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