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Resource-based activities in Atlantic Canada: Adaptations to Climate Change Norm Catto Department of Geography, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, Canada, A1B 3X9 ncatto@mun.ca
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Atlantic Canada Residents aware of weather and environment Resource-based occupations - fishing, agriculture, forestry, and tourism - critical to socio-economic activity fishing, agriculture, forestry, and tourism - critical to socio-economic activity Climate change and variation imposed upon efforts at sustainability
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Climate: Recent variability & change Longer, hotter and drier summers Thunderstorm & lightning activity Increased storm activity More winter & spring precipitation, esp. rain Stronger winds Variable, generally reduced snow cover More ‘anomalous’ events Decreased fog
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Some Stress Areas for Resource-Based Sustainability Agriculture Tourism and summer residents Forestry Groundfish stocks & Crab harvesting Climate-related natural hazards
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Compounding Stresses Climate change & variation compounded by: Over-fishing Periodic low prices for agricultural produce Competition International trade regulations Transportation difficulties Human response to weather & climate events
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Agriculture Numerous oscillations in price, competition Pathogens, summer drought International trade restrictions Some communities have suffered substantially since 1990 as a result of economic difficulties
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Average vs. Extreme average conditions impact agricultural activity a single late frost, hailstorm, flood, or extended drought can have an overriding effect extreme events more difficult to assess increased frequ. of drier and hotter periods more intense precipitation events greater irregularity in last spring and first autumn frost dates
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Groundwater Groundwater management central to agriculture Irrigation increases demand on water resources Reduced snow cover has negative effects Adaptation: monitoring of consumption patterns assessment of groundwater recharge land use management, planning water conservation wetland preservation
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Soil Management Intensively managed soils used to support shorter, less diverse crop rotations are more susceptible to degradation from climate and extreme weather events
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Livestock air-condition livestock buildings manage water usage and waste disposal effects on forage production spread of pathogens accentuated under warmer conditions
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More than just crops … Changed pathogens, predators, and pests Impacts to infrastructure Transportation, marketing, communications Operational changes – irrigation Crop rotation desirable Farm economics & demographics
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More than just fish … Changed pathogens, predators, and pests Impacts to infrastructure Regulatory regime Transportation, marketing, communications Operational changes by fish harvesters Health and safety Search-and-rescue operations
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Forestry … species change less important than … Changed pathogens, predators, and pests Transportation, marketing, communications Operational changes Availability Global competition & industry response Some communities facing contraction
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Tourism: Recent trends & change Increased and changed use by residents More summer residents & summer home purchases Aging demographic Shift to air travel Continued attraction of ‘come-home’ years – not as subject to climate change impacts
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Climate Impacts on Tourism Increased wave erosion by winter storm surges Increased coastal erosion and narrowing of beaches Coarsening of beach sediments Increased degradation of coastal dunes Damage to trails Water supply and quality concerns – drier summers
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Climate Impacts of Tourism Increased visitation & longer season Enhanced tourist use of natural areas Summer use of wooded areas can result in an increase in forest fires (local & distant) Increased use of ponds during summer
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Snow tourism changes in cross-country skiing patterns Decreases in snow would limit snowmobiling Reduction by ~ 50% in days suitable for snowmobiling from 1970 to 2025 Snowmobile sales declined by 38.4% between 1997 and 2005 throughout North America ATV sales increased by a comparable percentage
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Implications - positives Change advertising in response to changed conditions and tourist population Longer summer & shoulder seasons As warming increases more rapidly in central North America and Western Europe, our relatively cool summers are increasingly seen as attractive environments for vacationing or a summer residence
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Climate and Community Impacts create socio-economic consequences, impacting on community sustainability Climate influences on community sustainability superimposed on political, socio-economic, technological factors
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Impacts happen … regardless of cause of climate change and variation Changes identified and measured today Changes are similar to those observed in past Communities face similar types of risks Only the frequency and the consequences of disregarding existing knowledge will change
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Application of current best practices Many adaptations are already ongoing Information, communication, dissemination, and planning aid adaptation and sustainability Study of previous events provides perspective Adaptations
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