Adapting nature protection to the challenges of climate change in Europe : basis of dynamic collective learning

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Climate change is impacting on the functioning of natural ecosystems, their habitats and the species they host. As a consequence, the way that we understand and manage these ecosystems will need to change. While the impact of climate change is globally recognised, managers rarely take into account the effects of climate change in their action plans. In 2015 in France, for example, less than 15% of them reported that they were aware of this issue. Managers do not anticipate the increasing vulnerability of species, habitats and ecosystems to climate change, along with possible degradations in the delivery of ecosystem services.

OBJECTIVES

The LIFE #CC #Naturadapt project aims to integrate climate change adaptation into the management and protection of natural sites. Its approach is to develop relevant methods, tools and services required to carry out climate change vulnerability assessments and to develop adaptation plans for natural protected areas. These will build on the shared vision of stakeholders on challenges and solutions, which make allowance for the needs and constraints of site managers. The professional team of RNF (Réserves Naturelles de France) will support the emergence of a community of practitioners with a common approach to adaptations in the management of natural areas. The project also aims to facilitate access to knowledge on how protected sites should be managed. Such knowledge will enable site managers and biodiversity stakeholders to respond in a cost-effective manner to the effects of climate change. It will also support the development of mechanisms that make it possible to share and disseminate innovative actions in the field of nature protection adaptation as well as support the application of the project’s results to other sites in France and elsewhere in Europe.

Expected results:

Protected area managers employing the operational expertise and knowledge provided by the Help Desk, which will continuously be enriched as new experiences are gained;

Identification of key vulnerabilities of natural areas along with priority climate change adaptation measures at the relevant territorial scale: 21 vulnerability assessments and climate change adaptation plans produced over the project lifetime;

Creation of a first knowledge database on required adaptations measures in the management of natural areas in response to climate change;

The community of practitioners benefiting from new methods, tools and services to anticipate climate change;

Methodological guidance accessible to all via the development of online training modules;

Climate services accessible to protected area managers;

Managers able to develop detailed and sound planning that prioritises climate change adaptation measures;

Increased awareness of managers and stakeholders (>735 directly involved; >5000 targeted by awareness raising, dissemination and communication activities);

Organisation of the community of protected area managers to address adaptation in a cost-effective and efficient manner;

Raised awareness of the challenges linked to the protection of natural areas;

21 management plans developed, including a climate change adaptation plan to shift from traditional methods to adaptive methods; and

250 measures of current management plans aligned with the objectives of the climate change adaptation plan.