Alaska Landscape Conservation Cooperatives: The Big Picture Approach to Science and Management

What are LCCs? Self-directed partnerships that: – Provide science and support for conservation and sustainable resource management; – Address landscape-scale stressors, i.e., climate change; – Bring together resource managers within an ecoregion to identify shared conservation goals; – Bring together resource managers and scientists to identify and address information gaps; LCC Background

Who makes up LCC partnerships? – Federal and state/provincial agencies – Tribal/First Nations and local governments – Non-governmental organizations – Universities, others LCC Background

Why LCCs? Some conservation challenges are too “Big” to be solved by any one entity. Geographic “Big” – Landscape-scale stressors and processes cross jurisdictional boundaries. Conceptual “Big” – Science questions associated with management problems are multi-disciplinary in nature. Effort “Big” – Implementation costs are high; coordination allows leveraging of funds but increases bureaucratic overhead. LCC Background

What do LCCs do? Science to Inform Management Assess landscape condition and vulnerabilities Coordinate monitoring Facilitate conservation planning Deliver information to stakeholders Develop analytical and decision-making tools Facilitate formation of adaptation strategies

LCC Background

Arctic LCC For more info: arcticlcc.org

Arctic LCC  Describe and Forecast Ecosystem Change  Terrestrial Observation Network  Interdisciplinary Climate Response Research: Link physical processes/biological response  Model Ecosystem Response to Climate  Data Integration and Management  Spatial Data  Provide Information to Meet Near-term Management Needs

Arctic LCC Long-term monitoring of climate, hydrology, soils/permafrost, and vegetation in representative watersheds.

Arctic LCC Approved for Starts: Response of an Arctic Freshwater Ecosystem to Climate and Land-use Change Biological Responses to Increasing Water Temperatures in Lakes of the Barrow/Atqasuk Focus Watershed: An Interdisciplinary Bioenergetics and Contaminants Study Tentatively Approved, Need Funding Partners for 2014 Starts: Climate Change Effects on Wetlands, Invertebrates and Shorebirds How Will Marine Food Webs in the Coastal Arctic Respond to Increased Runoff Associated With Permafrost Melt? Explicit investigation of linkages between climate change, physical processes, and biological response.

Arctic LCC Approved for Starts: Response of an Arctic Freshwater Ecosystem to Climate and Land-use Change Biological Responses to Increasing Water Temperatures in Lakes of the Barrow/Atqasuk Focus Watershed: An Interdisciplinary Bioenergetics and Contaminants Study Tentatively Approved, Need Funding Partners for 2014 Starts: Climate Change Effects on Wetlands, Invertebrates and Shorebirds How Will Marine Food Webs in the Coastal Arctic Respond to Increased Runoff Associated With Permafrost Melt? Explicit investigation of linkages between climate change, physical processes, and biological response.

Arctic LCC  Data Integration and Management  Spatial Data  Provide Information to Meet Near-term Management Needs

Western Alaska LCC

Rotate every two-years between Coastal, Freshwater and Terrestrial Systems themes Rotate every two-years between Coastal, Freshwater and Terrestrial Systems themes Plan focus for each theme 6-12 months in advance Plan focus for each theme 6-12 months in advance Always ask for “cross-system” projects Always ask for “cross-system” projects – (linkages from changes in physical drivers to biological / ecological / human impacts) All projects must be completed within four years of theme “start”. All projects must be completed within four years of theme “start”. INITIAL Ideas for a long-term science strategy

Western Alaska LCC Changes in Coastal Storms & their Impacts Changes in Coastal Storms & their Impacts Coastal Hazards Workshop (w/ AOOS, Ak CSC), => report w/ priority info needs on AOOS website Coastal Hazards Workshop (w/ AOOS, Ak CSC), => report w/ priority info needs on AOOS website Inventory of coastal projects (AOOS website) Inventory of coastal projects (AOOS website) Integrated suite of projects (RFP) (WALCC website) Integrated suite of projects (RFP) (WALCC website) – spatially detailed projections of storm surge inundation on Yukon Delta coast region of important migratory waterfowl breeding, – Results used to assess storm impacts on specific breeding waterfowl & project future impacts under scenario(s) of relative sea level rise.

Western Alaska LCC Rotate every two-years between Coastal, Freshwater and Terrestrial Systems themes Rotate every two-years between Coastal, Freshwater and Terrestrial Systems themes Plan focus for each theme 6-12 months in advance Plan focus for each theme 6-12 months in advance Always ask for “cross-system” projects Always ask for “cross-system” projects – (linkages from changes in physical drivers to biological / ecological / human impacts) All projects must be completed within four years of theme “start”. All projects must be completed within four years of theme “start”. INITIAL Ideas for a long-term science strategy

Western Alaska LCC Rotate every two-years between Coastal, Freshwater and Terrestrial Systems themes Rotate every two-years between Coastal, Freshwater and Terrestrial Systems themes Plan focus for each theme 6-12 months in advance Plan focus for each theme 6-12 months in advance Always ask for “cross-system” projects Always ask for “cross-system” projects – (linkages from changes in physical drivers to biological / ecological / human impacts) All projects must be completed within four years of theme “start”. All projects must be completed within four years of theme “start”. INITIAL Ideas for a long-term science strategy

Western Alaska LCC Rotate every two-years between Coastal, Freshwater and Terrestrial Systems themes Rotate every two-years between Coastal, Freshwater and Terrestrial Systems themes Plan for each theme 6-12 months in advance Plan for each theme 6-12 months in advance Always ask for “cross-system” projects Always ask for “cross-system” projects – (linkages from changes in physical drivers to biological / ecological / human impacts) All projects must be completed within four years of theme “start”. All projects must be completed within four years of theme “start”. INITIAL Ideas for a long-term science strategy

Western Alaska LCC Topic: Changes in Stream & Lake Temperatures and their Impacts Topic: Changes in Stream & Lake Temperatures and their Impacts Details being developed, Sept. RFP Details being developed, Sept. RFP Major components: Major components: – Recommendations from recent statewide workshop on Stream and Lake Temperature – Projects investigating potential Impacts

Northwest Boreal LCC

NWB LCC was initiated in 2011 International partnership – Over 20 participating organizations Alaska Yukon Territory British Columbia Northwest Territories

Northwest Boreal LCC Science and management Information Needs Assessment – Informal questionnaire – Priority biological and cultural resources – Management Framing Workshop Focusing on users’ needs

Drivers of change in boreal ecosystems Drivers of change in boreal ecosystems – Wildfire – Invasive species – Insect disturbance – Permafrost dynamics – Vegetation composition change – Land-use change Impacts on biological and cultural resources Impacts on biological and cultural resources Northwest Boreal LCC

Baseline data – Assessments/syntheses Coordinated monitoring Understanding relationships Projecting future states Adaptation framework and best management practices Northwest Boreal LCC

Improved geo-spatial data layers, specifically as they relate to habitat maps (vegetation, soils, permafrost) Improved geo-spatial data layers, specifically as they relate to habitat maps (vegetation, soils, permafrost) Anthropogenic footprint (current and projected) Anthropogenic footprint (current and projected) Projections of future forest disturbance regimes (fire, insect pest outbreaks) and impacts on priority resources Projections of future forest disturbance regimes (fire, insect pest outbreaks) and impacts on priority resources Climate-change related impacts on subsistence/rural communities Climate-change related impacts on subsistence/rural communities Products/data that span the US-Canadian border Products/data that span the US-Canadian border Northwest Boreal LCC

Aleutian Bering Sea Islands LCC

Focus on landscape level stressors: – Climate Variability and Change – Commercial Fisheries – Marine Shipping – Invasive/Introduced Species – Contaminants and Pollutants – Ocean Acidification

Aleutian Bering Sea Islands LCC Increased vessel traffic through Aleutians & Bering Strait increase with loss of ice Real-time, archived vessel tracking AIS (Automatic Identification System) data Increased risk of oil or other spills, ballast water invasives, or rat “spills” Halpren et al 2008

Aleutian Bering Sea Islands LCC Changing sea ice has major implications for region Several large-scale investments with partners (e.g., SNAP, NOAA, AOOS) to assess vulnerability of species to sea-ice loss  A climate vulnerability workshop with Alaska Climate Science Center

Aleutian Bering Sea Islands LCC Alaska Maritime Refuge - Removing introduced species with terrestrial mammal focus Aquatic invasives = risk for fisheries and subsistence resources  Focus on prevention and early detection of introduction through education

Aleutian Bering Sea Islands LCC Threats from global transport in atmosphere and marine waters as well as “bio-transport” by species migrating from lower latitudes Used defense sites Includes marine debris Community health & subsistence harvest Marine debris ingestion and plastics toxicology  Marine debris inventory  Evaluating the effectiveness of remediation efforts at former defense sites; UAA using fish/birds as bio-indicators for contaminants distribution

Aleutian Bering Sea Islands LCC Help us continue our effort to develop our strategic science plan ABSILCC.ORG

North Pacific LCC New Website:

Together, Alaska and northwest Canada LCCs can: Jointly address state- or region-wide information needs LCC Coordination

Together, Alaska and northwest Canada LCCs can: Jointly address state- or region-wide information needs Serve as a forum for learning and information exchange LCC Coordination

Together, Alaska and northwest Canada LCCs can: Jointly address state- or region-wide information needs Serve as a forum for learning and information exchange – At multiple levels Facilitate communication and collaboration – Among agencies/organizations – Across disciplines – Across jurisdictional boundaries LCC Coordination

Cross - LCC Collaboration

Burned area Fire Severity ALFRESCO DOS-TEM GIPL-1 Soil moisture Moss & Organics Veg. canopy Vegetation type Soil Thermal Properties Downscaled GCM Data

Cross - LCC Collaboration Examples of Anticipated Products Climate – Historical and projected temperature, precipitation Disturbance – Historical and projected area burned – Susceptibility to thermokarst Landcover and Vegetation – Projected treeline – Projected distribution of vegetation types through time Ecosystem Dynamics – Carbon fluxes, net primary productivity, carbon released by fire Soil Properties – Permafrost distribution, active layer thickness

LCC Contacts Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands Doug Burn – Coordinator Aaron Poe - Science Coordinator Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands Doug Aaron Arctic Greg Balogh - Coordinator ) Philip Martin - Science Coordinator Arctic Greg Philip North Pacific John Mankowski – Coordinator Mary Mahaffy - Science Coordinator North Pacific John Mankowski Mary Northwestern Interior Forest John DeLapp – Coordinator Amanda Robertson - Science Coordinator Northwestern Interior Forest John Amanda Western Alaska Karen Murphy – Coordinator Joel Reynolds - Science Coordinator Western Alaska Karen Joel