The SAFE Act aims to establish a national strategy to protect fish, wildlife, and plants from the impacts of climate change. It creates a working group of federal and state agencies to oversee the strategy. The working group will develop and periodically revise local adaptation plans in collaboration with stakeholders. The plans will aim to maintain species' resilience by improving habitats and biological processes disrupted by climate change. Measuring the success of conservation efforts will involve indicators to evaluate processes, outcomes, and the strategy's overall effectiveness over time. The SAFE Act's coordinated, science-based approach seeks to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services crucial for the environment and economy.
Global warming is causing the average temperature of the Earth to rise, resulting in climate change. Increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, like burning fossil fuels, are trapping more heat in the atmosphere. This document reviews several impacts of global warming on the environment, including effects on agriculture, water resources, temperature, and precipitation. Rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns are posing challenges for food production and water availability. Many regions are facing issues like water scarcity, drought, and degraded water quality. Climate change is also expected to spread diseases and damage ecosystems. Adaptation efforts are needed to help communities cope with the environmental changes caused by global warming.
This document provides a scientific outcome from a workshop on biodiversity and climate change co-sponsored by IPBES and IPCC. It contains 7 sections that discuss the interdependence of climate and biodiversity, how they are connected to human futures, and how addressing their decline can support good quality of life. The key points are:
1) Climate and biodiversity are inextricably linked - each influences the other and stable climate and biodiversity are foundations for human well-being.
2) Human activities like land use change and fossil fuel use have altered climate and caused biodiversity loss, compromising quality of life.
3) Strategies to conserve biodiversity must consider climate impacts and vice versa to
The document discusses the connection between climate change and biodiversity, explaining that climate change is caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. It also notes that climate change affects biodiversity through impacts like deforestation, infrastructure development and pollution. The document recommends ways to reduce climate change such as reducing waste, using public transportation, conserving energy and spreading awareness about the issue.
Integrated Water Resource Planning - Water, Forests, People and PolicyGeoEngineers, Inc.
This slideshow presents a series of graphics, photographs and statements reflective of integrated water resource management with specific reference to forest management in a changing climate. We are already experiencing the migration of animals and humans with climate shifts. The severity and frequency of wildfires, droughts, floods and ocean acidification are also increasing. Impacts to our economy, infrastructure and atmosphere have lead us to difficult choices regarding land use and future policy development to better manage our natural resources.
Wayne Wright, CFP, PWS
Sr. Principal, Fisheries & Wetland Scientist, Market Intelligence Leader at GeoEngineers
This document discusses natural resources like soil, water, air, forests, and solar energy. It describes how these resources are essential for life but are being depleted through pollution, overextraction, deforestation, and waste. To protect the environment, the document advocates for conservation efforts like reducing pollution, harvesting rainwater, disposing of waste properly, planting trees, and creating awareness. The overall message is that natural resources sustain life and it is important for people to safeguard them responsibly.
Presentation by President of the Cary Institute of Ecosystems Studies Joshua Ginsberg for a forum on sustainable farming practices. www.caryinstitute.org/forum-farm
- Life on Earth depends on resources like soil, water, and air and energy from the sun. Uneven heating of air over land and water bodies causes winds, while evaporation and condensation lead to rainfall patterns.
- Various nutrients are used in cyclic fashions between biosphere components, maintaining balance. However, pollution affects air, water, and soil quality, harming biodiversity. Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources are needed.
Report of IPBES/ IPCC working group- reviewing overlap and actions needed, in order to both combat Climate Change and restore and protect Biodiversity.
June 2012 work
Global warming is causing the average temperature of the Earth to rise, resulting in climate change. Increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, like burning fossil fuels, are trapping more heat in the atmosphere. This document reviews several impacts of global warming on the environment, including effects on agriculture, water resources, temperature, and precipitation. Rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns are posing challenges for food production and water availability. Many regions are facing issues like water scarcity, drought, and degraded water quality. Climate change is also expected to spread diseases and damage ecosystems. Adaptation efforts are needed to help communities cope with the environmental changes caused by global warming.
This document provides a scientific outcome from a workshop on biodiversity and climate change co-sponsored by IPBES and IPCC. It contains 7 sections that discuss the interdependence of climate and biodiversity, how they are connected to human futures, and how addressing their decline can support good quality of life. The key points are:
1) Climate and biodiversity are inextricably linked - each influences the other and stable climate and biodiversity are foundations for human well-being.
2) Human activities like land use change and fossil fuel use have altered climate and caused biodiversity loss, compromising quality of life.
3) Strategies to conserve biodiversity must consider climate impacts and vice versa to
The document discusses the connection between climate change and biodiversity, explaining that climate change is caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. It also notes that climate change affects biodiversity through impacts like deforestation, infrastructure development and pollution. The document recommends ways to reduce climate change such as reducing waste, using public transportation, conserving energy and spreading awareness about the issue.
Integrated Water Resource Planning - Water, Forests, People and PolicyGeoEngineers, Inc.
This slideshow presents a series of graphics, photographs and statements reflective of integrated water resource management with specific reference to forest management in a changing climate. We are already experiencing the migration of animals and humans with climate shifts. The severity and frequency of wildfires, droughts, floods and ocean acidification are also increasing. Impacts to our economy, infrastructure and atmosphere have lead us to difficult choices regarding land use and future policy development to better manage our natural resources.
Wayne Wright, CFP, PWS
Sr. Principal, Fisheries & Wetland Scientist, Market Intelligence Leader at GeoEngineers
This document discusses natural resources like soil, water, air, forests, and solar energy. It describes how these resources are essential for life but are being depleted through pollution, overextraction, deforestation, and waste. To protect the environment, the document advocates for conservation efforts like reducing pollution, harvesting rainwater, disposing of waste properly, planting trees, and creating awareness. The overall message is that natural resources sustain life and it is important for people to safeguard them responsibly.
Presentation by President of the Cary Institute of Ecosystems Studies Joshua Ginsberg for a forum on sustainable farming practices. www.caryinstitute.org/forum-farm
- Life on Earth depends on resources like soil, water, and air and energy from the sun. Uneven heating of air over land and water bodies causes winds, while evaporation and condensation lead to rainfall patterns.
- Various nutrients are used in cyclic fashions between biosphere components, maintaining balance. However, pollution affects air, water, and soil quality, harming biodiversity. Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources are needed.
Report of IPBES/ IPCC working group- reviewing overlap and actions needed, in order to both combat Climate Change and restore and protect Biodiversity.
June 2012 work
Natural resources are materials that come from nature and can be used by humans. Examples include air, water, wood, oil, wind energy, natural gas, iron, and coal. Resources are either renewable, meaning they can replenish themselves, like forests and animals, or non-renewable, like fossil fuels which do not replenish quickly enough to be considered renewable. Natural resources face threats from overpopulation increasing demand, climate change altering environments, and pollution damaging the environment.
Effect of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystemsaboosh2014
Climate change is causing problems like loss of glaciers, decreased ocean salinity, and changes to ocean currents and habitats. Warmer temperatures allow pine beetles to devastate forests without being killed off in winter. Coral bleaching and ecosystem death can occur as sea temperatures increase, and lower salinity ruins habitats. Ecologically rich areas like the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics are at serious risk of biodiversity loss due to extreme weather. Once affected, coral reefs and tropical areas can take a long time to recover and may experience continued species loss. Humans and ecosystems are impacted by species loss through disrupted agriculture and food webs.
This document discusses how climate change is negatively impacting freshwater fish populations in the United States. It notes that rivers, streams and lakes are warming, snowpack is melting earlier, and more severe wildfires and rainfall events are degrading fish habitat. These changes are projected to significantly reduce suitable habitat for cold-water fish species. The document also discusses how climate change exacerbates existing threats to fish like invasive species, and how increasing water withdrawals will strain water resources in areas like the southwestern US. Overall population declines and losses of billions in annual fishing economic activity are projected if carbon pollution driving climate change is not curbed.
This document discusses how climate change is negatively impacting birds in the United States. Migratory birds face unique challenges as climate change affects the habitats they rely on for breeding, migrating, and overwintering. Bird ranges and habitats are shifting locations in response to warming temperatures. Extreme weather events, diseases, and pest outbreaks exacerbated by climate change are also dramatically altering important bird habitats. Reducing carbon pollution is necessary to limit the magnitude of climate change's impacts and help safeguard birds.
Wildlife in a Warming World: Confronting the Climate Crisis examines case studies from across the country illustrating how global warming is altering wildlife habitats.
Strategic Framework for Responding to Climate Change_Ver1.0_081002Loren Ford
This document provides a strategic framework for the Forest Service to guide actions in response to climate change. It outlines 7 goals: 1) advance understanding of climate change impacts through science and research; 2) enhance the ability of forests and grasslands to adapt to climate change impacts; 3) promote forest and grassland management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 4) integrate climate change into Forest Service policies; 5) reduce the agency's environmental footprint; 6) increase public awareness and education; and 7) strengthen partnerships to manage forests and grasslands sustainably. The framework emphasizes the need to facilitate ecosystem adaptation through actions like thinning forests to increase drought tolerance, assisted species migration, and development of wildlife corridors.
This document discusses ecosystem services and their importance for human well-being. It defines ecosystem services as the benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including provisioning services like food production, regulating services like climate stabilization and water purification, supporting services like soil formation, and cultural services like spiritual and recreational benefits. The document notes that while human activities have improved lives, they have also weakened nature's ability to provide key services and increased pressures on ecosystems. It emphasizes that regulating and supporting services are undervalued and disturbances can be difficult to reverse, so continued lack of awareness will dramatically alter Earth's ecosystems.
The document discusses community climate change adaptation concepts and applications. It aims to provide an overview of community climate change adaptation, identify resources and partnerships needed to strengthen climate programming, delineate policies to improve community participation and resilience, and acknowledge challenges and pathways. It discusses key concepts like climate change impacts, community-based adaptation, climate-smart agriculture, and the role of extension services. It outlines methodologies, background on climate impacts and adaptation, and highlights challenges like uncertainty and deficits in adaptive capacities. Overall, the document presents a framework for community climate change adaptation through approaches like integration into development planning, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and education.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation 2011ver2cenafrica
This document provides an overview of Module Three which focuses on climate change and agriculture. It defines key concepts related to climate change impacts, vulnerability, adaptation, and mitigation. It discusses how climate change negatively impacts agriculture globally and regionally through changes in temperature, precipitation, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. Adaptation and coping strategies for agriculture are discussed. The module also covers agricultural innovations and systems for adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts.
This document discusses synergism in terrestrial ecosystems. Synergism refers to the combined effects of multiple factors being greater than the sum of their individual effects. The document provides examples of positive synergism between trees sharing roots, as well as negative synergism from toxic pollutant combinations harming species. Climate change, land use changes, pollution from pesticides and heavy metals can act synergistically to threaten biodiversity by disrupting species and food webs. Managing these stressors is important for protecting terrestrial ecosystems.
the Great acceleration de International Geosphere-Biosphere ProgrammeLiliane Arnaud Soubie
The document discusses the "Great Acceleration" which refers to the rapid increase in human impacts on Earth systems since 1950. It provides data on increasing trends from 1950 onwards for factors such as population, GDP, water use, fertilizer consumption, motor vehicles, tourism, shrimp farming, and land use. These human activities have accelerated the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increased impacts such as loss of forests, more extreme weather events, overfishing, nitrogen pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The document is a synthesis of these trends from multiple scientific sources.
This document discusses the vulnerability of India's coastal zones to climate change. It notes that coastal zones are important regions for India, containing major cities and over a third of the population, but are vulnerable to sea level rise, cyclones, and changes in temperature and precipitation from climate change. Vulnerability is defined as the degree to which a system is impacted by or resilient to climate hazards, and is determined by exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The document outlines how these factors contribute to India's coastal vulnerability and the socioeconomic impacts the country may face, such as slowed economic growth and increased food insecurity.
The document summarizes key findings from the Third Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World, which convened over 500 experts. The main points are:
1) Ocean acidification is increasing at an unprecedented rate due to human CO2 emissions and is affecting ecosystems and biodiversity. It has the potential to impact food security and limit the ocean's ability to absorb more CO2.
2) Research shows adverse effects on some organisms' ability to form shells and skeletons as well as reduced survival, growth, and reproduction. However, some organisms can tolerate or benefit from acidification.
3) If emissions continue high, large parts of the polar oceans will become corrosive by decades
This document discusses perceptions of climate change in Africa from an agricultural perspective. It finds that there are diverse views about the causes and indicators of climate change across and within African communities, despite general awareness of climate change. The impacts of climate variability are highly differentiated according to factors like land tenure, traditional beliefs, and gender. The document aims to understand indigenous perceptions of climate change in Africa and coping strategies. It reviews how climate change is projected to negatively impact agriculture in Africa through reduced crop yields and quality, and changed growing conditions.
Laura West presents at the Creating for a Living Series in Atlanta, Ga. Topic is: Discovering, Believing and Claiming the Power of My Creativity to Create Change. JoyfulBusiness.com
El documento presenta la curva característica de un diodo semiconductor, incluyendo su símbolo, polarización, tipos de diodos y su comportamiento bajo polarización directa e inversa. Explica que un diodo es un dispositivo biterminal formado por la unión de materiales P y N, y describe sus características eléctricas fundamentales como la corriente de saturación baja en polarización inversa y la tensión umbral en polarización directa.
Este documento analiza el delito de plagio contra el derecho de autor. Explica que el plagio vulnera el derecho moral de paternidad de un autor al apropiarse de su obra como propia. También describe los derechos morales y patrimoniales que componen el derecho de autor, y cómo el delito de plagio atenta específicamente contra el derecho moral a la paternidad de una obra. Finalmente, resume la definición legal del delito de plagio según el Código Penal peruano.
Natural resources are materials that come from nature and can be used by humans. Examples include air, water, wood, oil, wind energy, natural gas, iron, and coal. Resources are either renewable, meaning they can replenish themselves, like forests and animals, or non-renewable, like fossil fuels which do not replenish quickly enough to be considered renewable. Natural resources face threats from overpopulation increasing demand, climate change altering environments, and pollution damaging the environment.
Effect of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystemsaboosh2014
Climate change is causing problems like loss of glaciers, decreased ocean salinity, and changes to ocean currents and habitats. Warmer temperatures allow pine beetles to devastate forests without being killed off in winter. Coral bleaching and ecosystem death can occur as sea temperatures increase, and lower salinity ruins habitats. Ecologically rich areas like the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics are at serious risk of biodiversity loss due to extreme weather. Once affected, coral reefs and tropical areas can take a long time to recover and may experience continued species loss. Humans and ecosystems are impacted by species loss through disrupted agriculture and food webs.
This document discusses how climate change is negatively impacting freshwater fish populations in the United States. It notes that rivers, streams and lakes are warming, snowpack is melting earlier, and more severe wildfires and rainfall events are degrading fish habitat. These changes are projected to significantly reduce suitable habitat for cold-water fish species. The document also discusses how climate change exacerbates existing threats to fish like invasive species, and how increasing water withdrawals will strain water resources in areas like the southwestern US. Overall population declines and losses of billions in annual fishing economic activity are projected if carbon pollution driving climate change is not curbed.
This document discusses how climate change is negatively impacting birds in the United States. Migratory birds face unique challenges as climate change affects the habitats they rely on for breeding, migrating, and overwintering. Bird ranges and habitats are shifting locations in response to warming temperatures. Extreme weather events, diseases, and pest outbreaks exacerbated by climate change are also dramatically altering important bird habitats. Reducing carbon pollution is necessary to limit the magnitude of climate change's impacts and help safeguard birds.
Wildlife in a Warming World: Confronting the Climate Crisis examines case studies from across the country illustrating how global warming is altering wildlife habitats.
Strategic Framework for Responding to Climate Change_Ver1.0_081002Loren Ford
This document provides a strategic framework for the Forest Service to guide actions in response to climate change. It outlines 7 goals: 1) advance understanding of climate change impacts through science and research; 2) enhance the ability of forests and grasslands to adapt to climate change impacts; 3) promote forest and grassland management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; 4) integrate climate change into Forest Service policies; 5) reduce the agency's environmental footprint; 6) increase public awareness and education; and 7) strengthen partnerships to manage forests and grasslands sustainably. The framework emphasizes the need to facilitate ecosystem adaptation through actions like thinning forests to increase drought tolerance, assisted species migration, and development of wildlife corridors.
This document discusses ecosystem services and their importance for human well-being. It defines ecosystem services as the benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including provisioning services like food production, regulating services like climate stabilization and water purification, supporting services like soil formation, and cultural services like spiritual and recreational benefits. The document notes that while human activities have improved lives, they have also weakened nature's ability to provide key services and increased pressures on ecosystems. It emphasizes that regulating and supporting services are undervalued and disturbances can be difficult to reverse, so continued lack of awareness will dramatically alter Earth's ecosystems.
The document discusses community climate change adaptation concepts and applications. It aims to provide an overview of community climate change adaptation, identify resources and partnerships needed to strengthen climate programming, delineate policies to improve community participation and resilience, and acknowledge challenges and pathways. It discusses key concepts like climate change impacts, community-based adaptation, climate-smart agriculture, and the role of extension services. It outlines methodologies, background on climate impacts and adaptation, and highlights challenges like uncertainty and deficits in adaptive capacities. Overall, the document presents a framework for community climate change adaptation through approaches like integration into development planning, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and education.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation 2011ver2cenafrica
This document provides an overview of Module Three which focuses on climate change and agriculture. It defines key concepts related to climate change impacts, vulnerability, adaptation, and mitigation. It discusses how climate change negatively impacts agriculture globally and regionally through changes in temperature, precipitation, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. Adaptation and coping strategies for agriculture are discussed. The module also covers agricultural innovations and systems for adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts.
This document discusses synergism in terrestrial ecosystems. Synergism refers to the combined effects of multiple factors being greater than the sum of their individual effects. The document provides examples of positive synergism between trees sharing roots, as well as negative synergism from toxic pollutant combinations harming species. Climate change, land use changes, pollution from pesticides and heavy metals can act synergistically to threaten biodiversity by disrupting species and food webs. Managing these stressors is important for protecting terrestrial ecosystems.
the Great acceleration de International Geosphere-Biosphere ProgrammeLiliane Arnaud Soubie
The document discusses the "Great Acceleration" which refers to the rapid increase in human impacts on Earth systems since 1950. It provides data on increasing trends from 1950 onwards for factors such as population, GDP, water use, fertilizer consumption, motor vehicles, tourism, shrimp farming, and land use. These human activities have accelerated the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increased impacts such as loss of forests, more extreme weather events, overfishing, nitrogen pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The document is a synthesis of these trends from multiple scientific sources.
This document discusses the vulnerability of India's coastal zones to climate change. It notes that coastal zones are important regions for India, containing major cities and over a third of the population, but are vulnerable to sea level rise, cyclones, and changes in temperature and precipitation from climate change. Vulnerability is defined as the degree to which a system is impacted by or resilient to climate hazards, and is determined by exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The document outlines how these factors contribute to India's coastal vulnerability and the socioeconomic impacts the country may face, such as slowed economic growth and increased food insecurity.
The document summarizes key findings from the Third Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World, which convened over 500 experts. The main points are:
1) Ocean acidification is increasing at an unprecedented rate due to human CO2 emissions and is affecting ecosystems and biodiversity. It has the potential to impact food security and limit the ocean's ability to absorb more CO2.
2) Research shows adverse effects on some organisms' ability to form shells and skeletons as well as reduced survival, growth, and reproduction. However, some organisms can tolerate or benefit from acidification.
3) If emissions continue high, large parts of the polar oceans will become corrosive by decades
This document discusses perceptions of climate change in Africa from an agricultural perspective. It finds that there are diverse views about the causes and indicators of climate change across and within African communities, despite general awareness of climate change. The impacts of climate variability are highly differentiated according to factors like land tenure, traditional beliefs, and gender. The document aims to understand indigenous perceptions of climate change in Africa and coping strategies. It reviews how climate change is projected to negatively impact agriculture in Africa through reduced crop yields and quality, and changed growing conditions.
Laura West presents at the Creating for a Living Series in Atlanta, Ga. Topic is: Discovering, Believing and Claiming the Power of My Creativity to Create Change. JoyfulBusiness.com
El documento presenta la curva característica de un diodo semiconductor, incluyendo su símbolo, polarización, tipos de diodos y su comportamiento bajo polarización directa e inversa. Explica que un diodo es un dispositivo biterminal formado por la unión de materiales P y N, y describe sus características eléctricas fundamentales como la corriente de saturación baja en polarización inversa y la tensión umbral en polarización directa.
Este documento analiza el delito de plagio contra el derecho de autor. Explica que el plagio vulnera el derecho moral de paternidad de un autor al apropiarse de su obra como propia. También describe los derechos morales y patrimoniales que componen el derecho de autor, y cómo el delito de plagio atenta específicamente contra el derecho moral a la paternidad de una obra. Finalmente, resume la definición legal del delito de plagio según el Código Penal peruano.
Building High Performance Web ApplicationsJeff Whelpley
In a world where Google search results load instantly and hand held devices get more powerful by the day, the bar for website performance is at unprecedented levels. It isn't enough that an application has cool features. It has to be fast.
Really fast.
If you plan on working in the software industry, you need to understand the basic principles of performance on the web and how to utilize tools and techniques to ensure the products you create will meet customer expectations for speed. In this presentation, Jeff will introduce the high level concepts, get into some real world examples, go over the process of optimization and provide a vision for high performance web applications of the future.
Bryan Lyde has over 15 years of experience in sales engineering for telecommunications companies. He is currently a Sales Engineer at GENBAND, where he is responsible for selling call control, gateway, switching, and other products. Some of his accomplishments include $28M in sales and delivering new product lines to multiple customers. Previously, he held sales engineering roles at Ericsson and Nortel Networks, where he successfully sold wireless and wireline solutions. He has a degree in Electronics Engineering and several technical certifications.
The nonprofit sector in McLennan County employs over 19,000 people and provides essential services. It contributes $546 million to the local economy annually. Nonprofits make up 8% of the county's workforce and 11% of the private workforce. The sector is very diverse, with the largest portions being in education, human services, and arts/culture. It leverages substantial resources but also faces financial challenges, with many organizations operating at a deficit. Overall, the nonprofit sector improves quality of life in the county through employment, spending, and community services.
Reflexión sobre la competitividad regional del magdalenaCamilo Montes
Memorias del taller de Competitividad Regional del Magdalena dónde abordé los siguientes conceptos:
+ ¿Qué es competitividad y cómo se mide?
+ ¿Cómo se ve el Departamento del Magdalena y la Ciudad de Santa Marta en Competitividad?.
+ El valor creado por las empresas del Magdalena.
+ La importancia del emprendimiento y la innovación para las empresas que se reinventan constantemente.
+ ¿Cómo lograr mas y mejores empresas en Magdalena?
Climate change is one of the primary factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity worldwide. The purpose of this review paper was to give serious thought about the present and future impacts of climate change on biodiversity, even though we are not aware of its synergistic effects on biological populations. In order to fully understand the biota's reactions to these climatic
changes, we also concentrated on how these changes impact their phenology and physiology. This review article's subjects are
covered in a non-random order to make it easier for readers to understand the connections between biodiversity and climate
change. We also discussed about how 1.1°C of global warming brought about by human activity has altered the Earth's climate
in ways never seen before and negatively impacted human health. We covered how to safeguard our biota by implementing practical conservation strategies at the end of this review article in order to reduce the effects of climate change on it. We hope that one day, because research on climate change and biodiversity protection is interdisciplinary and spans many different scientific areas, we will be able to address all these concerns and preserve our biota from their terrible consequences.
Climate change threatens biodiversity in several ways. Rising global temperatures cause shifts in species' habitats and ranges, disrupting ecosystems. Polar regions are especially at risk, as melting ice threatens animals like polar bears. In the oceans, warming and acidification endanger coral reefs and plankton. Loss of biodiversity then undermines ecosystem services like pollination and water purification. International data shows an increasing number of threatened species as climate change accelerates extinction rates. Maintaining biodiversity can help buffer against climate impacts and support ecosystem adaptation.
Human well-being is highly dependent on ecosystems and the benefits they provide such as food and drinkable water. Over the past 50 years, however, humans have had a tremendous impact on their environment.
To better understand the consequences of current changes to ecosystems and to evaluate scenarios for the future, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has launched a comprehensive scientific study, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
What actions could be taken to limit harmful consequences of ecosystem degradation?
This document provides an overview of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity based on a report from the Second Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group. It discusses observed and projected impacts including changes in species distributions, timing of life cycles, ecosystem composition and services. Climate change threatens biodiversity through increasing temperatures, altering carbon cycles and increasing extreme weather events. Risk assessment tools are needed to identify vulnerable species and ecosystems to prioritize adaptation activities. Economic valuation of ecosystem services and incentives should be considered to support adaptation and not negatively impact biodiversity conservation.
This document presents information on a credit seminar about climate smart aquaculture and advisory services. It contains an introduction stating the objective is to assess the impact of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture and implement better farming technologies. It then discusses topics like food security, climate change causes and impacts, the role of aquaculture in climate change, climate smart aquaculture practices and technologies, supporting institutions, advisory services, and conclusions.
Natural ecosystems are one of our most precious resources, critical for sustaining life on the planet. The benefits humans derive from ecosystems are varied, from marketable products such as pharmaceuticals, to recreational opportunities such as camping, to ecosystems services such as erosion control and water purification. For many people, nature plays a powerful spiritual and aesthetic role in their lives, and many place a high value on the existence of wilderness and nature for its own sake. Despite the critical roles ecosystems play, these areas are increasingly threatened by the impacts of a growing human population through habitat destruction and air and water pollution. Added to these stresses comes a new threat — global climate change resulting from increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. “Ecosystems and Global Climate Change†is the fifth in a series of the Pew Center reports examining the potential impacts of climate change on the U.S. environment. It details the very real possibility that warming over this century will jeopardize the integrity of many of the terrestrial ecosystems on which we depend. Among the many key issues raised are With warming, the distribution of terrestrial ecosystems will change as plants and animals follow the shifting climate. The eastern United States will likely lose many of its deciduous forests as the climate zones shift northwards, while more mountainous regions, like portions of the West, will see species and ecosystems migrate up mountain slopes from lower elevations.Both the amount and rate of warming predicted represent a threat to our nation’s biodiversity. Certain species may face dwindling numbers and even extinction if they are unable to migrate fast enough to keep up with the changing climate. Likewise, as warming shrinks the zone of cold conditions in upper latitudes and on mountains, the future of species that depend on such climates will be in jeopardy.Climate change is likely to alter ecosystem composition and function — that is, which species make up an ecosystem and the way in which energy and materials flow through these systems. These modifications are bound to alter the amount and quantity of the various goods and services ecosystems provide.Ecosystems are inherently complex and difficult to model, and our ability to predict exactly how species and ecosystems will respond to a changing climate is limited. This uncertainty limits our ability to mitigate, minimize, or ameliorate the effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems. In order to maximize nature’s own potential to adapt to climate change, we must continue to support existing strategies to conserve biodiversity and protect natural ecosystems. Surendar Kumar "Ecosystems Adaptation to Global Warming" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-6 | Issue-5 , August 2022, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd50490.pdf Paper
AQUATIC GENETIC RESOURCES AND CLIMATE CHANGE_CleanPatrick White
This document provides an overview of the importance of aquatic genetic resources in the context of climate change. It discusses how aquatic ecosystems and the organisms they support play a key role in global carbon and nutrient cycles. Aquatic genetic resources underpin global aquaculture and fisheries, which together provide about half of the world's food fish and are important for food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. Climate change poses challenges for these resources and the sectors that depend on them through impacts like warming, acidification, and changes to freshwater availability. The roles of aquatic genetic resources in adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts are discussed.
SAFE Final Report_12-07_Final_CorrectedShira Yashphe
The document proposes a program to implement the Safeguarding America's Future and Environment (SAFE) Act in its first year. The SAFE Act aims to protect fish, wildlife and plants threatened by climate change through coordinated conservation efforts. The program would be overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with a $5.4 million budget. Key goals are preliminary conservation functions, enhancing the agency's capacity, and sharing scientific knowledge. Progress would be regularly evaluated against performance benchmarks to ensure the successful launch of long-term adaptation solutions under the SAFE Act framework.
The document proposes a program to implement the Safeguarding America's Future and Environment (SAFE) Act in its first year. The SAFE Act aims to protect fish, wildlife and plants threatened by climate change through coordinated conservation efforts. The program would be overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with a $5.4 million budget. Key goals are preliminary conservation functions, enhancing the agency's capacity, and sharing scientific knowledge. Progress would be regularly evaluated against performance benchmarks to ensure the successful launch of the long-term adaptation strategies outlined in the SAFE Act and National Strategy.
IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON AQUATIC FLORA AND FAUNAMahendra Pal
A rise in temperature as small as 1° C could have important and rapid effects on the geographical distributions and mortality of some organisms. The more mobile species should be able to adjust their ranges over time, but less mobile and sedentary species may not.There are many factors that can cause a warming of our climate; for example, more energy from the sun, large natural events such as El Nino or an increased greenhouse effect. Rising temperatures can directly affect the metabolism, life cycle, and behaviour of marine species. For many species, temperature serves as a cue for reproduction. Clearly, changes in sea temperature could affect their successful breeding. The number of male and female offspring is determined by temperature for marine turtles, as well as some fish and copepods (tiny shrimp-like animals on which many other marine animals feed). Changing climate could therefore skew sex ratios and threaten population survival.
Climate change is negatively impacting biodiversity through causing changes in species distributions, phenology, and abundance, as well as coral bleaching and ecosystem loss. Biodiversity loss also exacerbates climate change by reducing natural carbon sinks like forests, soils, and peatlands. The two issues form a vicious cycle that is a major threat. Conserving biodiversity through measures like habitat protection can help address climate change by maintaining carbon storage and ecosystem services that build resilience. Coordinated global action is needed under frameworks like the Convention on Biological Diversity and Paris Agreement.
This document discusses biodiversity, green roofs, and greenhouses. It notes that biodiversity encompasses genetic, species, and ecosystem variety but is declining due to habitat changes from agriculture, construction, pollution, and climate change. Green roofs can improve building insulation and air quality while reducing pollution. Greenhouses contribute to increased temperatures through carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGYAkshay Goyal
Biodiversity reflects the variety of living organisms and how they interact in ecosystems. It is declining rapidly due to human activities like habitat loss, pollution, and overexploitation of resources. This biodiversity loss negatively impacts human well-being by reducing food security, water quality, and resilience to natural disasters. Four scenarios for the future were explored that consider different levels of globalization and approaches to environmental management. All scenarios found that biodiversity will continue declining due to expanding agriculture and shrinking forests. Protected areas and market-based conservation efforts can help slow this loss if carefully implemented.
The document provides information on several upcoming climate and sustainability related events, opportunities, and news items. It begins with signs of spring and mentions the White House releasing guidance on incorporating Indigenous Knowledge. It then discusses a UN treaty to protect marine biodiversity, challenges facing farmers from climate change, and examples of companies transitioning to safer alternatives. The rest of the document outlines grant opportunities, conferences, webinars, and workshops on topics like building electrification and disposable foodware. It concludes with several concerning news reports about climate feedback loops, methane leaks, impacts of meat/dairy production, and risks of sea level rise.
The document discusses the importance of biodiversity conservation and integrated action to address threats to biodiversity. It notes that biodiversity drives key ecological functions and provides valuable economic services. However, overconsumption, population growth, habitat loss, and failure to account for ecological trade-offs are reducing biodiversity. The consequences of biodiversity loss disproportionately impact the poor. Integrated scientific, political, and economic action is needed worldwide to mitigate human-caused biodiversity decline.
Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases like CO2 trapping heat in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels produces most CO2 emissions. While the average temperature increase seems small, global warming has significant environmental impacts like more wildfires, rising sea levels, and melting Arctic ice, endangering habitats and species. Solutions include developing renewable energy alternatives to reduce fossil fuel use and associated CO2 emissions.
Biology - Chp 6 - Humans In The Biosphere - PowerPointMr. Walajtys
Human activities can affect the biosphere by altering habitats, overharvesting resources, and polluting the environment. Resources are either renewable like forests and fisheries, which can replenish if sustainably managed, or nonrenewable like fossil fuels. Two major threats to the global environment are ozone depletion, which is addressed by banning CFCs, and global climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Conservation aims to protect biodiversity and ecosystems for humanity's long term well-being.
Biology - Chp 6 - Humans In The Biosphere - PowerPoint
Summer Final Report_2
1. SAFEGUARDING
AMERICA’S FUTURE
AND ENVIRONMENT
ACT (SAFE)
8/17/2016
Senate Bill 1601; House of Representatives
Bill 2804
Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy
Summer 2016
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Robert Cook
3. Disclaimer
This document includes copyrighted material for educational purposes. These materials are included
under the fair use exemption of U.S. Copyright Law and are restricted from further use. This document
has been prepared on an "All Care and No Responsibility" basis. Neither the authors nor Columbia
University make any express or implied representation or warranty as to the currency, accuracy, or
completeness of the information in this document.
Team Members:
Savannah Gentry Miller (Manager)
Nina Gyourgis (Deputy Manager)
M. Umar Ashfaq
Daniel Chi Cook
Lisa Kubotera
Danny Scull
Tiffany Sieler
Averill Q. Wickland
Shira Yashphe
Cover Photo Credit: Dr. Robert Cook
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 3
4. Executive Summary
Global climate change has caused unprecedented stress on many of the United States’ fish, wildlife,
and plant species. This has put the resilience of species and the vitality of national ecosystem services at
risk. Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations have increased since the pre-industrial era. The
combination of increased CO2 and other greenhouse gas concentrations and natural forces, have all
contributed to global climatic changes, including, but not limited to, increased global temperature,
drought, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and more severe and frequent extreme weather events.
Alterations to ecological cycles impact the distribution of fish, wildlife and plant species. Furthermore,
climatic changes can disrupt the timing of fish, wildlife, and plants’ biological and seasonal cycles,
negatively affecting blooming, breeding, and migratory patterns. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) notes that climate change has and will continue to adversely affect all aspects of
biodiversity (IPCC 2014).
Losses of fish, wildlife and plant species, as well as the ecosystem services they provide, will
greatly impact the national economy. The stability of fish, wildlife, and plant populations represents a
critical component of GDP, in addition to inherent aesthetic values. According to a 2012 Outdoor Industry
Association report, for example, outdoor recreation – including camping, wildlife viewing, and hunting –
was valued at $646 billion (Cartwright 2015). In addition, healthy ecosystems provide invaluable
ecosystem services, including crop pollination, and soil and air purification, and increased national
resilience to climate change impacts.
The Safeguarding America’s Future and Environment Act (SAFE ACT) intends to increase
government efficiency and effectiveness in responding to climate change. By establishing an integrated
national approach for protecting and conserving the country’s fish, wildlife, and plant species, the bill
seeks to improve the functionality of ecosystem services and prepare for further climate change and
variability.
This report provides an overview of scientific components associated with species’ vulnerability
to climate change as well as how these scientific concerns inform the SAFE Act’s objective. It then details
the mechanisms by which the SAFE Act will address species’ vulnerability and the sustainability of
ecosystem services that these species provide for present and future generations.
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 4
5. Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
2. The Science of Climate Change and its Effect on Biodiversity............................................................................ 7
2.1. Disruption of Atmospheric Processes................................................................................................................ 7
2.2. Disruption of Ecological Processes...................................................................................................................... 7
2.3. Disruption to Biological Processes...................................................................................................................... 7
2.4. The Implications of Climate-Induced Biodiversity Loss .......................................................................... 8
3. The SAFE Act’s Legislative Solution ................................................................................................................................. 9
3.1. Multilateral, Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration ............................................................................................. 9
3.2. The Formulation of Local Adaptation Plans .................................................................................................10
3.3. Review and Revision .................................................................................................................................................10
4. Measuring Success of the SAFE Act.................................................................................................................................11
4.1. Indicators of Success.................................................................................................................................................11
4.2. Process Evaluations...................................................................................................................................................11
4.3. Outcome Evaluations ................................................................................................................................................11
5. The Science and Mechanisms Behind the SAFE Solution....................................................................................12
6. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................................................13
Glossary .............................................................................................................................................................................................14
Works Cited .....................................................................................................................................................................................15
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 5
6. 1. Introduction
Pressing concern over the impacts of climate
change and extreme weather to fish, wildlife and
plants highlights the need for governmental
efficiency in protecting, managing, and
conserving the nation’s species and ecosystem
services. Currently, a number of Federal, State,
local, and tribal agencies have introduced
legislation and engaged non-governmental
stakeholders in working towards conservation.
This includes, but is not limited to, the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection
Agency, the National Park Service, the United
States Geological Survey, and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA). The SAFE Act aims to foster
communication and coordination between these
groups, and others, in order to achieve tangible
conservation results.
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 6
7. 2. The Science of Climate Change and its
Effect on Biodiversity
Global climatic changes have and will continue to
alter ecological processes, and ultimately the
vitality of crucial ecosystem services.
Subsequently, many U.S. fish, wildlife, and plant
species’ resilience to environmental
disturbances will weaken.
2.1. Disruption of Atmospheric
Processes
An excess of CO2 and other greenhouse gases
have accumulated in the Earth’s atmosphere
over the last century, primarily as a byproduct of
fossil fuel energy consumption (NOAA). The
buildup of this greenhouse gas has resulted in a
steady and measurable increase in the amount of
heat energy trapped in the atmosphere. For
example, average surface temperatures in the
United States have increased roughly 1.5 degrees
Fahrenheit over the last century (The National
Aeronautics and Space Administration). Such a
rapid shift in temperature has had profound
effects on local and regional climates across the
country. The frequency and severity of extreme
weather events, for example, has increased.
These events include floods, hurricanes, seasonal
changes, and wildfires, as well as more subtle
changes brought on by altered patterns of
rainfall, snowfall, and river flow. The rapid
accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere is also
responsible for ocean acidification. Taken
together, these phenomena are changing habitat
conditions for many species, and introducing
new biological, chemical, and physical stresses
into their environments.
2.2. Disruption of Ecological
Processes
Fish, wildlife, and plants experience a natural
adaptability and resiliency threshold to
environmental disturbances. For example, if a
food source becomes depleted, animal
populations will attempt to identify a new one
and tailor their diet accordingly in order to
survive. If a habitat becomes unsuitable for
nesting, a bird species may adjust its migratory
pattern in order to ensure the survival of its
brood. These types of common behavior
modifications are generally referred to as
adaptations and are essential to the viability of a
given species or population. In many cases,
however, climatic conditions are changing faster
than the species’ ability to adapt, resulting in
population decline and system-wide biodiversity
loss. When population numbers decline due to
environmental factors, the degree and speed
with which they can eventually recover, referred
to as a population’s resilience, will also decline.
Large system-wide impacts have the potential to
occur if climate change results in the decline of a
keystone species. A keystone species is one that
serves a role within its ecosystem that is
disproportionately large compared to other
species in the same ecosystem. Their decrease in
population can lead to a cascading decline of
other species. These losses will lead to
reductions in ecological biodiversity, defined as
the species variety of fish, wildlife, and plants in
an environment as well as the diversity of genes
within a population or species.
2.3. Disruption to Biological
Processes
When climate change reduces greater numbers
of a population, the remaining organisms are left
with fewer gene variants to protect them and
their offspring from disease and environmental
stress. Survivor populations become more
susceptible to predation, habitat loss, food
scarcity and other factors, creating a feedback
mechanism for the population’s decline. Other
disrupted biological processes include shifts in
the timing of fish, wildlife, and plant’s natural
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 7
8. cycles. For plants, warming temperatures can
trigger blooms too early in the calendar year,
when pollinators are not yet ready to assist in
seed dispersal. Similarly, wildlife often base their
mating and breeding behaviors on the regular
patterns of the seasons. If these conditions occur
at the wrong time of year, due to changing
climates, offspring can be born when food
sources are unavailable or without enough time
to be properly reared (Memmot et. al 2007).
2.4. The Implications of Climate-
Induced Biodiversity Loss
The last century has seen changing patterns of
extreme weather and climate events. From the
acceleration in global sea level rise, to a
measured increase in surface and ocean
temperatures, these changes have increased in
frequency over the last 50 years and they will
continue to increase in frequency for the
foreseeable future (Church 2006, Levitus 2007,
USCEI 2016). US Federal agencies such as the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
and the United States Geological Survey have
demonstrated that wildlife, fish and plant
populations are affected by such extreme
weather occurrences. Loss of biodiversity and
changes to species’ seasonal cycles are just two
examples of how climate change negatively
impacts an ecosystem. Simply put, climate
change is occurring at a pace faster than species’
adaptation rates, reducing the resilience of fish,
wildlife, and plants to population disturbance on
a nationwide scale.
The United States' economy relies on the
resources and services its wildlife, fish, and
plants provide. Just as labor and technology
contribute value and functionality to the
economy in the form of human capital,
ecosystems yield a supply of natural capital.
Clean air, storm protection, health benefits and
jobs that support human communities are only a
handful of the ecosystem services produced.
Thus, when ecosystems are put at risk, so are the
communities and industries that depend on
them.
Figure 1. Salmon populations are major economic, cultural,
and ecological components of US natural resources and their
populations are dwindling due to the impacts of climate
change. Impacts include loss of snowpack, warmer water
temperatures, and increased extreme weather events and
flooding. Source: The Washington Post
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 8
9. 3. The SAFE Act’s Legislative Solution
The Safeguarding America’s Future and
Environment Act (SAFE Act) intends to establish
an integrated national approach to respond to
the deleterious effects of climate change and
extreme weather conditions on fish, wildlife and
plant populations through the implementation of
the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate
Adaptation Strategy. The SAFE Act was
presented in both the Senate (S.1601) and the
House of Representatives (HR. 2804) and has
been endorsed by twenty organizations,
including Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club,
and The Nature Conservancy. Twenty-three U.S.
congressional representatives have signed on to
the proposed legislation as co-sponsors.
3.1. Multilateral, Multi-Stakeholder
Collaboration
Within ninety days of the bill being passed, the
President will establish a Working Group. This
Working Group will consist of the heads of
Federal and State agencies or departments that
have authority over the fish, wildlife, and plant
resources of the US and tribal representatives.
The Working Group will make use of the
National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate
Adaptation Strategy (National Strategy), which
was released in 2013. This strategy protects,
manages and conserves fish, wildlife, and plants
by maintaining or improving their ability to
withstand, adjust to, or recover from the effects
of current or future extreme weather conditions.
The Secretary of the Interior, State officials,
tribal leaders, and other partner organizations,
will establish a National Climate Change and
Wildlife Center in accordance with the bill. The
Center will assess and develop scientific
information, tools, strategies and techniques to
support the Working Group, and other interested
organizations, in addressing the effects of
extreme weather and climate change on fish,
wildlife, and plants. In addition, the Advisory
Committee on Climate Change and Natural
Resource Sciences will aid the Working Group,
by offering a multi-stakeholder perspective in
the fields of ecology, biology, and climate change.
It will be representative of the private sector,
public sector, non-governmental organizations,
etc.
Figure 2. The SAFE Act Legislative Framework
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 9
10. 3.2. The Formulation of Local
Adaptation Plans
Within one year of the bill’s passing, and no later
than one year after each revision of the National
Strategy, the Working Group will develop a plan
of action, provide options for public review and
comment, and submit the plan to the President
to be approved. Each State has the right to be
considered for funds within one year of this bill
being passed and each revision of the National
Strategy. The Secretary of the Interior and the
Secretary of Commerce will review and approve
States’ plans in order for plans to receive
funding.
3.3. Review and Revision
Each process of the SAFE Act, from the National
Strategy to States’ local adaptation plans, will
undergo periodic review and revision. Each plan
is considered a “living document,” and adapts
with evolving scientific understanding,
fieldwork, and innovative policy tools. In order
to address ecological and climatic variance, the
SAFE Act legislation must remain dynamic and
innovative.
Salmon in the Upper Quinault River:
Local Adaptation Plan
Figure 3. This figure represents the overarching objective,
interim actions, and measurable indicators for the local
adaptation plan for salmon in the Upper Quinault River, in
Washington State.
Case Study – Salmon of the Upper Quinault River
The National Wildlife Federation has coined salmon the “canary in the coal mine” for indicating
climate change impacts. The unique migratory patterns of salmon expose them to environmental conditions
ranging from freshwater streams to open ocean, and therefore diverse climate-related changes. Their climate
risks include, but are not limited to:
Loss of snowpack, which can result in reduced and more variable stream flows
Warmer water temperatures, which add stress to salmon populations and increase vulnerability to
predators, parasites, and disease
Increasingly severe storms and floods, which disrupt nesting sites.
As salmon populations decline, so too do the predators that depend on them as a food source. These
predators in turn help deposit nutrients originating from the salmon to other locations within an ecosystem.
Salmon are integral components of their ecosystem, and thus their absence would result in widespread
ecological harm.
These factors have informed the efforts of the Quinault Indian Nation, in collaboration with State,
Federal, local, and nonprofit partners, to design interim conservation strategies to protect the salmon along
the Upper Quinault River. The project’s overarching goal is to restore habitat-forming processes on the river
and protect the genetic diversity and resilience of salmon populations. Since 2007, local conservation
managers have installed 27 engineered logjams, a common restoration solution for conserving salmon
populations and their ecosystem. Engineered logjams break up stream flows and ease erosion, returning the
system to an approximation of its natural state. Furthermore, they play a vital role in providing safe refuge for
salmon amid stream flow variability and when hiding from predators. Conservation managers will continue to
measure birth and death rates, water levels, and migration patterns, in order to monitor the success of the
local adaptation plan’s restoration strategy. This project serves as an example of the kind of feasible and
monitored local adaptation plan for which the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy
provides a framework.
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 10
11. 4. Measuring the Success of the SAFE Act
Given the multi-faceted nature of the SAFE Act,
and the inter-governmental cooperation
required to achieve its objectives, a performance
measurement framework at all working levels is
imperative for its success. Monitoring and
evaluation is an integral component in the design
phase of any project or task, and specific,
quantifiable, and measurable indicators of
success are a tangible benchmark to measure
progress. Any species conservation and
adaptation measures proposed and undertaken
via the SAFE Act require clearly defined goals
and outcomes to be established at the outset.
4.1. Indicators of Success
Specific conservation targets that the SAFE Act
aims to create and execute are, in many cases,
yet to be laid out. As such, baseline studies to
assess existing rates of population decline are
also included as part of the general plan, as
envisioned in the bill. Given that the proposed
Working Group outlined in the SAFE Act will
include State representatives as well as the
Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service,
technical expertise to develop performance
measurement systems for adaptation measures
will be available.
Performance measurement for the SAFE Act
would require a two-pronged approach,
measuring progress at the micro-level for each
proposed conservation plan, as well as the
processes that lead to the formulation of each
plan. Methods for monitoring, specific targets,
and the types of data collected are likely to differ
among adaptation strategies, and must be driven
by the specific information needs of species
specialists, key decision makers, and public
interest (Heinz 2008).
4.2. Process Evaluations
Process evaluations assess the effectiveness of
inter-governmental meetings. They are
conducted to further the National Strategy and
require quantitative indicators for performance
benchmarking. These macro-level targets would
define the deliverables and outcomes of
meetings, as well as the budgetary quantum of
expenditures required at specific time periods
(UNEP 2006).
4.3. Outcome Evaluations
Recovery plans for various species, developed by
the US Fish and Wildlife Service under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, serve as good
examples of outcome-based performance
measurement systems (USFWS 2004). The steps
required to develop performance management
systems for adaptation plans would first include
the identification of conservation targets for a
vulnerable species of plant, fish or wildlife, as
well as a study of threats the species faces. Next,
a conceptual model would be developed that
identifies potential indicators of target status
and conservation effectiveness. These targets
would guide the implementation of the proposed
conservation activities, and outline markers for
success (Heinz 2008).
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 11
12. 5. The Science and Mechanisms Behind the
SAFE Solution
There are numerous scientific points of
discussion pertaining to the general SAFE Act’s
process of adaptation, prioritization, and diverse
implementation strategies. The scientific
community has not reached a consensus on all
issues, with an overarching lack of
understanding concerning the value of
biodiversity, and the way ecosystems interact
with and benefit society. This controversy
informs the specific disagreements regarding
species’ ability or inability to adapt to climate
change, the prioritization of vulnerable species,
and most effective adaptation solution.
5.1. Identification of Vulnerable
Species’ Adaptation Rates
The SAFE Act is predicated on the presumption
that some fish, wildlife and plant species are
identifiably unable to adapt quickly enough to
the effects of climate change. However, some
controversies surround the degree to which
changing climates negatively impact the survival
of target species. Furthermore, linking species’
adaptation rates to environmental disturbances
can present a challenge. These debates rest upon
the uncertainty of available methodology.
5.2. Biases in Vulnerable Species
Prioritization
The SAFE Act determines that species must be
ranked according to their vulnerability and their
impact on other organisms within their
ecosystem. However, there is a lack of consensus
on how to identify and prioritize species based
on these parameters. No standard prioritization
process currently exists, and, due to limitations
in current research, bias is often developed
during species identification. For example, a
larger number and much higher proportion of
species of vertebrates have been studied and
ranked for vulnerability when compared to
insects (Pacifici 2008). There is also a lack of
consensus on valuing cultural prioritization, as a
local society’s values may influence the
perceived importance of a given species. Species
with relatively low ecological value may be
misconstrued as more integral to an ecosystem,
possibly distracting attention and diverting
resources away from species with ecologically
larger impacts within that ecosystem (Fletcher
2005).
5.3. Unknowns in the Effective
Formulation of Local Adaptation Plans
Each State will propose species-specific
adaptation plans for addressing the protection,
management, and conservation of identified
vulnerable populations. However, defining
success presents a critical controversy, with
regard to setting population targets.
Furthermore, if an adaptation plan requires the
creation of a static ecosystem, it can create an
unnatural ecological situation. Other
controversies relate to timescales of ecosystem
recovery, since they are often much longer than
fiscal and political cycles (Hilderbrand, 2005).
In addition to the challenges of creating an
appropriate adaptation plan, there is also the
possibility of failure in a well-designed plan, and
unintended harm. Translocation, or physically
transporting a species into a new ecosystem, can
be unsuccessful, and can possibly result in a
species becoming invasive in its new home
(Griffith 1989; James 2015). Avoiding
unintentional damage to other ecosystems is a
crucial aspect of any successful adaptation plan.
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 12
13. 6. Conclusion
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
has reached a consensus that climate change
negatively impacts biodiversity, and threatens
ecosystem services (IPCC 2014). Studies
undertaken by United States research
institutions and federal agencies have observed
the same phenomenon. Local and regional
communities are already experiencing the effects
of fish, wildlife, and plant populations that have
been compromised and degraded by climate
change. The SAFE Act intends to unify and
maximize the efficiency of activities that have
begun to take form but are still disparate. The
primary method by which the SAFE Act will
achieve this will be through the coordination of
Federal, State, Local, and Tribal governments
and the implementation of the National Strategy.
Though uncertainty and controversies do
remain, and are important to consider in
reviewing local adaptation plans, they do not
undermine the SAFE Act’s intention to safeguard
America’s future and environment through the
efficient protection, conservation, and
management of fish, wildlife and plant species.
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 13
14. Glossary
Adaptation- A change by which an organism or
species becomes better suited to its environment.
Biodiversity - The existence of many kinds of
plants and animals in an environment
Center - National Climate Change and Wildlife
Center - assesses and develops scientific tools,
strategies, and techniques to support the Working
Group, federal and state agencies, and other parties
trying to address the effects of climate change and
extreme weather conditions on fish, wildlife and
plants.
Ecological Processes - The biological, chemical, or
physical interaction between the biotic and abiotic
components of an ecosystem. These include, but
are not limited to: decomposition, disease, gene
flow, hydrological cycling, nutrient cycling,
pollination, predator-prey relationships, and soil
formation.
Ecosystem Services- Benefits gained by humans
such as crop pollination, seed dispersal, water
purification, as well as aesthetic and recreational
value.
Greenhouse Gases - A gas that contributes to the
greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation.
This includes, but is not limited to, carbon dioxide,
latent heat, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Habitat - The physical, chemical, and biological
properties that fish, wildlife, and plants use for
growth, reproduction, survival, food, water, and/or
cover.
Keystone Species- A species that has a large
impact its ecosystem, disproportionate to the
population of that species.
National Strategy - National Fish, Wildlife, Plants
Climate Adaptation Strategy - a plan created by
federal, state, and tribal government
representatives outlining seven goals to help the
fish, wildlife, and plant species withstand the
effects of climate change.
Resiliency- The ability to anticipate, prepare for,
and adapt to changing conditions and withstand,
respond to, and recover rapidly from disruptions.
State - Includes a) the states of the United States,
b) the District of Columbia, c) American Samoa, d)
Guam, e) the Commonwealth of the Northern
Marina Islands, f) the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, and g) the United States Virgin Islands
Tribal - Includes any Native American tribe, band,
nation, or other organized group, or community.
Working Group - The National Fish, Wildlife, and
Plant Adaptation Joint Implementation Working
Group - comprised of the heads of Federal and
State agencies and local and tribal representatives.
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA’S FUTURE AND ENVIRONMENT ACT (SAFE) | Page 14
15. Works Cited
Church, John A., and Neil J. White. “A 20th Century Acceleration in Global Sea-Level Rise.”
Geophysical Research Letters 33 (01.062006): 1–4. Print.
The John Heinz III Centre for Science, Economics and Environment. 2008. Measuring Results of the State
Wildlife Action Plans. Washington, DC, xx pp.Web. 20 July 2016
Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change. "Summary for Policymakers." Working Group III
Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Climate Change 2014 Mitigation of Climate Change (n.d.): 1-30. Web.
Levitus, S., J. Antonov, and T. Boyer. “Global Ocean Heat Content 1955-2006 in Light of
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Melillo, Jerry M., Terese TC Richmond, and G. W. Yohe. “Climate Change Impacts in the
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Memmott, Jane, Paul G. Craze, Nickolas M. Waser, and Mary V. Price. "Global Warming and
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(2007): 710-17. Web.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. “Definition of PHENOLOGY.” N.p., 14 June 2016. Web. 14 June
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National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy. Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, Council on Environmental Quality, Great Lakes Indian Fish and
Wildlife Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Partnership. (2012)
Pacifici, Michela, Wendy B. Foden, Piero Visconti, James E. M. Watson, Stuart H.m. Butchart,
Kit M. Kovacs, Brett R. Scheffers, David G. Hole, Tara G. Martin, H. Resit Akçakaya,
Richard T. Corlett, Brian Huntley, David Bickford, Jamie A. Carr, Ary A. Hoffmann, Guy F. Midgley,
Paul Pearce-Kelly, Richard G. Pearson, Stephen E. Williams, Stephen G. Willis, Bruce Young, and
Carlo Rondinini. "Assessing Species Vulnerability to Climate Change." Nature Climate Change
Nature Climate Change 5.3 (2015): 215-24. Web. Safeguarding America's Future and Environment
Act (SAFE Act), H.R. 2804, 114th Cong. (2015). Print.
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16. "Salmon and Global Warming - National Wildlife Federation." Salmon and Global Warming -
National Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2016.
United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) (2006). Ecosystem-based management: Markers for
assessing progress. UNEP/GPA, The Hague. ISBN 92-807-2707-9. Web. 20 July 2016
“U.S. Climate Extremes Index (CEI): Introduction | Extremes | National Centers for
Environmental Information (NCEI).” N.p., n.d. Web. 14 June 2016.
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