Some guidelines for helping natural resources adapt to climate change

IHDP Update
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Abstract

The changes occurring in mountain regions are an epitome of climate change. The dramatic shrinkage of major glaciers over the past century – and especially in the last 30 years – is one of several iconic images that have come to symbolize climate change. Climate creates the context for ecosystems, and climate variables strongly influence the structure, composition, and processes that characterize distinct ecosystems. Climate change, therefore, is having direct and indirect effects on species attributes, ecological interactions, and ecosystem processes. Because changes in the climate system will continue regardless of emissions mitigation, management strategies to enhance the resilience of ecosystems will become increasingly important. It is essential that management responses to climate change proceed using the best available science despite uncertainties associated with the future path of climate change, the response of ecosystems to climate effects, and the effects of management. Given these uncertainties, management adaptation will require flexibility to reflect our growing understanding of climate change impacts and management effectiveness.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Some guidelines for helping natural resources adapt to climate change
Series title IHDP Update
Issue 2
Year Published 2008
Language English
Publisher UNU-IHDP
Publisher location Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Contributing office(s) Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Description 7 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title IHDP Update
First page 46
Last page 52
Country United States
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