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Managing for climate change on protected areas: An adaptive management decision making framework.
Sherri L Tanner-McAllister1, Jonathan Rhodes2, Marc Hockings2
1University of Queensland, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Brisbane St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of National Parks, Sport and Recreation, PO Box 15187, City East, QLD 4002, Australia.
Journal of Environmental Management
|September 22, 2017
Summary
Protected area managers can adapt to climate change using a new 4-step adaptive management framework. This process helps parks manage climate impacts effectively by accepting or preventing change and monitoring results.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Science
- Environmental Management
- Climate Change Adaptation
Background:
- Protected area management faces increasing challenges due to climate change.
- Current park management techniques may be insufficient for future climate adaptation.
- Existing research often focuses on off-reserve strategies rather than in-situ park management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel adaptive management decision-making framework for protected areas.
- To assist protected area managers in adapting on-park management strategies to climate change.
- To address limitations in current park management approaches for climate change.
Main Methods:
- A four-step adaptive management process is outlined.
- Step 1: Understand the park's context within climate change.
- Step 2: Understand park management systems (governance, planning).
- Step 3: Evaluate management options (accept/prevent change).
- Step 4: Implement and monitor long-term ecological responses and management effectiveness.
Main Results:
- The framework provides a structured approach to decision-making for climate change adaptation in protected areas.
- It defines adaptive approaches as accepting climate change impacts or preventing change to maintain current systems.
- The framework emphasizes systematic assessment of management options and monitoring of ecological responses.
Conclusions:
- The presented framework offers a practical tool for protected area managers to navigate climate change challenges.
- It promotes proactive and adaptive strategies for in-situ park management.
- Effective implementation and monitoring are crucial for assessing management effectiveness and ensuring long-term conservation success.