Wednesday, September 23, 2009

US Fish & Wildlife Service Draft Climate Change Strategic Plan is Available for Public Comment

US Fish & Wildlife Service Draft Climate Change Strategic Plan is Available for Public Comment

The US Fish and Wildlife Service released the draft versions of their Climate Change Strategic Plan and 5-Year Action Plan for public comment today. Please consider taking the time to look over both documents and submitting comments to USFWS for your state fish and wildlife agency. It is essential that the Service receive your individual input on their Plan. Comments are due by the 23rd of November, 2009. To view the plan electronically, upload your comments, and find out more about Service efforts to address climate change, visit: http://www.fws.gov/home/climatechange/
Please see USFWS Director Sam Hamilton’s note below for more details.

“I’m pleased to notify you that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Draft Climate Change Strategic Plan is available for your review and comment. The plan, which has been in development for more than a year, is intended to guide our agency’s actions over the next several years as we work to respond to the unprecedented challenge of accelerating climate change. The Service’s Strategic Plan complements the Department of the Interior’s Secretarial Order issued last week, calling for unprecedented collaboration, coordination, and information sharing among Department agencies in response to the threat of accelerated climate change. The plan outlines more specifically what the Service proposes to do to fulfill our responsibilities under the Secretarial Order.

To adequately respond to long-term climate changes, the Service is moving to establish regional climate science partnerships with the U.S. Geological Survey, other federal agencies, state fish and wildlife agencies and the conservation community, to expand our ability to turn continental climate science into knowledge that managers can use to make better decisions on the ground. We will establish landscape-level partnerships taking advantage of expertise across the conservation community to set population and habitat goals, plan and execute conservation across landscapes, and enhance our research, monitoring and evaluation tools through the establishment of a National Biological Inventory and Monitoring Partnership.

We truly value your perspective, and would appreciate your ideas and suggestions for how we can improve the plan and work together to make a difference for fish and wildlife in North America and across the globe.”

Sincerely,
Sam

Sam Hamilton
Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

For more information please contact Gary Taylor at gtaylor@fishwildlife.org or Dr. Arpita Choudhury at achoudhury@fishwildlife.org

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

California Department of Fish and Game’s Climate Change Web Page Update

The California Department of Fish and Game’s Climate Change Web Page has been updated with new information:

-Stakeholder meeting: Information and power points presentations from the September 3rd stakeholder meeting are available at http://dfg.ca.gov/climatechange/activities/stakeholders-meeting.asp

-WAFWA: Information on the Department's activities related to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife agencies (WAFWA)-specifically the WAFWA climate change committee can be viewed at http://dfg.ca.gov/climatechange/wafwa/. This site contains the 2009 update on climate change activities in all the western states and provinces. The PowerPoint presentations from the plenary session will be online soon.

For more information please contact Amber Pairis at: apairis@dfg.ca.gov

Or go to: http://dfg.ca.gov/climatechange/

Friday, September 11, 2009

National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center Announces 2009 Research Awards

The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) announces the suite of science projects that will be funded under its Fiscal Year 2009 Request for Proposals. Seventeen projects were selected from among the 175 proposals through a rigorous review process. As part of the NCCWSC’s science portfolio, these multiyear projects will greatly advance our understanding of how climate change may affect our Nation's wildlife, fish, and terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

The award announcement and list of proposals is available at the NCCWSC web site: http://nccw.usgs.gov/

For information contact Robin Schrock at: robin_schrock@usgs.gov

NY DEC Workshop Examines Climate Change Effects on Fish, Wildlife and Natural Systems

DEC's Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources and its conservation partners recently hosted a workshop entitled, Safeguarding New York's Wildlife and Natural Systems in a Changing Climate. The meeting was designed to provide a basic understanding of current climate change science and legislation, already occurring fish, wildlife and natural system adaptations, and how DEC can work collaboratively with its conservation partners in response to future adaptation needs.

More than 100 people attended the very successful workshop, held at DEC's Central Office in Albany. In addition, more than 100 participated via video-conference at 14 DEC regional offices throughout the state, and via a National Wildlife Federation (NWF) webinar link. Several DEC divisions were represented, as well as several other state agencies, the Governor's Office, federal agencies, many non-governmental organizations, and academia. The workshop was funded by a grant to NWF from the Doris Duke Foundation.

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing natural resources management, and one of DEC's priorities as expressed by Commissioner Pete Grannis. Changes in climate will lead to potentially dramatic changes in environmental conditions, which will in turn cause changes in fish and wildlife populations and habitat. As a result, DEC and its conservation partners need to factor climate change adaptations by fish, wildlife and natural systems into resource management decisions.

As a result of the workshop, strong interest was expressed in building a coalition to develop and implement fish, wildlife and natural systems adaptation strategies for New York, as well as determining the focus of future adaptation workshops.

For more information contact Tracey Tomajer at tmtomaje@gw.dec.state.ny.us

http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/44992.html

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Observations from the World Climate Conference-3

On Friday, September 11, 3:30- 4:30pm please sit in on a conversation with Dr. Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, about World Climate Conference-3. Dr. Lubchenco just returned from leading the U.S. Delegation to the conference last week in Geneva.


Hosted by the World Meteorological Organization, the conference, which brought together more than 2,000 climate scientists, sectoral experts and decision-makers, established a Global Framework for Climate Services to “strengthen production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate prediction and services.”


Dr. Lubchenco will offer her observations and impressions from the conference, sharing some insights into the valuable collaboration and lessons learned from both the scientific segments, the meetings she attended and comments from heads of state from around the world. Climate change is a shared challenge, and this conference confirmed the pressing need for increased collaboration and coordination to improve the science and observations that support the development of climate information as well as the need to improve the coordination and delivery of climate information and services in all countries.


The call will be moderated by newly appointed NOAA Director of External Affairs, Andy Winer, and Dr. Lubchenco will take questions from participants.

Dial-in information:

Toll Free Number: 877-457-9382

International Number: 1-630-395-0031

Participant Passcode: CLIMATE

Please contact Jennifer Austin at 202-302-9047 if you have any questions.

For more information about the conference go to:

World Climate Conference 3 information: http://www.wmo.int/wcc3/page_en.php

NOAA homepage:

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090904_wcc3closing.html

MAFWA Climate Change Technical Working Committee

With 12 states voting aye and 2 states and 3 provinces not voting, the motion to form a Climate Change Technical Working Committee in the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has been approved. Dave Schad (MN) has volunteered to host an initial meeting to organize the committee and develop the mission statement, list of specific responsibilities, and description of operating procedures (as required in the MAFWA by-laws). Rich Leopold (IA) has volunteered to be the Director/Liaison to the committee.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts

The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) formed out of a partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies in 2007. It assesses and anticipates climate change impacts on Wisconsin’s natural resources, ecosystems and regions; evaluates potential effects on industry, agriculture, tourism and other human activities; and develops and recommends adaptation strategies that can be implemented by businesses, farmers, public health officials, municipalities, wildlife managers and other stakeholders.

It connects university-based climate modelers with managers and experts in the field to assess impacts at focused and relevant measures of time and space. It fosters collaboration between the UW System, the WDNR, and dozens of other agencies and organizations across the state. It develops practical information that can be used at all levels of decision making, both public and private. It is driven by stakeholder input to ensure that WICCI assessments meet the informational needs of Wisconsin citizens, businesses and institutions.

Organization
WICCI is organized around three major components: a Science Council made up of a diverse group of eminent scientists drawn from a range of disciplines and representing a number of state and federal agencies and universities.

A stakeholder Advisory Committee informs the Science Council of particular informational needs, which are then fed into existing Working Groups or prompt the formation of new Working Groups.

An Outreach and Operations Unit, housed in and staffed by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, provides administrative and outreach functions.

Working Groups
Working Groups form a subset of the Science Council; each one focuses on a specific ecosystem, resource, activity or geographic area and assesses potential impacts under a range of climate scenarios. These scenarios are provided by the Wisconsin Climate Working Group, which down-scales global models for higher resolution at regional and local scales. All other Working Groups will develop recommended adaptation strategies based on these scenarios. Eleven Working Groups are currently in operation (with several others in development):

Wisconsin Climate
Central Sands Hydrology
Coastal Communities
Coldwater Fish & Fisheries
Forestry
Green Bay
Human Health
Milwaukee
Soil Conservation
Storm water
Wildlife

For more information contact Tara Bergeson at: Tara.Bergeson@Wisconsin.gov or www.wicci.wisc.edu

WAFWA Climate Change Committee

The first meeting of WAFWA’s Climate Change Committee was held on July 12, 2009 in Newport Beach, CA. Under the leadership of Director Donald Koch (CA) and Director Ken Mayer (NV) this committee serves as WAFWA’s principal forum for discussion, gathering information and/or identifying actions relative to all aspects of climate change as it relates to fish and wildlife. The meeting was well attended with 35 + participants and more than 20 state representatives. In addition, Dave Schad Director of MN DNR and vice chair of the AFWA climate change committee came out to help kick off the first meeting and extend the support and connection to the AFWA committee.


Members are committed to making this an action oriented committee and recognize that because climate change is such a big issue the committee will find a niche that best serves WAFWA members. A significant amount of work went into pre-meeting planning to make sure that this was a productive use of members’ time. The group recognizes the need for information sharing but also wants to use limited time together to discuss key issues and actions. To that end a list of WAFWA climate change contacts was created as well as an update document of climate change activities for all WAFWA members. The document covered several topics including but not limited to, climate change related activities in each state/province, highlights, challenges, and opportunities for cross border collaboration and discussion items for the committee. 20 of the 26 WAFWA member states/provinces and conservation partners responded to this inquiry and others are expected to contribute before the final document is released in the fall of 2009.


WAFWA is the first regional association with a climate committee and other regional associations are following suite. Regional climate change committees offer important opportunities for pursuing collaborative adaptation planning efforts on a regional scale as well as important information sharing and monitoring initiatives.


For more information on WAFWA’s climate change committee please contact Amber Pairis, Climate Change Advisor for the California Department of Fish and Game at apairis@dfg.ca.gov.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Texas Parks & Wildlife Climate Change Update

Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (TPWD) participated in a regional workshop sponsored by USFWS and USGS entitled Climate Change: The Western Gulf Coast and Southern Plains: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/Climatechange/workshop.html. Dr. Wendy Gordon, TPWD’s representative to AFWA’s Climate Change Committee, gave a talk on Grasslands and Climate Change that emphasized the potential effects of changing temperature and precipitation patterns on the composition and productivity of southern plains grasslands. The talk summarized simulations and experiments covering this region, including some research projects on which she previously worked.

Dr. Gordon will also be the keynote speaker of the upcoming Texas Plant Conservation conference: http://www.wildflower.org/tpcc/ at which she will address the topic of Climate Change, Plants and Texas.

For more information contact Dr. Wendy Gordon at Wendy.Gordon@tpwd.state.tx.us

Florida Fish & Wildlife Climate Change Summit

In October 2008, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hosted a 3-day summit on climate change. From that summit, a report was produced: “Florida’s Wildlife: On the front line of climate change” which synthesized the results of multiple breakout sessions held at the summit. A pdf version of the summit report can be downloaded at: http://www.myfwc.com/docs/Conservation/ClimateChange_SummitRept.pdf

After the summit, senior leadership at the (FWC) established the Climate Change Steering Committee. This committee is developing an agency strategic plan to integrate climate change across the various divisions and programs at FWC. One of their first actions was to develop four work groups that encompassed all agency activities.


The Florida Climate Team is comprised of a Steering Committee and four work groups: 1) research and monitoring

2) adaptation

3) communication and outreach

4) policy and opportunity.

Jointly, these work groups are helping the entire agency integrate climate change planning and will develop tools for implementation.


These teams are currently developing a list of their roles and functions. The research team is working closely with the adaptation team, to identify key research and monitoring needs to improve land use management with climate change factored in. The communication and outreach work group is working to educate the public on this issue and provide communication between work groups and other stakeholders. The policy and opportunity work group will develop policy recommendations and identify funding resources to help the other work groups accomplish their goals. The FWC is early in the planning stages of addressing climate change, but we are confident that the resources dedicated to this effort will help the agency deal with this emerging and substantial threat.

For more information on Florida’s Climate Change Initiative, contact Doug Parsons at: Doug.Parsons@MyFWC.com

Colorado Division of Wildlife Recent Activities

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is in the initial stages of conducting vulnerability assessments for wildlife resources in Colorado that can be incorporated into our State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). We are coordinating with the USGS in their on-going wildlife research efforts and their future climate downscaling and vulnerability studies via the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC). We are also developing partnerships with The Nature Conservancy for their 4 corners (NM, AZ, UT, CO) vulnerability assessment and future pilot project in the Gunnison Basin of Colorado; and the Heinz Center for their future climate downscaling project involving the Colorado Plateau. We are also partnering with the Western Governors’ Association (Western Wildlife Habitat Council) and the Center for Native Ecosystems in their efforts to map crucial wildlife habitats and migration corridors, information which can then be incorporated into our SWAP.


At the state level, we are coordinating with the Colorado Water Conservation Board to further define potential climate change impacts to water levels in wetlands, streams, and lakes as well as seasonal distribution of precipitation throughout the state, and their effects on habitats and species. Colorado Division of Wildlife is also providing a leadership role in moving forward the goals and objectives of the 2008 Colorado Conservation Summit – dedicated toward preserving wildlife resources into the year 2058 and beyond. The Summit –Climate Change Working Group is currently working on a variety of action items and is comprised of representatives from the federal sector (USFS, BLM, NPS, USGS, USFWS, NOAA), state sector (CWCB, CDHPE), NGO’s (TNC, NWF, TU, DU, TRCP, PLJV, RMCO, Audubon, Defenders of Wildlife), Sportsmen’s Groups (Pheasants Forever, Mule Deer Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Colorado Bow hunters Association), environmental groups, and private citizens.


For more information contact Tom Schreiner at Tom.Schreiner@state.co.us