the washington-british columbia transboundary climate … · 2016-06-08 · washington-british...

The Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project:

Climate impacts and adaptation actions for wildlife habitat connectivity in the transboundary region of Washington and British Columbia

Prepared by the Climate Impacts Group University of Washington April 30, 2016

Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project i

Acknowledgements

The work described in this report was completed by science-practice partnerships involvingparticipantsfrom:

• BCMinistryofForests,Lands,andNaturalResourceOperations

• BCParks

• ColvilleConfederatedTribes

• OkanaganNationAlliance

• PacificClimateImpactsConsortium

• TransboundaryConnectivityGroup

• UniversityofWashingtonClimateImpactsGroup

• USForestService

• USNationalParkService

Funding

Fundingforthisworkwasgenerouslyprovidedby:

• CharlotteMartinFoundation

• GreatNorthernLandscapeConservationCooperative

• NorthPacificLandscapeConservationCooperative

• NorthwestClimateScienceCenter

• WilburforceFoundation

Document CitationKrosby,M.,Michalak,J.,Robbins,T.O.,Morgan,H.,Norheim,R.,Mauger,G.,andT.Murdock.2016.TheWashington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project: Identifying climate impactsandadaptationactionsforwildlifehabitatconnectivityinthetransboundaryregionofWashingtonandBritishColumbia.ClimateImpactsGroup,UniversityofWashington.

Document and Data Layers Availability This document and companion files, including reports and data layers, are available online at:https://nplcc.databasin.org/galleries/5a3a424b36ba4b63b10b8170ea0c915

Coverphoto:MethowValleybyCurtSmith,usedunderCCBY-NC-ND2.0

Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project ii

Table of Contents Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... 11. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 22. Project Partners .......................................................................................................... 43. Assessment Approach .............................................................................................. 5

3.1.Identifyingcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion...................................................53.2Identifyingpotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivityforcasestudies............................63.3Identifyingactionsforaddressingpotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivityforcasestudies.............................................................................................................................................8

4. Project Results ........................................................................................................... 94.1Keyfindingsofcasestudyassessments.......................................................................................94.2Projectproducts.......................................................................................................................104.3Outcomesregardingcapacityandcommunityofpracticebuilding............................................11

5. Lessons Learned ...................................................................................................... 115.1Useofcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion.........................................................125.2Takingaconceptualmodelapproach........................................................................................125.3Employingcreativityandflexibilityinaddressingprojectbarriers.............................................13

6. Remaining Needs and Next Steps .......................................................................... 136.1Futureresearchneeds..............................................................................................................136.2Needforongoingcapacitybuilding...........................................................................................136.3Needforcontinuedtransboundaryengagement......................................................................14

7. References ................................................................................................................ 148. Appendices ............................................................................................................... 16

AppendixA:Wolverine..................................................................................................................16AppendixB:MountainGoat...........................................................................................................16AppendixC:White-TailedPtarmigan..............................................................................................16AppendixD:WhitebarkPine..........................................................................................................16AppendixE:CanadaLynx................................................................................................................16AppendixF:AmericanMarten........................................................................................................16AppendixG:BlackBear..................................................................................................................16AppendixH:MuleDeer..................................................................................................................16AppendixI:Lewis’sWoodpecker....................................................................................................16AppendixJ:TigerSalamander........................................................................................................16AppendixK:BullTrout....................................................................................................................16AppendixL:Shrub-Steppe..............................................................................................................16AppendixM:Okanagan-KettleRegion............................................................................................16AppendixN.Summaryofkeyclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsforeachcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion.......................................................................................................17AppendixO.Datasetsusedtoidentifypotentialclimateimpactsoneachcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion.......................................................................................................20

Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project 1

ExecutiveSummaryPlantandanimalspecieshavehistoricallyusedmovementtoadapttochangesintheEarth’sclimate,shiftingtheirrangesacrosslandscapestostaywithinclimaticallysuitablehabitat.Speciesareusingthisstrategytoadapttopresentdayclimatechange,butthecurrentrateofchangeissorapidthatmanyspecieswillhavedifficultykeepingpace.Inaddition,humanlanduse(e.g.,highways,cities,farms)presentssignificantbarrierstowildlifemovementacrosstoday’slandscapes.Forthisreason,enhancinghabitatconnectivity–theabilityofspeciestomoveacrossthelandscape–isaleadingstrategyforhelpingwildliferespondtoclimatechange.Andyet,significantchallengesremainintranslatingthishigh-levelstrategyintospecific,on-the-groundactions.

TheWashington-BritishColumbiaTransboundaryClimate-ConnectivityProjectwasinitiatedtohelpaddressthesechallenges.TheregionspanningtheborderofWashingtonstate,USA,andBritishColumbia,Canada,facesincreasingdevelopmentpressureandlimitedtransboundarycoordinationoflandandwildlifemanagement,bothofwhichmaythreatenhabitatconnectivityandlimitthepotentialforwildlifemovementinresponsetochange.Inaddition,theeffectsofclimatechangemayfurtherreducehabitatconnectivity,andspeciesmayneednoveltypesofhabitatconnectivitytocompleteadaptiverangeshifts.Thisprojectpairedscientistsandpractitionersfrombothsidesofthebordertocollaborativelyidentifypotentialclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsfortransboundaryhabitatconnectivity,usingadiversesuiteofcasestudyspecies,avegetationsystem,andaregion.

Casestudyassessmentsrevealedthatclimatechangeislikelytohavesignificantimplicationsfortransboundaryhabitatconnectivity.Theadaptationactionsidentifiedtoaddresspotentialimpactsvariedbycasestudy,butfellintotwogeneralcategories:thoseaddressingpotentialclimateimpactsonexistinghabitatconnectivityandthoseaddressingnovelhabitatconnectivityneedsforclimate-inducedshiftsinspeciesranges.Inaddition,projectpartnersidentifiedpriorityspatiallocationsforimplementingtheseactions,aswellasadditionalresearchneededtoimproveassessmentofclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsforhabitatconnectivity.

Theprojectresultedinasuiteofproductsdesignedincollaborationwithprojectpartnerstoensuretheirrelevanceandeaseofapplicationtodecision-making.Theseproductsincludethisprojectoverviewreport,whichdescribestheproject’srationale,partnerships,approach,keyfindings,lessonslearned,andremainingneeds;detailed,stand-aloneappendicesforeachcasestudy,whichdescribetheassessmentprocessandkeyfindingsforeach,andincludeallmaterialsusedintheassessment;andaninteractiveprojectgalleryontheonlinemappingplatform,DataBasin,whichincludesprojectreportsandassociatedassessmentmaterials,includinginteractiveanddownloadableconnectivityandclimatedatasets.

Inaddition,projectparticipantsemergedwithenhancedcapacityandatransboundarycommunityofpracticeforaddressingclimatechangeandhabitatconnectivityintheirdecision-making.However,ongoingsupportfortransboundarycapacitybuilding,collaboration,andresearchwillbeneededtopromotethefutureresilienceofoursharedspeciesandecosystems.


1.Introduction AstheEarth’sclimatechanges,speciesarerespondingbyadjustingtheirgeographicdistributions,1movingoutofareasthatbecomeclimaticallyinhospitable,andintoareasthatbecomenewlyhospitable.However,theabilityofspeciestorespondinthiswayislikelytobelimitedbyboththerapidpaceofchangeandwidespreadbarrierstomovementpresentedbyhumanlanduse.Forthisreason,increasingecologicalconnectivity–thedegreetowhichalandscapefacilitatesthemovementofspeciesandecologicalprocesses–isthemostfrequentlyproposedclimateadaptationstrategyforbiodiversityconservation.2Increasingconnectivityisexpectedtoenhanceresiliencetoclimatechangebyhelpingspeciesundergoadaptiverangeshifts,whilealsoreducingexistingstressesassociatedwithhabitatfragmentation.3Despiterecognitionofconnectivityenhancement’svalueasanadaptationstrategy,littleworkhasbeendonetotranslatethisbroadrecommendationintospecific,on-the-groundactionsforconnectivityconservationinachangingclimate.Effectivelymanaginghabitatconnectivitytopromotebiologicalresiliencerequiresknowledgeabouthowclimatechangemayimpactconnectivity,whatadditionalconnectivityneedsspeciesmayhaveastheyundergorangeshifts,andwhatactionscanbetakentoaddresstheseimpactsandneeds.TheWashington-BritishColumbiaTransboundaryClimate-ConnectivityProjectwasinitiatedtopromoteeffectivehabitatconnectivitymanagementunderclimatechangebyaddressingtwoprimarychallenges:thesignificantgapbetweenclimateandconnectivityscienceandpractice;andtheanalytical,political,andphysicalbarrierstoconnectivitypresentedbypoliticalborders.ThetransboundaryregionofWashington,USA,andBritishColumbia,Canada(Fig.1),isanoft-neglectedgeographyamongthepriorityregionsofconservationgroupsandgovernmentagencies,yetmaintainingitspermeabilitytowildlifemovementwillbevitaltomaintainingregionalresiliencetoclimatechange.PreviousworkbytheWashingtonWildlifeHabitatConnectivityWorkingGroup(WHCWG)engagedtransboundarystakeholdersinidentifyinginformationneedsformanaginghabitatconnectivityinachangingclimate.4Theprimaryfindingofthiseffortwasthatnosingleexistingclimateorconnectivitymodeloutputorsynthesisofexistingmodeloutputscouldbestinformconnectivityconservationunderclimatechange,asanymodel’susefulnesswoulddependupontheconnectivitymanagementgoalsandactivitiesoftheuser.Butmorestrikingly,transboundarystakeholders–includinglandandwildlifemanagersfromgovernmentagencies,tribes,andNGOs–madeitclearthattheydidnothavethecapacitytoapplyclimate-relatedmodelstotheirdecision-making.Thissuggestedthatthemosturgentneedwasnotthecreationofnewmodelstoguideconnectivitymanagementinachangingclimate,butratheraconcertedefforttotranslateexistingmodeloutputstomeettheinformationneedsofpractitioners,andtobuildpractitioners’owncapacitytoaccess,interpret,andapplyclimate-relatedmodeloutputstotheirconnectivitymanagementefforts.


Buildingthiscapacitybyassistingpractitionersinidentifyingclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsfortransboundaryhabitatconnectivitywouldpromotemanyregionalandnationalconservationpriorities.Regionally,prioritiesoftheGreatNorthernandNorthPacificLandscapeConservationCooperatives(GNLCCandNPLCC,respectively)includeassessingtheimplicationsofclimatechangeforthemaintenanceoflarge,intact,permeablelandscapes;andfacilitatingcollaborationandadaptationcapacitybuildingtoinformstakeholderdecisions.HabitatconnectivityisapriorityissueoftheGNLCC’sCascadiaPartnerForum,whosemissionistobuild

Figure1.Projectareaandpartnerships:1)AtthescaleoftheWashington-BritishColumbiatransboundaryregion:USForestService(USFS);USNationalParkService(NPS);BCParks;andBCMinistryofForests,Lands,andNaturalResourceOperations(BCFLNRO);2)AtthescaleoftheOkanagan-KettleRegion:theTransboundaryConnectivityWorkingGroup;3)AtthescaleoftheOkanaganNationTerritory:OkanaganNationAlliance(ONA)andColvilleConfederatedTribes(CCT).


theadaptivecapacityofCascadialandscapes.Atabroaderscale,identifyingandprotectingwildlifecorridorsareprimarygoalsoftheWesternGovernors’Association’sWildlifeCorridorInitiative,andconnectivityenhancementisapriorityclimatechangeadaptationstrategyfortheUSNationalParkService,USForestService,andUSFish&WildlifeService.ItissimilarlyrecognizedasaprioritystrategybyprovincialandfederalministriesinBritishColumbiaandCanada,respectively.TheWashington-BritishColumbiaTransboundaryClimate-ConnectivityProjectthusconvenedscience-practicepartnershipsaimedatpromotingcapacityandcommunityofpracticebuildingamongtransboundarylandandwildlifemanagerstaskedwithmaintainingconnected,resilientlandscapesinachangingclimate.Theobjectiveofthesepartnershipswastoproducepartnership-specificplansformanaginghabitatconnectivityunderclimatechange,by:

1) Identifyingpartner-specificgoalsandobjectivesforhabitatconnectivitymanagement2) Determininghowclimatechangeislikelytoimpactthesegoalsandobjectives,and3) Developingstrategiesandtacticsforaddressingtheseimpacts.

2. Project Partners Weconvenedthreescience-practicepartnershipsreflectingarangeofmanagementgoals,activities,andscalesrelatedtohabitatconnectivity.TheprojectareaspannedthetransboundaryregionofWashingtonState,USA,andBritishColumbia,Canada,withpartnershipsestablishedatthreespatialscales(Fig.1):

• TheWashington-BritishColumbiaTransboundaryRegion.PartnersincludedtheUSForestService;USNationalParkService;BCParks;andBCMinistryofForests,Lands,andNaturalResourceOperations

• TheOkanagan-KettleRegion:PartnersincludedtheTransboundaryConnectivityGroup(i.e.,WHCWGanditsBCpartners).

• OkanaganNationTerritory:PartnersincludedtheOkanaganNationAllianceanditsmemberbandsandtribes,includingtheColvilleConfederatedTribes.

Forallpartnerships,sciencepartnersincludedtheClimateImpactsGroupattheUniversityofWashingtonandthePacificClimateImpactsConsortiumattheUniversityofVictoria.Together,thescience-practicepartnershipsengagedinacollaborative,iterativeassessmentofclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsfortransboundaryhabitatconnectivity.Thisco-productiveassessmentprocesswasdesignedtopromotecapacityandcommunityofpracticebuildingamongpractitionerpartnerswhileensuringthatprojectproductsweredirectlyrelevantandimmediatelyapplicabletopractitioners’decision-making.


3. Assessment ApproachTheassessmentapproachoutlinedinouroriginalprojectdesignconsistedofidentifyingpartner-specificgoalsandobjectivesforhabitatconnectivitymanagement,determininghowclimatechangeislikelytoimpactthesegoalsandobjectives,anddevelopingadaptationactionsforaddressingtheseimpacts.However,asdescribedbelow,projectpartnersultimatelymodifiedthisplaninresponsetotheopportunitiesandconstraintspresentedbyalarge,transboundary,inter-institutionalproject.Thefinalassessmentapproachentailed:1)focusingtheassessmentonasuiteofcasestudies,includingnumerousspecies,avegetationsystem,andaregion;2)identifyingpotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivityforeachcasestudy;and3)developingpartner-specificactionsforaddressingtheseimpacts.3.1.Identifyingcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion

Projectpartnersengagedinaseriesofinitialworkshopsandphonecallstointroducepractitionerpartnerstotheproject,developandbuildbuy-inaroundtheassessmentapproach,andgainasharedunderstandingofpractitionerpartners’goalsandobjectivesforconnectivitymanagement.Whiletheoriginalprojectdesigncalledforasingleinitialworkshop,difficultyarranginginternationaltravelforpractitionerpartners(particularlyUSfederalemployees)madeitimpossibletoconveneallpartnerssimultaneouslyatthestartoftheproject.Wethereforeheldaseriesofsmallerworkshopsandphonecallsarrangedatpractitionerpartners’convenience,toencourageparticipationbythoseunabletotravelacrosstheborder.Theinformationgatheredattheseinitialworkshopsandphonecallsprovidedsciencepartnerswithanunderstandingoftheconnectivity-andclimate-relatedmanagementgoals,activities,andcapacitiesofpractitionerpartners.Italsorevealedastrongneedtofocustheworkofthepartnershipsaroundalimitednumberofspecificconnectivityconservationtargets.Addressingtheextensiveanddiverseconnectivityandclimate-relatedinformationneedsofeachindividualpartnerwaswellbeyondtheproject’scapacity,andwouldnothavecontributedtotheproject’sgoalofpromotingatransboundarycommunityofpracticeviapartnercollaboration.Projectpartnersthuscollectivelyagreedtofocustheirassessmentonasuiteoftransboundarycasestudiesspanningarangeoforganizationalscales,includingnumerousindividualspecies,avegetationsystem,andaregion(Table1).Thecasestudyspecies,system,andregionwerenotintendedtoactasconnectivityconservationumbrellasforthetransboundaryregion’sbroaderbiota,astheindividualisticnatureofspecies’responsestoclimatechangeprecludestraditionalumbrellaapproachestoconservationplanning.Rather,theywereselectedbasedontheirsharedprioritystatusamongprojectpartners,representationofdiversehabitattypesandclimatesensitivities,anddataavailability.Theseselectioncriteriawerechosentopromotetransboundaryandinter-institutionalcollaborationaroundsharedconservationpriorities,whilegivingpartnerstheopportunitytoexplorearangeofclimateandmovementsensitivities,relevantdatasets,andadaptationactions.


Table 1. Case study species, vegetation system, and region selected for assessment by project partners. Species CommonName ScientificNameWolverine GuloguloMountaingoat OreamnosamericanusWhite-tailedptarmigan LagopusleucuraWhitebarkpine PinusalbicaulisCanadalynx LynxcanadensisAmericanmarten MartescaurinaBlackbear UrsusamericanusMuledeer OdocoileushemionusLewis'swoodpecker MelanerpeslewisTigersalamander AmbystomatigrinumBulltrout SalvelinusconfluentusVegetationSystem Shrub-Steppe Region Okanagan-KettleRegion

3.2Identifyingpotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivityforcasestudies

Toidentifypotentialclimateimpactsontransboundaryhabitatconnectivity,projectpartnerscreatedconceptualmodelsthatidentifiedthekeylandscapefeaturesandprocessesexpectedtoinfluencehabitatconnectivityforeachcasestudyspeciesandsystem,whichofthoseareexpectedtobeinfluencedbyclimate,andhow.Simplifyingcomplexecologicalsystemsinsuchawaycanmakeiteasiertoidentifyspecificclimateimpactsandadaptationactions.Forthisreason,conceptualmodelshavebeenpromotedasusefuladaptationtools,andhavebeenappliedinavarietyofothersystems.5Conceptualmodelspreparedbyprojectpartners(Fig.2)werebasedonparticipantexpertise;peer-reviewedarticlesandreports;and,whenpossible,reviewbyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregionalexperts.Thatsaid,thesemodelswereintentionallysimplifiedandnotintendedtorepresentcomprehensiveassessmentsofthefullsuiteoflandscapefeaturesandprocessescontributingtohabitatconnectivity.Projectparticipantsusedconceptualmodelstogetherwithmodelsofprojectedfuturechangesinspeciesdistributions,vegetationcommunities,andrelevantclimatevariablestoidentifypotentialimpactsonhabitatconnectivityforeachcasestudy.Partnersdidthisbyevaluatingprojectedfuturechangesforeachclimatevariableincludedinthemodel,andhowthesechangeswerelikelytoaffectthelandscapefeaturesandprocessesimportanttohabitatconnectivity.Becauseakeyprojectgoalwastoincreasepractitionerpartners’capacitytoaccess,interpret,andapplyexistingclimateandconnectivitymodeloutputstotheirdecision-making,wereliedonafewprimarydatasetsthatarefreelyavailable,spanallorpartofthetransboundaryregion,andreflecttheexpertiseofprojectsciencepartners.ThesesourcesincludedhabitatconnectivitymodelsproducedbytheWashingtonConnectedLandscapesProject,6,7,8futureclimateprojectionsproducedbytheIntegratedScenariosoftheFuture


Northwest9andthePacificClimateImpactsConsortium’sRegionalAnalysisTool,10andmodelsofprojectedrangeshiftsandvegetationchangeproducedbythePacificNorthwestClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment.11

WolverineConnectivity

Dispersal Habitat:

Generalist (mid to low elevation

habitats)

Core Habitat:Alpine,

Subalpine ForestsSnags / Coarse

Woody Debris

* Snowpack (deep, persistent to late spring)Length of Snow Season, Snow

Depth, April and May Snow Levels

Tree Cover

ClimateTemperature

and Precipitation

Pests and Pathogens

Fire

Residential and Industrial Development

Summer Water Deficit

KeyPositively correlated

Negatively correlated

Effect

Human Activity

Landscape Feature

Natural Process

Towns/Dwellings

Agricultural Fields

Forest management

Agricultural Management

Timber Cuts

* Critical Feature/Process

Steep Terrain

Talus

Current human useCurrent human use

Small damsEnergy Development

Back-country Recreation

* RoadsRoad Management

MinesMine management

Figure2.Exampleconceptualmodelofhabitatconnectivity:Wolverine.Conceptualmodelsillustratetherelationshipsbetweenthekeylandscapefeatures(whiteboxes),ecologicalprocesses(purpleboxes),andhumanactivities(blueboxes)thatinfluencethequalityandpermeabilityofcorehabitatanddispersalhabitatforagivenspecies.Climaticvariablesforwhichdataonprojectedchangesareavailableareoutlinedinyellow.Greenlinesandarrowsindicateapositivecorrelationbetweenlinkedvariables(i.e.,asvariablexincreasesvariableyincreases),butnotethatapositivecorrelationisnotnecessarilybeneficialtothespecies.Orangelinesandarrowsindicateanegativerelationshipbetweenvariables(i.e.,asvariablexincreases,variableydecreases);negativecorrelationsarenotnecessarilyharmfultothespecies.


3.3Identifyingactionsforaddressingpotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivityforcasestudies

Afteridentifyingpotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivity,projectparticipantsusedconceptualmodelstoidentifywhichrelevantlandscapefeaturesorprocessescouldbeaffectedbymanagementactivities,andsubsequentlywhatactionscouldbetakentoaddressprojectedclimateimpactsforeachspecies(Fig.3).Partnersdidthisbyconsideringthemanagementactivitiesidentifiedintheconceptualmodels,andhowspecificactivitiescouldaddresspotentialclimateimpactsonlandscapefeaturesorprocessesimportanttohabitatconnectivity.Adaptationactionsidentifiedbythisapproachaddressedseveraldistinctcategoriesofimpactsandresponses,includingpotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivity,novelhabitatconnectivityneedsforpromotingclimate-inducedshiftsinspeciesdistributions,andspatialprioritiesforimplementation.Itshouldbenotedthatonepartnershipdidnotuseaconceptualmodelapproach,becausetheirconnectivitygoalsandobjectiveswerespecificandsimpleenoughthatitwasnotrequired.TheTransboundaryConnectivityGroup’sgoalwastoidentifypotentialclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsforheavilyfragmentedvalleyfloorswithintheOkanagan-Kettleregion(Fig.1),withanemphasisonconnectivitypriorityareasidentifiedinarecentassessment.12Participantsinthispartnershipreviewedprojectedchangesinvegetationandrelevantclimaticvariablestoidentifypotentialimpactsonthesevalleyfloorsandpriorityconnectivityareas,andthendevelopedactionsforaddressingtheseimpactsandfacilitatingspeciesrangeshifts.

Figure3.Science-practicepartnersataprojectworkshop.Here,partnersuseconceptualmodelsofhabitatconnectivitytogetherwithmodelsofprojectedchangesinclimatetoidentifypotentialimpactsonhabitatconnectivity,andactionsforaddressingtheseimpacts.


4. Project Results 4.1Keyfindingsofcasestudyassessments

Projectpartnersidentifiedawiderangeofpotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivityinthetransboundaryregion,andasimilarlydiversesetofadaptationresponses.DetaileddescriptionsofimpactsandactionsforeachcasestudycanbefoundinAppendicesA-M,asummarylistofkeyclimateimpactsandadaptationactionscanbefoundinAppendixN,andalistofthedatasetsusedtoidentifypotentialclimateimpactsforeachcasestudycanbefoundinAppendixO(seeSection8,below).TheclimateimpactsidentifiedinthecasestudieswereinmanywayssimilarwhatwouldbefoundinageneralclimatechangevulnerabilityassessmentforNorthwestspeciesandecosystems(e.g.,decliningsnowpack,increasingriskofwildlife,warmingstreamtemperatures).Whatdistinguishedthisassessmentwasitsfocusonhowtheseimpactswouldaffecthabitatconnectivity:wouldprojectedchangesinclimaticvariablesmakeexistingcorehabitatareasanddispersalcorridorsmoreorlesspermeabletowildlifemovement?Wouldprojectedchangesinareasofclimaticsuitabilityresultincorehabitatareasbecomingmoreorlessfragmentedorisolated?Wouldaspeciesneedtosignificantlymodifyitsrangetoreachprojectedfutureareasofclimaticsuitability?Similarly,manyresponseactionsresembledwhatwouldbefoundinaregionaladaptationplanforspeciesandecosystems(e.g.,employprescribedburningtoreduceriskofseverewildfires),butwerefocusedspecificallyonreducingriskstohabitatconnectivity(e.g.,implementprescribedburnstomaintainthequalityandpermeabilityofcorehabitatareasanddispersalcorridors)andprovidingtheadditionaltypesofhabitatconnectivitythatmayberequiredtoaccommodatespeciesrangeshifts(e.g.,identifyandprotectcorridorsthatfallalongclimaticgradients,orthatconnectcorehabitatareasofdecliningclimaticsuitabilitytoareasofprojectedstableorincreasingsuitability).Formostcasestudyassessments,climatechangewasfoundtohavesignificantimplicationsforhabitatconnectivity.Anticipateddeclinesinhabitatconnectivitywereduetobothpotentialclimateimpactsonexistingcorehabitatareasandcorridors(e.g.,decliningblackbearhabitatconnectivityduetoprojectedincreasesinwildfireriskanddryingofmoistcorridorsspanninglowelevationvalleys)and/orchangesinareasofclimaticsuitability(e.g.,decliningwolverinehabitatconnectivityduetoshrinkingcorehabitatareaswhichbecomeincreasinglyfragmentedandisolated).Forsomecasestudytargets,projectedchangesinareasofclimaticsuitabilitysuggestednolossorevenincreasesinclimaticallysuitablehabitatwithinthetransboundaryregion(e.g.,tigersalamanderandmuledeer).However,forsuchspeciespotentialclimateimpactsonfine-scaledhabitatfeaturescouldhavenegativeimpactsonhabitatconnectivitywithinareasoffutureclimaticsuitability(e.g.,impactsonindividualtigersalamanderbreedingpondsduetorisingtemperaturesandchangesinhydrology;lossofwaterresourcesformuledeerinwarm,dry,lowelevationcorridors).Theadaptationactionsidentifiedtoaddresspotentialimpactsvariedbycasestudy,butfellintotwogeneralcategories:thoseaddressingpotentialclimateimpactsonexistinghabitat


connectivityandthoseaddressingnovelhabitatconnectivityneedsforclimate-inducedshiftsinspeciesranges.Actionstoaddresspotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivityincludedarangeofadaptationresponsestomaintainthequalityandpermeabilityofcorehabitatareasanddispersalcorridors,fromprescribedburningtoinvasivespeciescontroltoriparianrestoration.Actionsaimedatpromotingclimate-inducedrangeshiftsincluded:maintainingandrestoringcorridorsbetweenareasofdecliningclimaticsuitabilityandareasofstabilityorincreasingsuitability;maintainingandrestoringcorridorsthatspanelevationgradients(e.g.,climategradientcorridors7),toensurethatspecieshavetheabilitytodisperseintocoolerhabitatsastheclimatewarms;andmaintainingandrestoringriparianareas,whichspanclimaticgradientsandareusedasmovementcorridorsbymanyspecies.Projectpartnersalsoidentifiedpriorityspatiallocationsforimplementingtheseactions.Spatialpriorityareasforimplementationofadaptationactionsincludedlowelevationvalleys(e.g.,theOkanaganValleyandFraserRiverValley),whichcurrentlypresentmajorbarrierstowildlifemovementandcouldconstrainclimate-inducedrangeshifts,particularlyforhigh-elevationspecies;majorhighways,particularlythosethatrunalonglowelevationvalleys(e.g.,BCHighway97throughtheOkanaganValley)andtraversetheCascades(e.g.,BCHighway3throughE.C.ManningProvincialPark);areasofcurrentandprojectedfutureclimaticsuitabilityforcasestudyspecies;andcorridorsthatfallalongclimaticgradients(e.g.,climategradientcorridors7).Policy-relatedactionswerealsoidentifiedthatspannedeachoftheabovecategories;manyofthesefocusedontheneedtoconsiderhabitatconnectivityandclimatechangeacrossarangeofmanagementcontexts(particularlylandandwatermanagementandtransportationplanning),andtocoordinateacrossinstitutionsandjurisdictions(includinggovernments,tribesandFirstNations,NGOs,andparticularlyprivatelandowners).Finally,thecasestudyassessmentsidentifiedadditionalresearchthatcouldhelptoimproveidentificationandresponsetopotentialclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivity.Severalprimaryresearchneedswereevidentacrosscasestudies,includingresearchaimedatimprovingunderstandingofspecies’movementandhabitatconnectivity(e.g.,additionalempiricalstudiesofspeciesmovementanddispersal,andadditionalhabitatconnectivitymodelsforspeciesthatlackthem);transboundarymodelsofprojectedchangesinrelevantclimaticvariablesandimpacts(e.g.,riskofwildfireandinsectoutbreaks);andmodelsthatcouldimprovethespatialspecificityofpriorityareasforimplementationofadaptationactionsandconnectivityconservationefforts(e.g.,modelsthatidentifycorridorsbetweenprojectedareasofdecliningclimaticsuitabilityandareasofstableorincreasingsuitability).4.2Projectproducts

Projectproductsweredesignedincollaborationwithpractitionerpartnerstoensuretheirrelevanceandeaseofapplicationtodecision-making.Theseproductsinclude:

• Thisoverviewreport,whichdescribestheproject’srationale,partnerships,approach,andkeyfindings.


• Additionalreportsdescribingkeyfindingsforeachcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion.Thesereportsareprovidedasappendicestothisoverviewreport,andareintendedtoactasstand-aloneresources;theyincludesummarydescriptionsoftheprojectandassessmentprocess,keyfindings,andallmaterialsusedtoidentifypotentialclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsforeachcasestudy(e.g.,conceptualmodels,habitatconnectivitymodels,andmodelsofprojectedfuturechangesinspeciesdistributions,vegetationcommunities,andclimatevariables).Formoreinformationonthesereports,seeSection8:Appendices.

• AninteractiveprojectgalleryontheonlinemappingplatformDataBasin.Thisprojectgalleryincludesallprojectreportsandassociatedassessmentmaterials,includinginteractiveanddownloadableconnectivityandclimatedatasets.Thisgallerycanbefoundat:

https://nplcc.databasin.org/galleries/5a3a424b36ba4b63b10b8170ea0c915e4.3Outcomesregardingcapacityandcommunityofpracticebuilding

Oneofthemostimportantoutcomesofthisprojectwastheenhancedcapacityandcommunityofpracticeitfosteredinbothitspractitionerandsciencepartners.Practitionerpartnersgainedsignificanthands-onexperienceaccessing,interpreting,andapplyingclimateandconnectivitymodelstotheirdecision-making(Figs.3-4).Inaddition,theprojectofferedpractitionersatransferableprocessforhowtoevaluateandaddressclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivity.Finally,practitionerpartnersuniversallyexpressedtheirappreciationfortheopportunitytocollaboratewiththeircounterpartsacrosstheborder.Forsciencepartners,theprojectofferedvaluablelessonsinhowtonavigatethemanybarriersposedbypoliticalborders,fromtheanalytical(e.g.,howtoapplydisparatedatasetsthatoftendidnotcrosstheborder)tothelogistical(e.g.,howtoeffectivelyengageinknowledgeco-productionwithadiverse,transboundarygroupofpractitioners).Italsopromotedtheirowncommunityofpractice;theClimateImpactsGroupandPacificClimateImpactsConsortiumhadhadrelativelylittleinteractionbeforethisproject,despitedoingverysimilarwork.Ultimately,theproject’sintangibleproducts–fromcapacitybuildingtotheemergenceofatransboundarycommunityofpracticearoundconnectivitymanagementinachangingclimate–wereatleastasvaluableasitsmoreconcretedeliverables.

5. Lessons Learned Workingacrossborderswithdiversepartnerstoincorporateclimatechangeintothemanagementofhabitatconnectivityyieldedseveralvaluablelessons.Inparticular,thesuccessoftheprojecthadmuchtodowithprojectpartners’adoptionofacasestudyandconceptualmodelapproach,andtheabilitytorespondcreativelyandflexiblyastransboundaryandinstitutionalbarrierswereencountered.


5.1Useofcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion

Employingacasestudyapproachwasnotintheoriginalprojectdesign,yetdoingsoprovedcriticaltotheproject’ssuccessforseveralreasons.First,focusingassessmentsonsharedconservationprioritieswaskeytomeetingtheprojectgoalofpromotingcollaborationandcreatingacommunityofpracticeamongdisparatetransboundary,inter-institutionalpartners.Acasestudyapproachwasalsomorelogisticallyandanalyticallyefficientthanfocusingoneachindividualpartner’sinformationneeds,makingthemostoftheproject’slimitedcapacity.Focusingonspecificcasestudiesalsohelpedfacilitatethetranslationofahigh-leveladaptationstrategy(habitatconnectivityenhancement)intospecific,concreteactions.Finally,ourassessmentofcasestudiesacrossarangeoforganizationalscales–fromindividualspecies,toavegetationsystem,toageographicregion–demonstratedtheapplicabilityofthisapproachtodiversemanagementtargets.5.2Takingaconceptualmodelapproach

Muchliketheuseofcasestudies,theuseofconceptualmodelswasnotinouroriginalprojectdesign,butprovedkeytotheproject’ssuccess.Inparticular,conceptualmodelswerevitaltoovercomingthechallengeoftranslatingahigh-leveladaptationstrategyintospecific,on-the-groundactions.Bysimplifyingtheabstractconceptofhabitatconnectivityintoitskeyphysicalcomponentsforeachcasestudy,bothscienceandpractitionerpartnerswerebetterabletoconsiderwhichlandscapefeaturesandprocessescontributingtohabitatconnectivitywerelikelytobeinfluencedbyclimate,howspecificclimatedatasetscouldbeusedtoidentifypotentialclimateimpacts,andhowhabitatconnectivitymodeloutputsandotherdatasetscouldhelppractitionersidentifywhereandhowtheycouldintervenetoaddressthoseimpacts.Inshort,theconceptualmodelapproachmadeaninitiallyvaguetask(i.e.,adapthabitatconnectivitymanagementtoclimatechange)concreteandtractable,andyieldedspecific,usefulresults.

Figure4.Science-practicepartnersataprojectworkshop.Here,partnersareengagedinahands-ontrainingintheuseoftheonlinemappingplatform,DataBasin,toaccessandinteractwithprojectproductsandexploreapplicationstodecision-making.


5.3Employingcreativityandflexibilityinaddressingprojectbarriers

Wefoundthatcreativityandflexibilitywerekeytoovercomingthesignificantbarrierspresentedbyalarge,transboundaryprojectwithdiversepartners.Forexample,traveltoworkshopsturnedouttobeasignificantbarriertopractitionerpartnerinvolvement,particularlyforUSfederalemployeesneedingtocrosstheborderintoCanada.Werespondedbysupplementingtheinitialworkshopwithnumerousphonecallsandmeetingsheldatpractitioners’offices,andbyultimatelyconveninganadditionalworkshopatPeaceArchParkattheInterstate5bordercrossingbetweenWashingtonandBritishColumbia;entrancetointernationalpeaceparksdoesnotrequireapassport,circumventinginstitutionalrestrictionsaroundinternationaltravel.Creativityandflexibilitywerealsovitaltoaccommodatingthevaryinglevelsofengagementpossibleamongpractitionerpartners.Whilesomepractitionerpartnerswereabletoparticipatesteadilythroughouttheproject,manyindividualsflowedinandoutoverthecourseoftheproject,orwereonlyabletoparticipatetolesserdegrees(e.g.,attendingwebinarsbutnotworkshops).Providingfrequentanddiverseopportunitiesforengagementandencouragingindividualstoparticipatewhenavailablecontributedtoahigherlevelofpractitionerparticipationthanifwehadadheredtotheoriginalprojectdesign.Thatsaid,thisapproachrequiredsignificantlymoretimeandresources–particularlyforsciencepartners–thantheoriginalprojectdesignoftwoworkshopsandtwowebinars.

6. Remaining Needs and Next Steps 6.1Futureresearchneeds

Casestudyassessmentsrevealedseveralareaswherefutureresearchcouldhelpimprovepractitioners’abilitytoidentifyandaddressclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivity.Mostimportantly,assessmentsrevealedasignificantneedforthedevelopmentoftransboundarymodelsofbothhabitatconnectivity(whichwereunavailableformanyspecies)andprojectedchangesinclimatevariables(e.g.,snowpack,riskofwildfireandinsectoutbreaks).Assessmentsalsoindicatedaneedforadditionalempiricalresearchonwildlifemovementandrangeshifts,bothtovalidateexistinghabitatconnectivityandrangeshiftmodelsandtoinformthedevelopmentofnewmodels.Finally,assessmentsshowedthatadditionalresearchisneededtoimprovethespatialspecificityofclimateimpactsonhabitatconnectivityandpriorityareasforadaptationactions,fromsimpleGISoverlaysofclimateimpactsandexistingconnectivitymodels,tosophisticatedmodelingidentifyingpotentialcorridorsbetweencurrentandfutureareasofclimaticsuitability.6.2Needforongoingcapacitybuilding

Feedbackfromprojectpartnerssuggeststhatthereissignificantneedforandinterestinongoingeffortstobuildpractitioners’capacitytoaccess,interpret,andapplyclimateandconnectivitydatasetstotheirdecision-making.Hands-on,experientiallearninginvolvingbothscientistsandpractitionersisparticularlyeffectiveatbuildingsuchcapacity;however,sucheffortsaretime-andresource-intensiveforparticipants.Futureinnovationandinvestmentin


scaling-upsuchcapacitybuilding(e.g.,ongoingworkshops,webinars,andtrainingsorlarge-scaleco-productionefforts)aregreatlyneeded.6.3Needforcontinuedtransboundaryengagement

Effectivelymanaginghabitatconnectivityinachangingclimatewillrequireongoingtransboundaryengagementofscientistsandpractitionerstoensurethatlandandwildlifemanagementiscoordinatedacrosstheborderandinformedbythebestavailablescience.Whilenumerousmechanismsareinplacetoensurecoordinatedmanagementoftransboundaryaquaticspeciesandresources,fewframeworksexistforpromotingsuchengagementaroundterrestrialspeciesandecosystems.Thereisalsoneedforadditionalfundingstreamsspecificallydirectedtowardcollaborativeresearchamongtransboundaryscientists,inordertomeettheneedforclimateandconnectivitymodelsthatseamlesslyspantheborder,andtopromotescientificengagementintransboundaryadaptationprocesses.Fundingandinstitutionsthatsupporttransboundaryengagementamongscientistsandpractitionerswillbekeytomaintainingaconnected,resilienttransboundaryregionastheclimatechanges.

7. References1.Chen,I.C.,Hill,J.K.,Ohlemuller,R.,Roy,D.B.,andC.D.Thomas.2011.Rapidrangeshiftsofspeciesassociatedwithhighlevelsofclimatewarming.Science333:1024-1026

2.Heller,N.E.,andE.S.Zavaleta.2009.Biodiversitymanagementinthefaceofclimatechange:Areviewof22yearsofrecommendations.BiologicalConservation142:14-32.

3.Krosby,M.,Tewksbury,J.,Haddad,N.,andJ.Hoekstra.2010.Ecologicalconnectivityforachangingclimate.ConservationBiology24:1686-1689.

4.WHCWG(WashingtonWildlifeHabitatConnectivityWorkingGroup).2013.WashingtonConnectedLandscapesProject:BritishColumbia–WashingtonTransboundaryHabitatConnectivityScopingReport.WashingtonDepartmentsofFishandWildlife,andTransportation,Olympia,WA.

5.Cross,M.S.,etal.2012.TheAdaptationforConservationTargets(ACT)framework:atoolforincorporatingclimatechangeintonaturalresourcemanagement.EnvironmentalManagement50:341–351.

6.WashingtonWildlifeHabitatConnectivityWorkingGroup.2010.WashingtonConnectedLandscapesProject:StatewideAnalysis.WashingtonDepartmentsofFishandWildlife,andTransportation,Olympia,WA.www.waconnected.org.

7.WashingtonWildlifeHabitatConnectivityWorkingGroup.2011.WashingtonConnectedLandscapesProject:Climategradientcorridorsreport.WashingtonDepartmentsofFishandWildlife,andTransportation.Olympia,WA.www.waconnected.org.

8.WashingtonWildlifeHabitatConnectivityWorkingGroup.2012.WashingtonConnectedLandscapesProject:AnalysisoftheColumbiaPlateauEcoregion.Washington’sDepartmentofFishandWildlife,andDepartmentofTransportation,Olympia,WA.


9.IntegratedScenariosoftheFutureNorthwestEnvironment.http://climate.nkn.uidaho.edu/IntegratedScenarios

10.PacificClimateImpactsConsortium(PCIC),RegionalAnalysisTool.2014.https://www.pacificclimate.org/analysis-tools/regional-analysis-tool

11.PacificNorthwestClimateChangeVulnerabilityAssessment(PNWCCVA).http://www.climatevulnerability.org/

12.TransboundaryConnectivityGroup.2016.ProvidingaRegionalConnectivityPerspectivetoLocalConnectivityConservationDecisionsintheBritishColumbia–WashingtonTransboundaryRegion:Okanagan-KettleSubregionConnectivityAssessment.Availableat:http://waconnected.org.


8. Appendices Appendicestothisreportdescribethekeyclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsidentifiedforeachcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregionassessedbyprojectpartners.Afirstsetofappendicesdescribesindividualcasestudyassessments,includingtheapproachtaken,keyfindings,andallmaterialsanddatasetsusedintheassessment.Theseappendicesinclude:

AppendixA:WolverineAppendixB:MountainGoatAppendixC:White-TailedPtarmiganAppendixD:WhitebarkPineAppendixE:CanadaLynxAppendixF:AmericanMartenAppendixG:BlackBearAppendixH:MuleDeerAppendixI:Lewis’sWoodpeckerAppendixJ:TigerSalamanderAppendixK:BullTroutAppendixL:Shrub-SteppeAppendixM:Okanagan-KettleRegion

Theseappendiceshavebeenpreparedasstand-alonedocuments;theyandtheirassociateddatasetsandmetadatacanbeaccessedontheonlinemappingplatform,DataBasin,freelyavailableat:https://nplcc.databasin.org/galleries/5a3a424b36ba4b63b10b8170ea0c915eTwoadditionalappendicessummarizefindingsacrosscasestudies,andareavailablewithinthisoverviewreport.Theseappendicesinclude:

AppendixN.Summaryofkeyclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsforeachcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion.AppendixO.Datasetsusedtoidentifypotentialclimateimpactsoneachcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion.


AppendixN.Summaryofkeyclimateimpactsandadaptationactionsforeachcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion.

Climateimpact(s)addressed ADAPTATIONACTION

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Restoringand/orprotectingriparianvegetationtoshadeponds,whichwouldreducewatertemperaturesandevaporationrates. x xExcludingcattlefrompondsandsurroundingvegetation(e.g.,byinstallingfencing),andusingtechniques(e.g.,fabricandgravelinstallation)topreventcattlefromleavingpockmarks,whichreducepondquality. x x

Protectingand/orreintroducingbeaversintowatersheds,whichmayimprovewetlandqualityandconnectivity. x x xWideningpondstoincreaseaccessforsalamandersand/ordeepeningpondstoincreasepondpersistenceintosummer. x xAddingwaterandremovingpredatoryfishfromkeyponds(highlyresourceintensive;anemergencymeasure). x xIffrostsealdoesnotoccuroftenenoughtomaintainspringwetlands,consideringartificiallyirrigatingkeywetlands. x xEstablishingretentionpondsinurbanareas,andtreatingthemasmanagedwetlands. x xDivertingrainwaterintoexistingponds(whileaddressingpotentialforchemicalrun-offandturbidityissues). x xManagingaccessincorehabitatareasandcorridors(especiallythoseprojectedtomaintainclimaticsuitability)toreduceimpactsfromrecreation,grazing,andotheruses. x x x x x xMonitoringchangesinthetimingandintensityofrecreationandotheractivities,particularlywithincorehabitatareasandmovementcorridors. x x x


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Maintainingandrestoringcorridorsbetweenareasofdecliningclimaticsuitabilityandareasofstabilityorincreasingsuitability. x x x x x x x xEvaluatingtherisksandbenefitsofmanuallytransportingspeciestoareasofprojectedstableorincreasingclimaticsuitability. x x xMaintainingandrestoringcorridorsthatspanelevationgradients(e.g.,climategradientcorridors),toensurethatspecieshavetheabilitytodisperseintocoolerhabitatsastheclimatewarms. x x x x x x x x x x x xMaintainingandrestoringriparianareas,whichspanclimaticgradientsandareusedasmovementcorridorsbymanyspecies. x x x x x xPlanningtheplacement,orientation,andshapeofreservepatchestomaximizeconnectivity,spanclimaticgradients,andcrosslow-elevationvalleys. x x x

Geographicshiftsinspeciesranges

Decliningwateravailabilityandqualityforponds/wetlands

Changesinthetiming,location,andintensityofhumanactivities

CaseStudyII.EnhancingConnectivitytoFacilitateRangeShifts


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Usingprescribedburns,thinning,andtargetedfuelreductiontoreducetheriskofcatastrophicwildfires. x x x x x x x x x xIncorporatingprojectionsandobservationsofclimaticchanges(e.g.,earlieronsetoffireseason)toinformthetimingoffirepreventiontechniquesasconditionschange,inordertomaximizesafetyandeffectiveness x x x x x x x

Usingsomedegreeoffiresuppressionincool,moistforestswithlongfirereturnintervals. x xReferencingtheforestandgrazingpracticesoftribesandFirstNationstoidentifytraditionalstrategiesformanagingfirerisk. x x x x xIncreasingsnowdepthlocally(e.g.,viasnowfences),recognizingthatlocal-scalesnowmanagementisunlikelytohaveasignificantimpactonhabitatconnectivity.Therefore,prioritizesucheffortswithinimportantcorehabitatareasandcorridors. x x xEnsuringthatsnowpackretentionpracticesarecompatiblewithotherforestmanagementpracticesthatbalancetheneedforfireandnaturalresourcemanagementwiththeneedforsufficienthorizontalcover. x xIdentifyingandprioritizingareaswheredeepspringsnowpackismostlikelytopersistinthefuture(e.g.,north-facingslopsandcanyons). x x xMonitoringandrespondingtochangesinvegetation(e.g.,shiftsintreeline,transitionofshrub-steppetoothervegetationtypes,lossofforestedcorridorsinlowelevationvalleys)thatmayaffecthabitatconnectivity.ConsideruseofLIDARremotesensingandothertechnologiesyieldinghighresolutiondata.

x x x x x x x x x

Minimizingforest(ornon-targettree)encroachmentinkeycorehabitatareasandcorridorsbymechanicallyremovinginvadingtreesorusingprescribedburnstoreducetreerecruitment. x x x

Developingplantingplansthatevaluateandpotentiallyincludegenotypesadaptedtoprojectedfutureclimaticconditions x xIncorporateinvasivespeciesmanagementintoallactivitiesrelatedtohabitatconnectivityconservation. x xInareasheavilyinvadedbycheatgrass,consideringprescribedburningincombinationwithherbicideandnativeplantreseeding. x xIdentifyingandprotectingstandsthatarelargeenoughtoattractseeddispersersandserveasaseedsource xIdentifyingandprotectingstandsthatcouldserveaslinksorsteppingstonesforseeddispersersmovingamonglargerstands xRestoringriparianvegetation,whichwillhelpshadestreamsandreducestreamtemperatures. x xExcludingcattlefromriparianareastopreventlossofvegetativecover. x xInvestigatethefeasibilityandbenefitofmanuallytransportingfisharoundthermalbarriersinstreams. xManagingforeststomaximizegroundwaterinfiltration. xUsingdamreleaseeventstomaintainwaterlevelsandstreamtemperaturesadequateforfishpassage. xIdentifyingandmitigatingbarrierssuchasdamsorpoorlydesignedroadcrossingsorculvertstopromotefishpassage. x

Changesinvegetation

Changesininvasivespecies

Changesinseeddispersal

CaseStudy

Increasingriskofwildfire

Increasingstreamtemperatures

Decreasingsummerstreamflows

I.AddressingClimateImpactsonHabitatConnectivity

Decreasingsnowpackdepthandduration

x


TOPICADDRESSED ADAPTATIONACTION

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Limitingthedevelopmentofforestryactivitiesathighelevations(particularlythoselikelytoremainclimaticallysuitable). xManagingforestryactivitiestoensurethatforestcanopycoverremainscontinuousthroughoutcorridorsformontaneforestspecies,andthatlargetrees,oldsnags,andtreecavitiesremainpresent. x x

Reviewingandimplementingexistingguidanceandplansrelatingtospecieshabitatmanagement,modifyingtoaddressclimate. x x x x x x x xInvestigatingwhetherhavingmultiplepriorityspeciesaffectedinthesameareacouldleadtogreaterpressuretochangemanagementpracticesifcumulativeimpactscanbedemonstrated. x x x x x

Coordinatingstewardshipandmanagementactivitieswithgovernments,NGOs,tribesandFirstNations,andprivatelandowners. x x x x x x x xPlacinglimitationsonproposalssothattheyenhanceconservationmeasures(e.g.,requirebuffers).

Strivingforcommunitydesignthatlimitfragmentationofhabitatandincludehabitatcorridors. x xIdentifyingandprotectingwetlandsandotherwatersourcesinvalleys.Thesemayhelptopromotemovementofmontaneforestspeciesthroughdry,low-elevationvalleys,whilealsopromotingcorehabitatareaandcorridorqualityforlow-elevationspecies. x x x x

Securingwaterrightstomaintainmoistureinriparianareasandwetlandsthatprovidecorehabitatandmovementcorridors. x x x x x x xCarefullyreviewingwaterpermitrequestsfornewirrigationwithdrawalstoensurethatkeyponds,wetlands,andwaterresourcesremainavailablewithincorehabitatareasanddispersalcorridors. x xMonitoringtrendsandreviewingpoliciesrelatingtovineyardestablishment.Strivetoavoidestablishingvineyardsinshrub-steppecorehabitatareasorcorridors. x

Consideringestablishmentofadditionalconservationareasatelevationsabovecurrentspeciesrangestoprotectfuturehabitats. xUsinglargeparcelzoningtomaintaincontiguityofnaturalareaswithinFirstNationandtriballands.Outsideoftheselands,workwithprivatelandownersandenvironmentalpolicytomaintaincontiguousswathsofsuitablelandthatwillfacilitatemovement.Considerfullrangeofapproaches,fromlandpurchasesandeasementstostewardshipactivities.

x x x x

Coordinatingwithtransportationagenciestoevaluateappropriatemanagementresponsestopotentialchangesinseasonalroadopeningsandclosingsassnowconditionschangeandhigherelevationhabitatspotentiallybecomemoreaccessibletopeople. x x x xCoordinatingwithtransportationagenciestoensurethatnewroadsdonotnegativelyimpactpriorityareasforhabitatconnectivityunderclimatechange(e.g.,climate-gradientcorridors,orclimate-resilientcorehabitatareasandcorridors). x x x x x x x x xCoordinatingwithtransportationagenciestomitigatebarriereffectsofroadscrossingpriorityareasforhabitatconnectivityunderclimatechange(e.g.,byincorporatingcrossingstructuresintoroaddesign,orretro-fittingroadswithcrossingstructures). x x

TransportationPlanning

Landandwateruseplanningandmanagement

TOPICADDRESSED SPATIALPRIORITY

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Existingcorehabitatareasandcorridors,whichwillbeimportantformaintainingpopulationsundercurrentclimate,andfacilitatingspeciesresponsetofuturechange.Pinch-points,barriersandrestorationopportunities,andareasofhighnetworkcentralityallofferpotentialpriorityareasforimplementation.

x x x x x

Climate-gradientcorridors,whichmayfacilitatespeciesdispersalintocoolerhabitatsasclimatewarms. x x x x x x x x xClimate-resilientcorehabitareasandcorridors(i.e.,thosethatareprojectedtoremainclimaticallysuitable). x x x x x x x x xRiparianareas,whichcurrentlyactasspeciesmovementcorridors,andalsospanclimaticgradients,facilitatingdispersalintocoolerhabitats. x x x x

Cold-waterrefuges–areaswithinstreamsthathavepersistentlylowertemperaturesthanotherstreamareas xPondsthataredeep,freeofpredatoryfish,andlocatedincoolerand/orwettermicro-climates. x xHighways,especiallythosethatrunalonglow-elevationvalleys(e.g.,Highway97and3A)andthosethatcrosstheCascadeRange(e.g.,Highway3andInterstate90),whichmaypresentbarrierstoclimate-drivenrangeshifts. x x x x x xLowelevationvalleys,particularlytheFraserRiverValleyandtheOkanaganValley.ConnectivityFocusAreasofferkeyareasforimplementationintheOkanaganValley. x x x x x x x x x


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Encouragingtheuseofhighwaysdesigntechniquesthatpreserveconnectivity(e.g.,overpasses,openspanbridges,culverts). x x xEncouragingtheincorporationofwildlife-friendlyfencingintopermittingandplanningprocesses. x x xConsideringimpactsandopportunitiesforhabitatconnectivityduringthereferralsprocess. xEvaluatingopportunitiestoreducegrazingpressureinkeycorridors. xMonitoringcorehabitatsandmovementcorridorsforsuitabilityandbeingpreparedtoaddressand/ormodifythelegalcontextformanagement(e.g.,EndangeredSpeciesAct). x x xConsideringtimingtribal/FirstNationhuntingseasonsaroundkeydispersalperiodsand/orloweringtakelimitstoreducepressureonpopulations. x x

Lawsandregulations

SpatialPrioritiesforImplementation

CaseStudy

CaseStudyIII.PolicyConsiderations

FirstNationsandtribalreferralsresponseprocesses

III.SpatialPrioritiesforImplementation



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Developingtransboundaryhabitatconnectivitymodels. x xGatheringadditionalempiricalinformationonspeciesmovementtovalidateandimprovecorridormodels,andunderstandwhatlandscapefeaturesfacilitateorhindermovement. x x x x x x x

Mappingcurrentpopulationlocations(asopposedtogeneralrangeboundaries). x x xIncorporatingprojectedchangesinhumanlanduseintohabitatconnectivitymodels. xDevelopingfine-scale,transboundarymodelsofriparianlocationandcondition. x x x x xDevelopingtransboundarymodelsofwildfireriskandprobabilityofpestoutbreaks. x x x x x x x x xDevelopingclimaticnichemodels. x x xEvaluatingtheextenttowhichareasprojectedtobecomeclimaticallysuitableforspeciesincludesuitablenon-climaticconditions(e.g.,soils,vegetation,aquatichabitat). x xIdentifyingclimate-resilientcorehabitatareasandcorridors(i.e.,thoselikelytomaintainclimaticsuitability,andexperiencerelativelymodestchangesinrelevantclimaticvariables). x x x x x x x x x xIdentifyingpotentialclimateimpactsonspecificexistingcorehabitatareasandcorridors. x x x x x xIdentifyingcorridorsbetweenlocationswithprojecteddeclinesinclimaticsuitabilityandareaswithprojectedstableorincreasingclimaticsuitability. x x x x x x x

Developingtransboundarymodelsofcold-waterrefugesandprojectedfuturebulltroutdistributions. xDevelopingtransboundaryaquatichabitatconnectivitymodels(includingidentificationofsignificantbarrierstomovement). x

IV.ResearchNeeds CaseStudy

Researchneeds


AppendixO.Datasetsusedtoidentifypotentialclimateimpactsoneachcasestudyspecies,vegetationsystem,andregion.

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SpeciesCorridorNetwork x x x x x x xLandscapeIntegrityCorridorNetwork x x x x xClimate-GradientCorridorNetwork x x x x x x x x x x x x xConnectivityFocusAreas x

ClimaticNicheModel x x x x x x x x x xColdWaterClimateShield x

ClimaticNicheVegetationModel x x x x x x xMechanisticVegetationModel x x x x x x x

MountainPineBeetleSurvival x x x x x x x

Spring(April1)Snowpack x x x x x x x x x x xLateSpring(May1)Snowpack xLengthofSnowSeason x x x x x x xPercentageofWinterPrecipitationCapturedinApril1stSnowpack x xNumberofFrostDays x xGrowingSeasonLength xIncreaseinAverageAnnualDaytimeTemperature x xTotalSpringPrecipitation x x x x xTotalSummerPrecipitation x x xAnnualMaximum24-hourPrecipitation xNumberofHeavyPrecipitationDays x xAveragePrecipitationIntensity x xTotalSpringRunoff x x xTotalSummerRunoff x x xEvapotranspiration,July-September x x xEvapotranspiration,March-May x xPotentialEvapotranspiration,July-September xDrySpellDuration x x x x x xWaterDeficit,July-September x x x x x x xSoilMoisture,July-September x x x x x x x x xDayswithHighFireRisk x x x x x x x x x x x xStreamTemperature x

IV.Projectedchangesininsectsurvival

V.Projectedchangesinclimaticvariables

CaseStudy

I.Habitatconnectivitymodels

II.Projectedchangesinspeciesdistributions

III.Projectedchangesinvegetationcommunities

DATASETSUSEDINASSESSMENT

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