The Pew Center on Global Climate change has just released a report called Observed Impacts of global climate change on the U.S. (pdf format) by Camille Parmesan of the University of Texas and Hector Galbraith of the University of Colorado at Boulder. The report concludes that climate change has already had an impact on the ecology of the U.S. over the last century, and these changes can be linked to human emissions of greenhouse gases. These changes will continue and become more apparent, and they will result in a degradation and loss of U.S. biodiversity. The study concludes with a recommendation to reduce the adverse effects of climate change "through a broad range of strategies, including adaptive management, promotion of transitional habitat in nonpreserved areas, and the alleviation of nonclimate stressors."
The protection of transitional habitat that links natural areas might assist in enabling species migration in response to climate change. Meanwhile, promoting dynamic design and management plans for nature reserves may enable managers to facilitate the adjustment of wild species to changing climate conditions (e.g., through active relocation programs). Also, because climate change may be particularly dangerous to natural systems when superimposed on already existing stressors, alleviation of the stress due to these other anthropogenic factors may help reduce their combined effects with climate change.The study is summarized in a press relsease at the Pew site.
