Oregon’s Biodiversity in a Changing Climate
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Date
2008
Authors
Climate Leadership Initiative
Lawler, Joshua J.
Mathias, Molly
Yahnke, Amy E.
Girvetz, Evan H.
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
In the coming century, average annual temperatures in the Pacific Northwest are
projected to rise at a rate of 0.1 to 0.6 °C (0.2 to 1.0 °F) per decade. Although there is
more uncertainty in projected changes in precipitation, in general, winters are projected to
be wetter and summers are projected to be drier. These changes will have profound
effects on many ecological systems across the state. For example, temperature-driven
reductions in snowpack will affect stream-flow patterns and in turn many freshwater
systems. Increasing temperatures will result in drier fuels leading to more frequent,
intense, and/or extensive wildfires and rising sea levels will inundate many low-lying
coastal areas. All of these changes have the potential to alter habitat and other finely
balanced ecological relationships. As species move in response to these climate-driven
changes, some will leave areas in which they are currently protected and others will
replace them. Designing a network of protected lands that adequately conserves
Oregon’s biodiversity into the future will require taking climate change into account.
Planning for climate change will require a new set of tools including state-wide and
regional assessments to determine which species and lands are most vulnerable to climate
change and which lands are most isolated, synthetic analyses of regional climate and
climate-impact projections, and regional cooperation among state, federal, and private
landowners. Despite the challenges inherent in addressing climate change in the
conservation-planning process, it may not be possible to protect biodiversity in the
coming century unless we do.
Description
55 p.
Keywords
Climatic changes -- Oregon