Climate change adaptation research has made major advances over the last decade. For example, much is known about the impacts of climate change, many novel adaptation planning approaches have been developed, decision tools have become ubiquitous, and many novel adaptation options have been proposed. However, additional research is needed to demonstrate how these adaptation planning schemes can translate to implementation on the ground.
The area in and around the Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in Southern Sierra Nevada serve as ideal natural laboratories to study the impacts of climate change and the effectiveness of various on-the-ground forest treatments and restoration designs. Southern Sierra Nevada faces multiple stressors threatening the drought and fire-resiliency of forests in the region and biologists in Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, and surrounding Forest Service land have been monitoring many wildlife and plant species for decades. Such datasets enable the scientific detection of climatic trends and their impacts.
Focusing on the Southern Sierra Nevada region, this project aims to advance our knowledge base for bridging the gap between managing for both current resource management mandates and priorities and long-term climatic changes. The project team will develop an on-the-ground demonstration project for a climate refugium for several at-risk species in Southern Sierra Nevada that can increase resilience to current stressors as well as for future climatic changes and extremes. The project will focus on developing new adaptation science and resource management approaches through the co-production model that brings together scientists and resource management partners. Furthermore, the researchers will demonstrate how to integrate immediate research and conservation needs with longer-term climate adaptation research needs and develop a decision-making approach that can guide within-year planning, 5-year strategic planning, and decadal-scale scenario-based planning.
