Four Key Elements defined in NPS Climate Change Strategy Science Adaptation Communication Mitigation

The NPS adapts to climate change and effectively preserves and restores park resources and opportunities for visitor enjoyment. Through collaboration with our employees, partners, and the public the NPS teaches and promotes climate change science and applies the best management practices and sustainable behaviors toward reducing climate change and its impacts.
To Achieve this, the NPS will: Participate fully in partnerships that increase scientific understanding of climate change and its effects Analyze potential climate change impacts and adaptively apply the information to improve planning, resource conservation, and visitor experience Set high standards for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction Communicate broadly about climate change science and its impacts and the actions that can be taken to mitigate and adapt

Goal 1: Use the best available scientific data and knowledge to inform decision making about climate change. Goal 2: Collaborate with partners to develop, test, and appropriately apply climate change models to NPS activities. Goal 3: Inventory and monitor key attributes of the natural systems, cultural resources, and visitor experiences likely to be affected by climate change. Goal 4: Use best available science to evaluate and manage greenhouse gas storage and emissions in national parks.

The National Park Service is working with international organizations on climate change science.

The National Park Services is also working with many federal and state and university partners on climate change science.

Joshua Tree NP

Objective : To answer resource management questions and contribute to scientific knowledge Focus Areas: Detection of changes, attribution of causes Vulnerability Analyses Adaptation Planning and Implementation Forest Carbon and Ecosystem Management U.S. Global Change Research Program

photo P. Gonzalez

Suitable habitat 1930-1969

Vulnerability 2070-2099

Cole et al. in press

Enhanced Monitoring: Focusing on 97 parks in high priority biomes (ex. High-latitude parks, high-elevation parks, desert parks, coastal parks)

WASO Initiatives I & M

Natural Resource Information Portal: Accelerating deployment of integrated data system

Network Climate Change Briefings:

Park and Field Initiatives

Engaging citizens in science Monitoring and collecting data Conducting individual research Hosting GMW interns and fellows

Goal 5 - Incorporate climate change considerations and responses in all levels of NPS planning. Goal 6 - Implement adaptation strategies that promote ecosystem resilience and enhance restoration, conservation, and preservation of park resources. Goal 7 - Develop, prioritize, and implement management strategies to preserve climate-sensitive cultural resources. Goal 8 - Enhance the sustainable design, construction, and maintenance of park infrastructure.
All yellow boxes will be removed in the final version here for reminders only.

Adaptation - Adjustment in natural or human

systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities (IPCC, 2007)

Mitigation - Implementing policies to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sinks
(IPCC, 2007)

Draft
Marcy: the portion regarding the beyond naturalness workshop may be deleted.

Main areas of focus: Research Inventory and Monitoring to improve understanding of climate and weather affects to coastal parks. Cross directorate collaboration Risk and vulnerability assessments (facilities and cultural resources) Guidance and tools to help managers take actions on the ground
Marcy: this slide and the next one need to be combined into a full introduction to the areas of focus for adaptation. This slide has some good stuff on it.

NPS -- working with partners on adaptation across landscapes; participating in national and international research and strategy initiatives.
DOI Landscape Conservation Cooperatives DOI Climate Science Centers

National Fish Wildlife and Plant Climate Adaptation Strategy

USGCRP National and Regional Assessments Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Tom Olliff Great Northern LCC co-lead

Amanda Babson North Atlantic LCC, marine and coastal sciences focus NCR/urban landscapes (to be filled) Janet Cakir South Atlantic LCC, socioeconomics focus

Stanton Enomoto traditional cultures and practices

Ill reorganize this slide Intended to show NPS positions in LCCs and our emphasis on bringing complementary skills to the LCC teams note from Leigh this needs to be kept to one slide and only show the LCC positions. Other leveraging should be demonstrated by the topics and examples not through showing FTEsBert has been adamant about this.

Example Activities:
Ice Archeology Project, Glacier NP
Prehistoric Mound Sites, Canaveral NS Framework to Address Climate Impacts on Cultural Resources, Pacific Islands PWR Strategic Response Vanishing Treasures Program Cultural Resources Vulnerability Assessment/Adaptation Plan, SER (FY12-13) Assessing CC impacts to archeological resources, AKR (FY12-FY14) Assisting partners: development of LCC Cultural Resources white paper

Example Activities:
Linking vulnerability assessments, scenario planning, and adaptation
Fire Management Plan at SEKI GMP at ASIS

29 projects funded with climate change funding FY10-FY12, including:

California parks phenology project Inventory salt marshes subject to sea level rise, ACAD Assessing climate refugia and connectivity, big horn sheep in parks of the SW Pollinator (bee) population response in at-risk habitats servicewide (at least 60 parks)

FY2010 Appropriations Act Conference Report

Urged the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Department of the Interior to develop a national, government-wide strategy to address climate impacts on fish, wildlife, plants and associated ecological processes.
http://www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov

Dr. Robert Young (author and Director, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines) working with the NPS for one year develop options and strategies for coastal area park response to sea level rise and storms. Collaboration with NOAA, which provided support from Dr. Maria Honeycutt on coastal climate science and adaptation for one year USGS evaluating Coastal Vulnerability coastal hazards at Assessment in Parks GOGA and PORE

Cat and Marcy: we need a final slide for this section that describes the end to end framework and gives some examples at minimum we need to highlight the SEKI fire management but would be good to give an idea of others in line with this. Maybe ASIS.

Goal 5 - Incorporate climate change considerations and responses in all levels of NPS planning.
Climate change is being integrated at various levels (Foundation, RSS, DAB) Include facilities, CR, NR, Visitor Experience Science and decision tools (driver & impact tables, vulnerability assessments, scenarios) inform processes Critical steps:
Incorporating CC in Planning Document Reviews Construction standards

REVISED FRAMEWORK FOR PARK PLANNING

Climate change information can inform each component

From P Gregerson

Adaptation - Scenario Planning

Scenarios are stories that offer a range of plausible future environments not predictions, projections, or models Provide a framework to support decisions under conditions that are uncertain, and uncontrollable

Graphics: GBN

Climate Change - Section

Are the effects and impacts of climate change being considered in the design of this project? (e.g. sea or lake level rise, drought, flooding, wind, storm surge, melting permafrost, etc.) Yes / No If your answer was YES, briefly identify how the design accommodates climate change (top 3 to 5 areas):
ACTION/MITIGATION (Action/Mitigation items below are intended to be illustrative of possible responses) CATEGORY

1. Elevate structures an appropriate level above grade to account for

local projected sea level rise (sample response) 2. Maximize distance from shore (sample response) 3. Roof tie-downs (sample response) 4. Flexible dock design and/or replacement (sample response)

Sea Level Rise Coastal storm surge Extreme wind events Lake level change Extreme temperatures and fire Storm frequency
CATEGORY

5. Heat tolerant/fire resistant building materials (sample response) 6. Portable, modular facilities (sample response)
ACTION/MITIGATION

1.
2. 3. 4. 5. If your answer was NO, please briefly explain:

The SOCC and CCRP are developing a joint initiative to assess risk in the coastal zone from sea level rise and storms, and develop adaptation options.

Goal 9 - Substantially reduce the National Park Systems carbon footprint from 2008 levels by 2016 through aggressive commitment to environmentally preferable operations. Goal 10 - Integrate climate change mitigation into NPS business practices. Goal 11 - Promote biological carbon sequestration as a function of healthy ecosystems.

NPS Climate Leadership in Parks (CLIP) Tool is being used by other federal and state agencies (USFWS, USFS CA State Parks) SOCC working with USFS and USFWS on sustainability data reporting and tracking system Parks working with DOEs Clean Cities Program

 Green Parks Plan Energy and Water Management

Climate Friendly Parks

Sustainable Buildings Pollution Prevention Fleet Management

GPP identifies NPS sustainability vision, and will be the roadmap for mitigation goals in Climate Change Response Strategy when released GPP contains over 170 objectives, with energy and water management goals prioritized

GPP stretches beyond federal requirements to establish the NPS as leader in sustainable facility management and environmental compliance.

Regional and Network Initiatives

Regions aggressively pursuing CFP program and are communicating successes Regions funding energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy systems Some regions developing their own climate change vision statements and response strategies (PWR, AKR, NER)

Park and Field Initiatives

NPS will double on-site renewable energy generation in next two years Audited over 150 parks for energy and water consumption Accelerating fleet greening Parks deploying EMS to capture and track accomplishments

Park and Field Initiatives

Parks constructing energy efficient and LEED certified new buildings Parks rehabbing historic structures for greater efficiency where possible

Passive House inspired energy efficiency retrofit of facility constructed in the 1930s at Mount Rainier National Park

Passive House elements included in historic reconstruction of Death Valley Facility

Park and Field Initiatives

Many parks have set up their own sustainability newsletters to communicate successes to staff and visitors

The National Park Service is well positioned to share a message on climate change.

Through place-based principles, the NPS uses inherent strengths to engage our staff and visitors on this topic.
Sharing a tangible example of climate change at Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords NP

National Initiatives
Four key messages form the foundation of servicewide communication efforts.

National Products
Bimonthly newsletter Monthly webinar

11 bioregional talking point summaries

Climate change briefs Internal and public websites
nrpcsharepoint/climatechange www.nps.gov/climatechange

National Products
Biannual Sustainability News magazine

Climate Friendly Parks action plans with communication component

Park video contest Public websites
www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks www.nps.gov/sustainability mygreenparks2.nps.gov

Training
A competency for front-line interpreters was created in 2011 to give them the tools and confidence they need to speak about climate change.

Connecting

with Youth

A series of WebRanger activities called Investigating Global Connections reach kids K-12.

A Network of Exhibits
By networking exhibits across the country they will share common messages and interactively connect to each other so visitors in Florida can also explore a similar exhibit in Alaska.

National Partnerships
The NPS partners with other agencies and organizations to collaboratively communicate about climate change. One example is the NSF-funded Climate Change Education Partnership.

Regional Products
PWR developed a regional unigrid brochure on climate change in Western parks

NER has developed a regional climate change strategy, including a communication section

Park-level Engagement
Staff Awareness

Everglades conducted a park-wide climate change interp training.

Public Awareness

Staff at Yosemite are presenting public programs on climate change.

Engagement Staff at Great Smokys host citizen science programs to engage visitors, volunteers, and local communities.

Park-level Engagement
Action Some parks offer carbon offset stickers for purchase as a way for visitors to be involved
Focus on Youth Other parks focus on engaging the youth as a priority audience for climate change education.

Next Steps
Develop a national interpretive plan for climate change

Conduct a baseline assessment of staff knowledge

Emphasize training

Increase web presence and capability Invest in citizen science programs

Rising Sea Levels and Coastal Forests in the Everglades

Near Shore Ocean Acidification in the Chann Islands

Harmful Algal Blooms and Climate Change (OLYM)

Effects of fire on Mercury Transport (Mesa Verde)

Interpreting Climate Change at Cape Cod

Interpreting Climate Change at North Cascades

Studying Greenhouse Gas Production in Alpine Soils at Rocky Mountain National Park

Climate Change Program

NPS Directorates