Scientific information about the risks of climate change to important natural and cultural resources is crucial for developing and implementing climate adaptation plans and management actions. Tools that incorporate both science and expert knowledge on adaptation actions can greatly benefit municipal, regional, and other decision makers, as they develop and implement their adaptation plans. In 2018, EcoAdapt created the Climate Change Adaptation Certification Tool, which was designed to support the implementation of climate adaptation plans. Discussions with the Washington State Interagency Climate Adaptation Network have confirmed that this tool was ideal for supporting decision making in the natural and cultural resource management space, but that it would benefit from modifications. Staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife also expressed interest in a modified tool, as did the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
This project is using the structure of the current Climate Change Adaptation Certification tool and adding additional geographies and relevant climate data and tools to create a Climate Change Adaptation Checklist for Natural Resource Management Agencies to inform agency decisions and actions and ensure that adaptation actions can be effective for as long as possible with fewer unexpected outcomes or costs. In collaboration with state fish and wildlife departments in California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon, the project team is identifing climate change risk factors, evaluating, for each identified climate change risk factor, the potential impact on a state agency’s proposed project, capital expenditure, permit and/or plan, and using that evaluation to identify climate adaptation opportunities. An online web tool will also be developed through this project to help disseminate the Checklist.
