Doug Parsons, Partnership CoordinatorFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionCIMR Conference, May 26th, 2011

Florida: On the Frontlines of Climate Change

Florida’s Unique Vulnerability

to Climate change

Commission Resolution, September 2007

FWC Climate Change Summit October 1-3, 2008

Summit Report:• Highlights speakers

• Synthesizes breakout sessions.

• Discusses future planning for FWC

Breakout Session Topics• Marine, Coastal, and Estuarine

Ecosystems • Inland Aquatic and Semi-aquatic

Ecosystems • Hunting and Fishing• Native Terrestrial Species, Communities,

and Ecosystems• Invasive Species • Natural Resource Management and Land-

use Planning

FWC Climate StructureClimate Change Steering

Committee

October 2008

Workgroup Leads

February 2009

Research & Monitoring Workgroup

Adaptation Workgroup

Policy & Opportunity

Workgroup

Communication &

Outreach Workgroup

Sponsor Executive Director

Structure Decision Making Process:

Management Actions• Identify information internal employees and external partners and publicsneed to understand, support, and implement climate change adaptationstrategies in Florida to achieve the FWC’s goals and objectives for fish andwildlife resources and the public’s use of those resources.• Identify published information on climate change; its impacts on fish,wildlife, and habitat; and potential adaptation strategies that are relevant toFWC through literature reviews, and reference this information in anannotated database.• Collect recommendations for agency staff, management and conservationpartners, and other stakeholders to ensure adaptation strategies are part ofFWC management plans for imperiled species.• Obtain Florida specific, local, and, when appropriate, regional and globalprojections for effects of climate change on temperature, weather, rainfall,hydrology, and land cover.

10 MonthCourse Structure

1. Monthly Speakers

2. Required Readings

3. Forum participation

4. Final Project

Climate Change Certification of

Completion

Speakers

Dr. Adam Terando, NC State

Patty Glick, National Wildlife Federation

Dr. Jessica Thompson, Colo State

Dr. Susan Cameron Devitt, UF

Dr. Reed Noss, UCF

Mark Shaffer, U.S. FWS

Dr. Eric Barron, President FSU

Alex Score, EcoAdapt

J.B. Ruhl, FSU

FWC and Sea Level Rise

Sea Level Rise Coordinator

• Technical and social science expertise needed.

• Sensitivity to the controversy.

• Responsibilities

• Need for coordination

• State Wildlife Adaptation Plans• Climate Teams role in revision• Florida getting a national reputation• Working with MIT and Defenders of Wildlife on hybrid vulnerability assessment with emphasis on SLR

The SWAP Strategy

Partnerships

• Joint FWC/UF Sea Level Rise Coordinator

• State Wildlife Grants

• Ongoing FWRI partnerships

• National Fish and Wildlife Adaptation Strategy

• SE Climate Change Research Center

• NGOs and Universities

Thank you.