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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

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

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

Wolverine

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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

Wolverine

Mountain G

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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

Wolverine

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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

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

Wolverine

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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

Wolverine

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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.

Wolverine

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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

The Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate … · 2016-06-08 · Washington-British...

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