Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Northern Rocky Mountains [Part 2]

Abstract

The Northern Rockies Adaptation Partnership (NRAP) identified climate change issues relevant to resource management in the Northern Rockies (USA) region, and developed solutions intended to minimize negative effects of climate change and facilitate transition of diverse ecosystems to a warmer climate. The NRAP region covers 183 million acres, spanning northern Idaho, Montana, northwestern Wyoming, North Dakota, and northern South Dakota, and includes 15 national forests and 3 national parks across the U.S. Forest Service Northern Region and adjacent Greater Yellowstone Area. U.S. Forest Service scientists, resource managers, and stakeholders worked together over 2 years to conduct a state-of-science climate change vulnerability assessment and develop adaptation options for national forests and national parks in the Northern Rockies region. The vulnerability assessment emphasized key resource areas-water, fisheries, wildlife, forest and rangeland vegetation and disturbance, recreation, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services-regarded as the most important for local ecosystems and communities. Resource managers used the assessment to develop a detailed list of ways to address climate change vulnerabilities through management actions. The large number of adaptation strategies and tactics, many of which are a component of current management practice, provide a pathway for slowing the rate of deleterious change in resource conditions.

Response of avian cavity nesters and carbon dynamics to forest management and climate change in the Northern Rockies

“…The response of USFS lands enhances the Idaho Panhandle National Forest carbon stock, which is the greatest among all the Northern Region's National Forests (Warziniack et al 2018). The goal of the USFS is to maintain and enhance net carbon sequestration through protecting and enhancing the resiliency of forests (Halofsky et al 2018). Total forest ecosystem carbon has been increasing in the National Forests of the northern Rockies since 2000 (Warziniack et al 2018).…”