CLIMATE CHANGE AND WILDLIFE IN THE ROCKIES A CALL FOR INFORMATION A CALL FOR ACTION
Dear Colleague: We are writing to invite your participation in a survey of wildlife responses to climate change in the Rocky Mountains. Results of this important project will help frame policy decision making, media reports to the public, and the direction of future science and management programs. Climate change is no longer a matter of what if or when. The scientific community agrees: a growing body of evidence indicates that human activities are causing unprecedented disruptions to the global climate system. Furthermore, it is clear that these changes in climate are already having impacts on wildlife populations ranges and phenologies are shifting, natural communities are being disrupted, and some scientists report that they have already documented species extinctions. As conservation biologists, resource managers, and policy makers we need to start asking ourselves what do we do? How do we respond constructively, strategically, and in a timely manner to conservation challenges which are so grand in scale, complex, and fraught with uncertainties? We start by taking the first step. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have partnered together to: 1) assess current wildlife responses to climate change, 2) identify the conservation principles and practices necessary to enable wildlife species to withstand regional climate change, and 3) translate the study findings into useful guidance for resource managers and policy makers. The project is being piloted in the Rocky Mountains of the US and Canada. You can help: 1) If you have published studies and/or data relevant to climate change research in the Rocky Mountains, please fill out the survey below and send it to Dr. Jamie K. Reaser no later than July 20th (c/o Ravens Ridge Farm, 1207 Bull Yearling Road, Stanardsville, Virginia 22073, USA; [EMAIL PROTECTED]). Hard copy reprints or a PDF of relevant publications will be greatly appreciated. *Please note that although the general focus of this study is on wildlife responses to climate change, NRDC and WCS recognize that many factors (e.g., changes in invasive plant species and pathogen dynamics) are likely to act as indirect climate change influences on wildlife populations. Therefore, we also welcome information from studies applicable to wildlife, but not necessarily on wildlife. 2) If the Rocky Mountains are not your area of study interest, please support the project by distributing this call for information through relevant list-serves and to colleagues working in the Rockies. The results of the survey will be used to design a conference tentatively entitled Wildlife Responses to Climate Change in the Rocky Mountains: Envisioning an Urgent and Unprecedented Conservation Plan to be held in late 2007. Survey respondents will be given priority for participation in this landmark, invite-only meeting. The outcomes of the conference will in turn be used to develop publications, presentations, media events, and other resources for policy makers and natural resource managers. Respondents will also be considered potential collaborators in these activities. We look forward to receiving your contributions and working with you in the near future. Sincerely, Dr. Gabriela Chavarria Dr. Molly Cross Director North American Climate Change Initiative NRDC Science Center Wildlife Conservation Society --- In support of NRDC and WCS, please return this form to Dr. Jamie K. Reaser no later than July 20th (c/o Ravens Ridge Farm, 1207 Bull Yearling Road Stanardsville, Virginia 22973, USA; [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Respondent Name: Address: Phone number(s): Email: Part 1: Completed and in Progress Studies 1. Five key words that describe your work in the Rockies: 2. Please briefly summarize your work in the Rockies (approximately 300 words) 3. List of your relevant publications: Note: We would greatly appreciate a copy of your publication(s) in PDF or hard copy format. Part 2: Not-Yet Applied Data Sets 1. Do you have data that have not previously been used to evaluate wildlife responses to climate change in the Rockies but which you believe could be applied in this regard? If so, please answer the questions below. If not, please proceed to Part 3. 2. Initial intent for data collection: 3. Variables in the data set(s): 4. Time period covered by the data set(s): Part 3: Research Applications 1. Have you previously communicated your research findings to resource managers and/or policy makers? If so, please answer the questions below. If not, proceed to question 5. 2. Who was your target audience(s). 3. What message(s) did you intend to convey? 4. Through what means did you communicate your message(s)? 5. Are you interested in working with the NRDC-WCS team to communicate your research findings to resource managers and policy makers? through professional meetings, professional publications, popular press publications, legislative briefings, press releases or other media event (circle all that apply). MANY THANKS! YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM US -- Jamie K. Reaser, PhD President Ecos Systems Institute c/o Ravens Ridge Farm 1207 Bull Yearling Road Stanardsville, VA 22973 1-434-990-9494 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.ecos-systems.org
