Climate Change and Conservation in the Southeast: A Review of State Wildlife Action Plans
Dates
Publication Date
2018-10
Citation
Kirsten Lackstrom, Patty Glick, Kirstin Dow, Bruce A. Stein, M. Nils Peterson, Erika Chin, and Kaly Clark, 2018-10, Climate Change and Conservation in the Southeast: A Review of State Wildlife Action Plans.
Summary
Introduction (from ncsc.edu): The southeastern United States is experiencing high rates of population growth, urbanization, land use change, and rapidly shifting climatic conditions. Collectively, these changes present considerable near and long-term challenges to the health and sustainability of the region’s fish and wildlife populations. Employing a collaborative, forward-looking conservation approach represents a key step towards addressing these challenges and was the impetus for the establishment of the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS). SECAS consists of diverse state, federal, non-profit, and private organizations, working together to identify and coordinate shared conservation goals and actions for the southeastern [...]
Summary
Introduction (from ncsc.edu): The southeastern United States is experiencing high rates of population growth, urbanization, land use change, and rapidly shifting climatic conditions. Collectively, these changes present considerable near and long-term challenges to the health and sustainability of the region’s fish and wildlife populations. Employing a collaborative, forward-looking conservation approach represents a key step towards addressing these challenges and was the impetus for the establishment of the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS). SECAS consists of diverse state, federal, non-profit, and private organizations, working together to identify and coordinate shared conservation goals and actions for the southeastern United States and Caribbean.
The federally-funded State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program, and required State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs), are important resources that help states identify and protect declining species and their habitats. SWAPs also provide a framework and opportunity to foster the proactive strategies necessary to achieve the vision established under SECAS, and to help ensure that ongoing and future conservation efforts across the region will be as effective as possible. To help set the stage for this continuing work, the Vital Futures Project — a collaboration among the National Wildlife Federation, North Carolina State University, and University of South Carolina — assessed how states have addressed current and projected climate change in their recently updated Wildlife Action Plans. This examination is intended to illuminate elements of success in these plans and facilitate further progress in both state and regional conservation efforts. This executive summary highlights the key observations and recommendations from the full report. The intended audience for these recommendations includes state fish and wildlife agencies, SECAS partners, and others making decisions that will shape the region’s future landscapes.
