A Methodical Framework for Climate Change-Adapted Management in Protected Areas

Abstract

Protected areas have to adapt their management to the current and expected future impacts of climate change in order to fulfil their duties. In this chapter we present seven working steps that enable managers in protected areas to develop a Climate Change Adapted Management Plan (CAMP). The steps are embedded in a framework of guiding principles for adaptation. They cover the definition of adaptation objectives, the analysis of existing plans and available data, the assessment of climate change and its impacts and the development of a monitoring concept as well as the identification of suitable adaptation strategies and measures. Stakeholder involvement and awareness raising need to accompany all these efforts. The application of Adaptive Management provides significant benefits in terms of reducing knowledge gaps and improving management effectiveness. The framework for Climate Change Adapted Management Plans was developed in cooperation with protected area managers and tested within the HABIT-CHANGE project. It provides a flexible procedure that can be applied in multiple settings and helps to ensure the success of conservation activities under climate change.