Health and Well-being
The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024
In the first `100 days of 2024 we will explore 100 climate solutions that may “empower you to evaluate, engage, and act” to address on-going climate change as an individual on your terms.
The United States Fourth National Climate Assessment, published in 2018, is a masterly and stark statement on the climate change underway in the US. I recommend downloading the full document now in case it disappears after the next election.
The climate is changing and everything is on the move. According to the Fourth National Climate Assessment, we should expect substantial changes in the ranges in which of animals and sea life are found. This includes the disappearance of some familiar species from the habitats we are used to and the arrival and proliferation of invasive species as ecosystems struggle to adapt to a climate changing at an alarming rate.
According to the report’s Summary Findings, we can expect that the “valued aspects of regional heritage and quality of life tied to ecosystems, wildlife, and outdoor recreation will change with the climate, and as a result, future generations can expect to experience and interact with the natural environment in ways that are different from today.”
“Landscapes and seascapes are changing rapidly, and species, including many iconic species, may disappear from regions where they have been prevalent or become extinct, altering some regions so much that their mix of plant and animal life will become almost unrecognizable”.
Third US National Climate Assessment
In addition to the changes in phenology that we have already discussed (Climate Action Day 61), climate change in the US is being manifested in a general northward shift or a change to higher elevation for many species, in response to climate stressors. Survival of affected populations forced to make these shifts in geography are additionally stressed when the landscapes are artificially fragmented with a loss of the connectivity of their habits.
A concern for the current and future impacts of these changes are driving groups to combine resources to mitigate the effects and help create viable alternate landscapes to preserve habitat and wildlife. The Climate Change Response Network for instance, is a “collaborative, cross boundary approach among scientists, managers, and landowners to incorporate climate change considerations into natural resource management”.
A major effort under this framework is driven by Ducks Unlimited, Inc., an organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing habitats for North American waterfowl, not only for the species, but for the hunters that hunt them. Along with the National Wild Turkey Federation and state and federal partners, the group has executed a sustained science-based adaptation strategy to help bottomland hardwood forest adapt to climate change, thus preserving the waterfowl habitat they cherish.
There is a simple action for individuals to take: enthusiastically pay the fees charged by federal, state, and local governments for your recreational activities. The funds from licenses and permits are funneled into managing and conserving the wildlife habitat that we enjoy. The US Fish and Wildlife sold over $900 million in hunting licenses and over $750 million in fishing licenses in 2021. Along with Federal excise taxes, a sizeable portion of these funds support state-level conservation, preservation and recreation projects.
Of the $750million spent on fishing licenses in 2021, 34% of the funds went to fisheries, 32% to wildlife, 22% to support wildlife officers, and the remainder to other key recreation infrastructure and conservation programs.
In Minnesota you can contribute to conservation efforts and show your commitment by paying a nominal upcharge for one of several critical habitat license plate designs. You can also pledge an annual contribution to the Reinvest in Minnesota Critical Habitat Program that works to preserve wetlands, prairies, forest and other important wildlife habitat in Minnesota.
No matter what you do in nature – hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, birdwatching, etc. – the fees you pay for licenses, permits, and entry fees are a critical resource for dedicated state and federal officials to use to preserve and protect critical habitat. Pay your fees without complaint and enjoy your time in nature. Has Heidi says, “future generations will thank you”.
Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 82: Vote in Every Election
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