Case studies
Lessons Learned
The UKCIP framework emphasizes several key considerations when developing options for climate change adaptation, including:
- Develop options that increase adaptive capacity, that is, options that best increase the opportunity to cope with changes as a result of future climate (or other factors);
- Seek 'no-regret' or 'low-regret' options that are relatively low cost, easily implemented, and clearly suitable across the full range of plausible future scenarios;
- Incorporate a 'do nothing' option to serve as a benchmark for the possible consequences of not taking action given future climate change forecasts; and
- Consider using an adaptive management approach as a strategy toward incorporating improved information regarding climate risks over time.
Within this context, the primary management goal of altering the landscape-level age class structure in the Park can be viewed as increasing the adaptive capacity of the Park, as the climatic suitability for both MPB and wildfire disturbance are expected to increase in the future. At the same time, the application of prescribed fire treatments can be viewed as a low-regret type option, since the overall biodiversity objectives for the Park support adjustments to the landscape-level age class structure. Finally, the implementation and monitoring of prescribed fire and other vegetation management treatments over time will allow for an adaptive management approach to be adopted.