Climate change and protected areas : responses from U.S. national parks

Abstract

This study investigates the responses to climate change from the National Park Service at the organizational level and park level based on the Service's Climate Change Response Strategy and individual case studies. The extent to which the strategy integrates suggestions for adaptation and mitigation from the conservation literature is determined. Further, case studies are utilized to examine how seven parks are responding. Lastly, individual park progress (the product of the ratio of implemented actions versus planned actions) is evaluated, and three basic suggestions for adaptation are given based on these findings. The National Park Service's Climate Change Response Strategy integrated 30% of the adaptation and mitigation recommendations from the conservation literature. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has begun implementing 75.96% of its goals; all others implemented less than 50%. Park progress is not dependent on time as a Climate Friendly Parks Program member. Based on current trends, Great Smoky Mountains National Park may be the only park to implement all goals by its target date. Individual park progress is important. However, it must not overshadow the substantial efforts that these parks have made compared to the remaining 80% of national parks. These parks have clearly demonstrated their commitment to sustainability and climate change mitigation. Unfortunately, they represent only a small fraction (20%) of existing U.S. national parks. Only Olympic National Park mentions adaptation as a goal. The remaining parks' action plans focus strictly on mitigation. There is currently no avenue for parks to design adaptation strategies. While it is very clear how these parks plan to mitigate climate change, climate change adaptation plans remain unexplored. I hope this work can highlight the strengths and shortcomings of the National Park Service's responses to climate change so that positive growth can continue and necessary changes (namely a Service-wide framework for adapting individual parks) can be actualized.