Table 12.

Adaptation options for managing in the context of major climatic and ecological changes (modified from Kareiva and others 2008)

Adaptation options for managing for change
✓ Assist transitions, population adjustments, and range shifts through manipulation of species mixes, altered genotype selections, modified age structures, and relocations
✓ Rather than focusing only on historic distributions, spread species over a range of environments according to modeled future conditions
✓ Proactively manage early successional stages that follow widespread climate-related mortality by promoting diverse age classes, species mixes, genetic diversity, etc., at landscape scales
✓ Identify areas that supported species in the past under similar conditions to those projected for the future and consider these sites for establishment of “neo-native” plantations or restoration sites
✓ Favor the natural regeneration of species better adapted to projected future conditions
✓ Realign management targets to recognize significantly disrupted conditions, rather than continuing to manage for restoration to a “reference” condition that is no longer realistic given climate change
✓ Manage the public’s expectations as to what ecological states will be possible (or impossible) given the discrepancy between historical climate conditions and current/future climate conditions
✓ Develop guidelines for the scenarios under which restoration projects or rebuilding of human structures should occur after climate disturbances