Public Acceptance and Preferences for Climate Change Adaptation in the Midwest

Climate change has the potential to change the kinds and numbers of fish and wildlife that are available for recreationists such as hunters, anglers, and birdwatchers. While we have some knowledge about what changes might look like concerning different fish and wildlife species, very little information is known about how anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers might view such changes in the areas where they recreate. We also know very little about such users’ attitudes toward potential management actions and strategies for adapting to potential climate change that affects fish and wildlife.

Using web-based social surveys, the research team will gauge public values, attitudes, preferences as it relates to risk perception of climate change and adaptation to climate change. Collecting such information will help federal, state, and local natural resource management agencies respond to the preferences of anglers, hunter, and birdwatchers to ensure that these stakeholders continue to benefit from recreational use of fish and wildlife in ways that they prefer. This topic is timely because there are declines in hunting and fishing as well as an aging population of wildlife observers. Changes in fish and wildlife diversity and migration as a result of climate change could make these declines worse or happen more rapidly.

Much of fish and wildlife management funding is dependent upon license and equipment sales and access fees. For this reason, understanding how climate or adaptation policy might affect these stakeholders is important to fish and wildlife management agencies. The information gathered by the project can help fish and wildlife agencies understand and communicate with stakeholder groups more effectively about climate change impacts and adaptation strategies. This information will also help agencies plan future adaptation activities that are supported by hunters, anglers, and viewers who value and benefit from fish and wildlife.