Landscape-Scale Climate Change Adaptation Planning for National Wildlife Refuges in the Crown of the Continent

Climate change makes it challenging for natural resource managers to achieve their goals, in part because the effects of climate change on ecosystems span across management boundaries. To address this the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is revising their approach to management planning for National Wildlife Refuges.

This project is a pilot effort that supports climate-informed management planning for FWS lands in the Crown of the Continent landscape in northwestern Montana. The project team will: 1) engage partners in the region to understand perspectives on climate change and conservation priorities for future land, water, and wildlife stewardship; 2) develop climate futures and ecological scenarios that describe potential changes to the landscape; and 3) hold a series of workshops with FWS staff, tribal representatives, agencies, and community members. These workshops will explore how refuge management can support broad conservation goals under uncertain futures.

By evaluating climate impacts on key habitats and species, this project will build the foundation for developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Western Montana National Wildlife Refuge Complex. A final report will detail findings, including summaries of climate scenarios, possible future conditions, and workshop outcomes. These efforts will guide proactive management planning and conservation actions while offering replicable methods to address climate uncertainty and advance landscape-scale conservation.