A rapidly changing climate poses a growing threat to biodiversity across the United States and around the world. Accordingly, climate adaptation is fast becoming an overarching framework for achieving biodiversity conservation and wildlife management outcomes (Stein et al. 2013, Inkley and Stein 2020). There is a growing body of evidence that the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems are not something that may happen in the distant future, but rather already are occurring (USGCRP 2018). Climate-related threats to species and ecosystems are not only a problem from a biodiversity conservation perspective, but also have a direct impact on mission sustainability and military readiness (Stein et al. 2019). The impact of climate change on an installation’s natural resources can decrease the suitability of training and testing sites and lead to new limitations on the timing of training and other activities. Climate impacts that undermine the protective benefits that natural systems provide to installation assets can expose facilities and operational assets to significant damage. And finally, a changing climate can complicate or impede regulatory compliance, including for endangered species conservation and wetlands protection, resulting in increased operational costs or training restrictions.
Climate adaptation refers to efforts designed to prepare for, manage, and reduce the impacts and risks of a changing climate. Indeed, adaptation can best be understood as a form of iterative risk management. Based on an understanding of observed and projected climate-related changes, managers can assess climate vulnerabilities to an installation’s natural resources, along with any resulting risks to mission capabilities and assets. Appropriate strategies and actions can then be developed and implemented as a means of reducing mission risks, sustaining installation natural resources, and meeting legal obligations for environmental protection. Because climatic changes are ongoing, assessment of climate-related risks, as well as associated adaptation plans, will need to be revisited and updated on a periodic-or iterative basis.
In 2016, DoD issued a directive on climate adaptation and resilience (DoDD 4715.21). The need to address climate change is also now incorporated into DoD’s Natural Resources Conservation Program Instruction (DoDI 4715.03) as well as the INRMP Implementation Manual (DoDM 4715.03). Climate resilience has also been added as a designated purpose under the DoD’s REPI buffer authority.
To assist installations in addressing the risks posed by climate change, DoD released “Climate Adaptation for DoD Natural Resource Managers” (Stein et al. 2019) together with an associated “Commanders Guide” (Stein et al. 2020). These tools are designed to help natural resource managers and mission leaders effectively incorporate climate considerations into INRMPs and other plans in order to sustain installation resources and support the military mission. The guide offers an overview of relevant climate science, summarizes major climate impacts to installations, and offers insights and resources for understanding how climatic changes may affect various installation resources and INRMP program elements. The guide lays out a structured yet flexible six-step adaptation planning process that includes an assessment of climate vulnerabilities and risks and the design of strategies and actions to reduce key risks (Box 1.3).
Next Page: Box 1.3: Overview of INRMP Climate Adaptation Planning Process
Author
Bruce Stein, Ph.D., Chief Scientist and Associate Vice President
National Wildlife Federation
Emerging Trends in DoD Biodiversity Conservation Sections
Emerging Trends in DoD Biodiversity Conservation
Flexibility in Endangered Species Management
Climate Adaption and Resilience
Box 1.3: Overview of INRMP Climate Adaptation Planning Process