Improving the role of vulnerability assessments In decision support for effective climate adaptation

Abstract

Vulnerability assessments (VA) have been proposed as an initial step in a process to develop and implement adaptation management for climate change in forest ecosystems. Scientific understanding of the effects of climate change is an ever-accumulating knowledge base. Synthesizing information from this knowledge base in the context of our understanding of ecosystem responses to natural/historical climate can be challenging. Little attention has focused on how information gathered in the vulnerability assessment phase actively facilitates the implementation of adaptation actions, that is, how and whether VA outputs actually are being used in resource projects. Given that financial and staffing resources remain critical barriers for natural resource managers, the assessment of vulnerability needs to be an effective and efficient process. We explore the success of VAs in motivating implementation of adaptation practices and offer recommendations on the development of future vulnerability assessments in natural resource management. Implementation of adaptation options may be more closely related to the extent that the VA and associated processes provided an opportunity for social learning.

Parent Publication

• Forest conservation and management in the Anthropocene: Conference proceedings

Citation

Joyce, Linda A.; Millar, Constance I. 2014. Improving the role of vulnerability assessments In decision support for effective climate adaptation. In: Sample, V. Alaric; Bixler, R. Patrick, eds. Forest conservation and management in the Anthropocene: Conference proceedings. Proceedings. RMRS-P-71. Fort Collins, CO: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 245-271.