From Mauka to Makai: Assessing Vulnerabilities and Identifying Climate Adaptation Actions for Terrestrial and Freshwater Resources of the Hawaiian Islands
Rachel M. Gregg, Jessi Kershner, Whitney Reynier, Laura Hilberg, Jeff Burgett, Wendy Miles
Project Objectives
(1) Convening over 250 practitioners in an effective science-management partnership to evaluate climate impacts on and adaptation options for terrestrial and freshwater resources
(2) Identifying and synthesizing climate science available to and used by managers to support reliable and timely decision making and stewardship
(3) Increasing understanding of climate-related vulnerabilities, in addition to the compounding effects of non-climatic stressors
(4) Facilitating the creation of adaptation options to reduce these vulnerabilities
(5) Creating a climate-engaged public that can make informed conservation decisions
(1) Convening over 250 practitioners in an effective science-management partnership to evaluate climate impacts on and adaptation options for terrestrial and freshwater resources
(2) Identifying and synthesizing climate science available to and used by managers to support reliable and timely decision making and stewardship
(3) Increasing understanding of climate-related vulnerabilities, in addition to the compounding effects of non-climatic stressors
(4) Facilitating the creation of adaptation options to reduce these vulnerabilities
(5) Creating a climate-engaged public that can make informed conservation decisions
Climate Synthesis
- Review peer-reviewed data and literature on observed and projected climatic changes
- Synthesize climatic changes for each island to provide the foundation for the climate exposure component of the vulnerability assessment (e.g., trend, relative change by 2100, confidence, notes on uncertainty)
- Review peer-reviewed data and literature on observed and projected climatic changes
- Synthesize climatic changes for each island to provide the foundation for the climate exposure component of the vulnerability assessment (e.g., trend, relative change by 2100, confidence, notes on uncertainty)
Vulnerability Assessment
- Identify focal habitats and ecosystem services of broad management, cultural, and socioeconomic concern across the islands
- Assess vulnerabilities of resources
- Identify plausible scenarios to evaluate potential impacts on focal resources and potential adaptation options
- Supplement participant evaluations with literature review and create peer-reviewed syntheses
- Erica von Allmen, Auwahi Forest Restoration Project
- Rhonda Loh, National Park Service
- Colleen Cole, Three Mountain Alliance
- Susan Cordell, USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station
- Jim Kraus, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
- Trae Menard, The Nature Conservancy
- Paul Higashino, Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission
- Matt Brown, USFWS
- Dennis LaPointe, USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
- Ed Misaki, The Nature Conservancy
- Darcy Hu, Hawai‘i–Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
- Vickie Caraway, USFWS
Available Products
- Vulnerability Syntheses, which provide in-depth discussions of climate and non-climate vulnerabilities
- Adaptation Summaries, which identify key vulnerabilities, adaptation options, and feasibility and effectiveness rankings
- Vulnerability & Adaptation Briefs, which are two-page overviews of key vulnerabilities and adaptation options
- Synthesis Report, featuring climate trends and projections, statewide trends in vulnerability assessment results, and adaptation options for minimizing climate-related losses of resources
- Vulnerability Syntheses, which provide in-depth discussions of climate and non-climate vulnerabilities
- Adaptation Summaries, which identify key vulnerabilities, adaptation options, and feasibility and effectiveness rankings
- Vulnerability & Adaptation Briefs, which are two-page overviews of key vulnerabilities and adaptation options
- Synthesis Report, featuring climate trends and projections, statewide trends in vulnerability assessment results, and adaptation options for minimizing climate-related losses of resources