Understanding Climate Adaptation on Public Lands in the Upper Midwest: Implications for Monitoring and Tracking Progress

Environmental Management, 2016

18 Pages Posted: 9 Jul 2016

Date Written: Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

There are limited examples of efforts to systematically monitor and track climate change adaptation progress in the context of natural resource management, despite substantial investments in adaptation initiatives. To better understand the status of adaptation within state natural resource agencies, we utilized and problematized a rational decision-making framework to characterize adaptation at the level of public land managers in the Upper Midwest. We conducted in-depth interviews with 29 biologists and foresters to provide an understanding of managers’ experiences with, and perceptions of, climate change impacts, efforts towards planning for climate change, and a full range of actions implemented to address climate change. While the majority of managers identified climate change impacts affecting their region, they expressed significant uncertainty in interpreting those signals. Just under half of managers indicated planning efforts are underway, although most planning is remote from local management. Actions already implemented include both forward-looking measures and those aimed at coping with current impacts. In addition, cross-scale dynamics emerged as an important theme related to the overall adaptation process. The results hold implications for tracking future progress on climate change adaptation. Common definitions or measures of adaptation (e.g., presence of planning documents) may need to be reassessed for applicability at the level of public land managers.

Suggested Citation

Anhalt-Depies, Christine and Knoot, Tricia and Rissman, Adena R. and Sharp, Anthony and Martin, Karl, Understanding Climate Adaptation on Public Lands in the Upper Midwest: Implications for Monitoring and Tracking Progress (Feb 2, 2016). Environmental Management, 2016, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2805743

Christine Anhalt-Depies

Independent ( email )

Tricia Knoot

Independent ( email )

Adena R. Rissman (Contact Author)

University of Wisconsin-Madison ( email )

1630 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1481
United States

HOME PAGE: http://fwe.wisc.edu/facstaff/rissman

Anthony Sharp

Independent ( email )

Karl Martin

Independent ( email )

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