Climate Change Adaptation Planning Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Environment Division Angela Benedict SRMT Environment Division

An Adaptation Plan is a written document of our Environment, ways of life and strategies to adapt to a changing climate. WHAT IS AN ADAPTATION PLAN?

CHANGES?

Ability to recover readily from illness and/or depression RESILIENCE

The permissible variation of an object or objects in some characteristic such as hardiness weight or quantity. TOLERANCE

WHAT CHANGES ARE YOU SEEING?

 Apple trees are blooming earlier  Tree leaves are changing colors earlier  Earlier frost warnings  Leaves are dropping earlier FALL

 Snowfall  Ice  Extreme events  More rain than snow WINTER

CUMULATIVE FREEZING DAYS

 March  2012 High 81°F Low 1°F  2013 High 57°F Low 2°F  2014 High 47°F Low -23°F  Maple sap  Flowers  Lower snow pack less runoff but high snow pack could mean flooding SPRING

PREDICTIONS OF SUGAR MAPLE IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA present range overlap predicted new growth overlap Distribution of Sugar Maple in Eastern North America will change due to an increase in temperature and a decrease in moisture shifting further north east. Prediction based on Prediction based on increased increased temperature temperature and decrease precipitation

TOTAL RAIN FALL

 Extreme rain events  More rain in shorter time periods  Hail storms, wind storms SUMMER  Drought Conditions  Well went dry  Crops-Corn  Water levels  Warm, Cold, Warm (Spring), Hot and Dry (Summer)

WATER TEMPERATURES

BLACK ASH SEEDS One strategy the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment is using to save the black ash tree is the collection of black ash seeds. Each year, healthy seeds are harvested in New York and parts of Canada, then carefully recorded, dried, and stored until planting.

ADAPTATION PLAN Special Grant to create Adaptation Plans for all Nations in Region 2 Created 2 plans Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Shinnecock Nation Follows Thanksgiving Address

THANKSGIVING ADDRESS The People Mother Earth The Waters The Fish Small Plants and Animals The Berries Three Sisters Medicine Herbs Animals Trees The Birds The Four Winds The Thunderers Grandmother Moon The Sun The Stars The Four Beings The Creator

GRAND MOTHER MOON

 CURRENT CONDITIONS  FUTURE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE  ONGOING AND PLANNED CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION ACTIONS GRAND MOTHER MOON

DIRECT LINK: PDF PDF Air Quality Program Plan is listed under codes and regs LINK TO ADAPTATION PLAN

CLOSING WORDS “We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way. And now our minds are one.”