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Identifying priority regions
Some areas of the U.S. are expected to experience greater climate stress, while others have higher risks to species, and still others have received more proactive attention from land managers and decision-makers. Given limited resources, it is prudent to strategically prioritize areas for immediate climate preparation work based on their biological importance, severity of predicted climate change impacts, and risks from inappropriate actions through, at a minimum, neglect for planning.
The maps below identify areas that are expected to experience the greatest climate stress over the next 100 years and areas that currently have the highest proportion of imperiled species. Our preliminary analysis indicates that areas with a high number of imperiled terrestrial species and anticipated severe climate stresses (temperature, precipitation, productivity, and vegetation changes) in the coming century include the Pacific Coast, Desert Southwest, and southeastern U.S. We are working with the National Center for Ecosystem Analysis & Synthesis, Defenders of Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Research Station, and Island Press to recommend preparation strategies for land managers, planners, and decision-makers in high priority focal regions, develop a website to serve as a clearinghouse of preparation information for those regions, and help identify information and research needs.
Map 1: Areas expected to experience the greatest climate stress over the next 100 years; Highest values of stress are darkest blue while lowest values grade to yellow.
Map 2: Areas that currently have the highest proportion of imperiled species; highest values of species imperilment are darkest blue while lowest values grade to yellow.
