challenges u.s. geological survey and u.s. fish and wildlife service future two bureaus, one mission

ChallengesU.S. Geological Survey and

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Future

Two Bureaus, One Mission

What is the Future Challengesproject?

A USGS and FWS, future-oriented partnership in science-based conservation.

Partnership emerged from October 2003 meeting of USGS ExecutiveLeadership Team andFWS Directorate.

L to R, USGS Director Chip Groat and former USFWS Director Steve Williams

Future Challenges project goal:To position USGS and FWS to

predict and respond to

significant challenges to

biodiversity and ecosystem

function over next 15-20 years.

Ground-breakingscientific research has historically provided basis for significant progress in addressing environmental challenges.

Rachel Carson J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling

Far left column, endangered species researchers at Patuxent Research Refuge, 1950s-1960s; center, pioneering flyway field biologists Fred Lincoln and Elizabeth Losey, 1920s-1949; right column, Patuxent pesticide researchers R. Prouty, top, and Bill Reichel, 1950s-1960s.

Unsung Heroes

It is our turn, and our responsibility, to build scientific foundation that will support conservation leaders who come after us.

Today, significant future impacts to biodiversity and ecosystem function are predicted from:Climate change

Biotechnology

Invasive species

Water for ecological needs

Climate Change:

2-4 degree C. increase in earth’s temperaturepredicted by end of 21st Century.

(Courtesy of Dr. Dennis Ojima, Scientist/Professor, Colorado State University)

Mean temperature change 1965 - 2002 over the globe

Data source: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/data/temperature/Processed by the U.S. NCDC Global Climate at the Glance Mapping System

Global climate change of increasing interest in fish and wildlife conservation.

Biotechnology:

A potential conservation tool, but genetic engineering poses potential threats to ecological functioning that need to be assessed.

(Courtesy of Dr. Anne R. Kapuscinski, Professor/Institute Director,

University of Minnesota)

Can modern biotechnology support natural resource conservation?To better understand and manage populations?

To modify or manipulate organisms?

To determine effects of modified organisms on existing populations?

www.glofish.com

The New York Times Nov 22, 2003“Gene-Altering Revolution Nears the Pet Store: Glow-in-the-Dark Fish”

Nature 27 November 2003GloFish casts light on murky policing of transgenic animals

Marketed without regulatory environmental review. FDA is lead authority.

First Transgenic Animal on U.S. Market

Invasive Species:

Scientists emphasize growing threat of invasive species to ecosystem function and native species conservation.

(Courtesy of Dr. Jamie K. Reaser, President of Eco Systems Institute)

Globalization: Trade-Travel-Transport

Consequences of invasive species are environmental and economic.

Invasives are:2nd or 3rd most significant driver of environmental change globally.

2nd greatest threat to threatened and endangered species in United States, costing estimated $100 billion annually.

Water For Ecological Needs:

Scientists predict significant implications for aquatic resource conservation from changes in use and allocation of water.

(Courtesy of Dr. Robert M. Hirsch, Associate Director for Water,U.S. Geological Survey)

Total surface-water and ground-water withdrawals

Demand for ecosystem services is a major driver of changes in water allocations

Farming

Urban

Thermal

ThermalFarming

UrbanEcosystem

Future Challenge: Elevating ecosystem requirements in water-use planning

Old paradigm

Minimum flow Static channelSurface waterSingle species

New paradigm

Whole hydrographDynamic channelAnd ground waterBiological community

Climate change

Invasive species

Biotechnology

Water for ecological needs

Given these identified future challenges to ecosystem function and sustainability, USGS and FWS must lay both a science and a management foundation for future generations of decision-makers and resource managers.

Game PlanWork with employees to identify specific impacts of these four drivers of change on USGS and FWS science and conservation missions.

Game PlanBuild institutionalized scientific capacity within USGS and FWS to jointly address these challenges to sustainable ecosystem function.

Game PlanExpand FWS and USGS partnership and collaboration with larger scientific community in addressing these challenges.

First Step — Open the DialogueFuture Challenges Workshop held August 10-12, 2004, at National Conservation Training Center.

Consistent themes, crosscutting issues emerged from workshop.Adaptive management

Effective mitigation

Long-term monitoring

Data management and synthesis

Leveraging resources

Addressing priorities

Next Step – Broaden the Dialogue

Distribute “Challenge Summaries.”

Engage employees and partners.

Next Step – From Talk to Action

Begin to build scientific foundation needed to address these four challenges now and in the future.

Next Step – From Talk to Action

Engage USGS and

FWS leadership at all

levels in providing people

and money to support priority

research efforts.

Final Step – A New Beginning

Create final plan to

guide broad

partnership in science-

based conservation over next

two decades.

Your Role

Engage

Support

Communicate

Implement