheville," which was adopted in June 2018.

Resource Category: Assessments

 

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Chester, Pennsylvania Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan and Community-Based Public-Private Partnership

June 2017

The City of Chester, Pennsylvania introduced the Chester City Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan in 2017 as a means of addressing consistent stormwater pollution and overflow into the Delaware River, Chester Creek, and Ridley Creek watersheds. Chester’s combined sewer overflow (CSO) system often is overwhelmed during high rain and runoff events, which leads to increased flooding and water pollution and degradation of the river basin. The plan details Chester’s specific infrastructure needs, as well as the environmental and social benefits of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). It also analyzes common GSI techniques including rain gardens, green roofs, stormwater planters, and porous pavements, and includes their typical cost. The plan then lists 20 potential sites within the City for GSI projects, guidance for first steps, suggestions for effective community engagement, and potential sources of both public and private funding. To fund the GSI projects, the City formed a community-based public-private partnership (CBP3), which is a different approach to financing stormwater management that expands on the traditional public-private partnership model by incorporating considerations of a community’s economic development needs. Coupled with its focus on green infrastructure as a primary means of stormwater management, this structure promotes not only improvements in water quality but in the community’s overall quality of life. The plan will also address equity through hiring local contractors for the infrastructure projects, training local workers to maintain projects, and creating new maintenance jobs for community members.

Resource Category: Planning

 

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USFWS Coastal Program - Ecosystem adaptation grants

November 3, 2016

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced funding to provide direct technical assistance and financial assistance to coastal communities and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on public and private lands, with a priority on climate adaptation and mitigation. FWS will favor conservation activities and projects that incorporate ecosystem adaptation.  Total funding for this program is $14,000,000 with an award ceiling of $500,000. Applications due September 30, 2017.

Resource Category: Funding

 

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Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems Capital Scan

June 2017

The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program has developed a strategy to address climate change impacts on water systems while prioritizing the needs of low-income communities. The report describes a set of integrated strategies for how grants and investments can best support climate-resilient and equitable water systems. Recommendations are focused on scaling up green infrastructure, water efficiency, and climate planning to address flooding, storm damage and drought impacts. 

Resource Category: Funding

 

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