Developing a framework to inform climate change adaptation for global biodiversity

Climate change is projected to have a significant effect upon the future rate of biodiversity loss (Thomas et al. 2004, Bellard et al. 2012). There is considerable debate about how best to manage these changes through adaptation (Heller & Zavaleta 2009, Hodgson et al. 2009, Green & Pearce-Higgins 2010). This project funded a workshop to scope the mechanisms by which climate change may impact upon species and to consider potential adaptation management options appropriate for each.

This workshop took place on the 18th and 19th July, held at the Judge Business School in Cambridge. It was attended by 23 people and generated much interesting debate. The mechanisms identified on day one have been input to the CCI-collaborative fund project ‘Mechanisms Underpinning Climate Change Impacts on Global Biodiversity’. Day two focussed on identifying adaptation options in the face of climate change.

References

Bellard, C., Bertelsmeier, C., Leadley, P., Thuiller, W. & Courchamp, F. (2012) Impacts of climate change on the future of biodiversity. Ecology Letters, 15, 365-377.

Green, R.E. & Pearce-Higgins, J.W. (2010) Species management in the face of a changing climate. In Species Management: Challenges and Solutions for the 21st Century, Baxter, J.M. & Galbraith, C.A: Edinburgh, UK: TSO Scotland. pp 517-536.

Heller, N.E. & Zavaleta, E.S. (2009) Biodiversity management in the face of climate change: a review of 22 years of recommendations. Biological Conservation, 142, 14-32.

Hodgson, J.A., Thomas, C.D., Wintle, B.A. & Moilanen, A. (2009) Climate change, connectivity and conservation decision making: back to basics. Journal of Applied Ecology, 46, 964–969.

Thomas, C.D., Cameron, A., Green, R.E. et al. (2004) Extinction risk from climate change. Nature, 427, 145-148

.