Climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies for land managers on Northwest US rangelands

Authors: MAHER, ANNA - Us Forest Service (FS); PRENDEVILLE, HOLLY - Us Forest Service (FS); HALOFSKY, JESSICA - Us Forest Service (FS); ROWLAND, MARY - Us Forest Service (FS); Davies, Kirk; Boyd, Chad

Submitted to: Rangeland Ecology and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2024
Publication Date: 11/27/2024
Citation: Maher, A.T., Prendeville, H.R., Halofsky, J.E., Rowland, M.M., Davies, K.W., Boyd, C.S. 2024. Climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies for land managers on Northwest US rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 98:399-413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2024.04.012.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2024.04.012

Interpretive Summary: Rangelands around the globe are experiencing management challenges associated with disturbance and climate change is likely to affect rangelands directly by increasing the likelihood, severity, and extent of these disturbances. We conducted a synthesis of key climate change vulnerabilities for Northwest USA rangelands and related these to climate adaptation opportunities using the scientific literature and a database of climate adaptation practices developed through science-management partnerships. We identified strategies related to improving hydrological function of streams and wetlands, establishing climate-adapted perennial plant species, minimizing invasive annual grass expansion, and investing in more flexible grazing management systems. Many natural resource-dependent systems can benefit from the framework developed herein, as it connects existing issues with disturbances and projected climate change effects, and links these scenarios to proactive and collaborative climate change adaptation opportunities.

Technical Abstract: Rangelands around the globe are experiencing management challenges associated with existing and emerging stressors, including more frequent and severe fires, woody species expansion, annual grass invasion, heavy, repeated growing season grazing, and climate change. Disturbance is an essential part of rangeland systems. Yet climate change is likely to affect rangelands most directly by increasing the likelihood, severity, and extent of long term, negative impacts from disturbance. We conducted a synthesis of key vulnerabilities to climate change for Northwest US rangelands. These rangelands are projected to become warmer and drier this century, with episodes of more extreme droughts and higher likelihood of more severe fires affecting larger areas. Many of the vulnerabilities identified in our synthesis, such as increased frequency of fire and invasive grass proliferation, can have lasting effects, leading to “undesirable transformations” (substantial and persistent changes in vegetation composition and reductions in ecosystem services). For example, larger, more severe fires have led to the rapid loss of critical Greater sage-grouse habitat and diminished forage production capacity for livestock in some areas, lowering provisioning of ecosystem services, increasing fire management costs, and impacting rural livelihoods. Rangeland managers need guidance connecting climate change projections to on-the-ground management actions. We conclude from our synthesis of climate change vulnerabilities that supporting rangeland recovery is an important climate adaptation approach on Northwest rangelands. Proactive climate adaptation strategies (e.g., supporting soil health and vegetation) and example practices (e.g., establishing climate-adapted perennial plant species) are presented according to key action areas: prepare for, respond to, and recover from disturbance. Identifying specific adaptation needs at more local scales, like the management unit level, may be further refined through proactive planning and experimentation in collaborative settings that allow for resource pooling and foster learning.