Linking climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation to on-the-ground management: a synthesis of adaptation opportunities on Northwest USA rangelands

Authors: MAHER, ANNA - Us Forest Service (FS); PRENDEVILLE, HOLLY - Us Forest Service (FS); HALOFSKY, JESSICA - Us Forest Service (FS); ROWLAND, MARY - Us Forest Service (FS); Davies, Kirk; Boyd, Chad

Submitted to: Rangeland Ecology and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Rangelands around the globe are experiencing management challenges associated with disturbance and climate change is likely to affect rangelands directly by increasing the likelihood, severity, and extent of these disturbances. We conducted a synthesis of key climate change vulnerabilities for Northwest USA rangelands and related these to climate adaptation opportunities using the scientific literature and a database of climate adaptation practices developed through science-management partnerships. We identified strategies related to improving hydrological function of streams and wetlands, establishing climate-adapted perennial plant species, minimizing invasive annual grass expansion, and investing in more flexible grazing management systems. Many natural resource-dependent systems can benefit from the framework developed herein, as it connects existing issues with disturbances and projected climate change effects, and links these scenarios to proactive and collaborative climate change adaptation opportunities.

Technical Abstract: Rangelands around the globe are experiencing management challenges associated with disturbance, including more frequent and severe fires, woody species expansion, annual grass invasion, overgrazing, and climate change. Climate change is likely to affect rangelands most directly by increasing the likelihood, severity, and extent of these disturbances. Rangelands in the Northwest USA face several management issues related to disturbances and rangeland recovery. For example, larger, more severe fires have led to the rapid transformation of critical Greater sage-grouse habitat and diminished forage production capacity in some areas, substantially lowering provisioning of ecosystem services, increasing fire management costs, and impacting rural livelihoods. In light of these concerns, we conducted a synthesis of key climate change vulnerabilities for Northwest rangelands and related these to climate adaptation opportunities. Rangelands of the Northwest are projected to become warmer and drier this century, with episodes of more extreme droughts and higher likelihoods of more severe fires affecting larger areas. These disturbances can potentially increase the vulnerability of rangelands to additional climate change effects, such as invasion by non-native annual grasses. Proactive strategies and practices were identified from the scientific literature and a database of climate adaptation practices developed through science-management partnerships. These strategies include improving hydrological function of streams and wetlands, establishing climate-adapted perennial plant species, minimizing invasive annual grass expansion, and investing in more flexible grazing management systems. Many natural resource-dependent systems can benefit from the framework developed herein, as it connects existing issues with disturbances and projected climate change effects to proactive and collaborative climate change adaptation opportunities.