(Washington, DC) — Considerable scientific uncertainty exists concerning the direction and extent of climate-induced change on a local and regional basis. This presents significant challenges for restoration and ecosystem management. Despite these uncertainties, many agree that near-term responses should focus on increasing the resilience of communities in the face of environmental variability.
The November-December issue of the National Wetlands Newsletter, funded by a generous grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is dedicated to climate change. The articles in this issue describe real world approaches the FWS’ Coastal Program and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program are taking to address the effect of climate change in their habitat conservation projects. As voluntary, cooperative habitat conservation programs, these two programs are well positioned to address the effects of climate change on fish and wildlife species and their habitats. Their activities focus on ensuring habitat connectivity, mitigating the effects of climate change such as flooding or storm surge, and coastal land protection and conservation. Adapting to climate change is shaping how the two programs plan, design, and implement their habitat conservation projects.
For three decades, the nationally recognized National Wetlands Newsletter has been a widely read and esteemed journal on wetlands, floodplains, and coastal water resources. The Newsletter, published by the highly respected Environmental Law Institute®, analyzes the latest issues in wetland regulation, policy, science, and management through feature articles written by local, national, and international experts from a variety of perspectives.