• Ecosystems Resources

Biodiversity and Ecosystems Adaptation Strategies

This tab includes a broad range of policies, best practices, case studies, and analysis of adaptive management solutions for addressing climate impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems.  

Resources are automatically presented by rating, but can also be sorted by date and title. Apply additional filters to narrow the list by impact, region, state, or jurisdictional focus.

 

 

89 results are shown below.

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Floodplain Buyouts: An Action Guide for Local Governments on How to Maximize Community Benefits, Habitat Connectivity, and Resilience

April 2017

This Action Guide is designed to support local decision makers in utilizing hazard mitigation buyouts to reduce flood hazards, while supporting habitat connectivity and resilience on these lands. The report describes the floodplain acquisition process, why to manage acquisitions to improve habitats, and how to leverage the potential ecological and social value of properties to improve climate resilience.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Flood Protection Pay-Offs: A Local Government Guide to the Community Rating System

March 2017

This comprehensive guide to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) is compiled by Wetlands Watch. The NFIP CRS program provides flood insurance discounts, of up to 45%, to constituents within a localities where local governments pursue activities that mitigate flood risks. The guide is meant to help local governments determine which practices may earn credit under the CRS program, what adjustments they may need to make to receive credit, and if funding opportunities are available to assist local governments in meeting credit requirements.

Author or Affiliated User: Mary-Carson Stiff

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Climate Change Adaptation Demonstration: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Twentymile Creek and Marengo River Watersheds

2012 - 2017

An adaptation demonstration project was undertaken by the US Forest Service’s Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIAC), the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF), and the Shared Landscapes Initiative, which included several watershed restoration activities underway in northern Wisconsin. The applied adaptation and restoration measures are being evaluated for their ability to increase watershed resilience to changing conditions due to climate.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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The Resilient Lands and Waters Initiative Final Report

November 17, 2016

A Resilient Lands and Waters Initiative Final Report and companion website highlight the efforts of seven partnerships across the U. S. to build resilience of natural resources and to increase climate resilience at the landscape scale. These partnerships use existing collaborative, regional approaches to address climate change and to identify priority areas for conservation, restoration, and management actions.  At each location, Federal agencies work closely with state, tribal, and local partners to prepare for and prevent climate impacts, and ensure that long-term conservation efforts take climate change into account.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Climate Adaptation: The State of Practice in U.S. Communities

November 16, 2016

Looking at 17 communities engaged in adaptation, this report examines what communities are doing to address climate risks. It finds that communities are often motivated by extreme climate event and are more focused on reducing their current vulnerabilities to extreme events, compared to addressing future climate impacts. Despite this, there is encouraging evidence that communities can begin addressing climate change risks and overcome barriers to action and implementation.   The 17 case studies provide insights into the key components of a well-adapted community.

Authors or Affiliated Users: Jason M. Vogel, Karen Carney, Charles Herrick, Missy Stults, Megan O'Grady, Alexis St. Juliana, Heather Hosterman, Lorine Giangola, Joel B. Smith

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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USDA Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry: Case Studies

May 2016

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry initiative is the Department's framework for helping farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners respond to climate change. The effort involves voluntary, incentive-based conservation, resilience planning, resource conservation, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration, and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors. In this report USDA published the results of case studies that demonstrate exemplary climate smart agriculture and forestry practices for each of the ten “building blocks:” Soil Health Nitrogen Stewardship Livestock Partnerships Conservation of Sensitive Lands Grazing and Pasture Lands Private Forest Growth and Retention Stewardship of Federal Forests Promotion of Wood Products Urban Forests Energy Generation and Efficiency Each case study is a one page review describing the sustainability achievements and climate solutions implemented.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Policy Platform of the Healthy Headwaters Alliance - Federal Policy Opportunities

February 2016

This Policy Platform outlines actionable strategies for federal agencies that can be implemented immediately to protect and restore the watersheds of the western U. S. The policy recommendations were developed by Carpe Diem West’s Healthy Headwaters Alliance, offering near-term policy solutions for the long-term resilience of forested headwaters for water supply. Forested watershed and source water protection is critical for climate resiliency. Watersheds filter pollutants, control erosion, regulate temperature, attenuate floods, and buffer human activities from drinking water resources.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Green Infrastructure Primer: A Delaware Guide to Using Natural Systems in Urban, Rural, and Coastal Settings

January 2016

Delaware’s Green Infrastructure Primer, released in 2016, provides an overview of nature-based approaches that can mitigate stormwater runoff, flooding, erosion, and water and air pollution. The primer provides an introduction to green infrastructure, fact sheets regarding eight green infrastructure practices, three case studies showing examples of green infrastructure being used in Delaware, a discussion of larger-landscape-scale green infrastructure efforts, and suggested resources for more information.

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Performance of Natural Infrastructure and Nature-based Measures as Coastal Risk Reduction Features

September 2015

This report from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) reviews the state of understanding of the coastal storm and sea level rise risk reduction capacity of various types of natural infrastructure. The summarized information was compiled from existing literature and participant input obtained during an expert workshop held in May 2015. 

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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Living Shorelines: From Barriers to Opportunities

June 18, 2015

A report from Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE), “Living Shorelines: From Barriers to Opportunities,” provides a national assessment of institutional barriers that are preventing broader use of living shorelines, and gives recommendations and strategies for progress. 

Resource Category: Solutions

 

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