Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
Climate Change Implications for Ecological
Restoration Planning
MARK BUCKLEY AND ERNIE NIEMI
Climate change alters the biophysical and socioeconomic context for ecological res-
toration efforts in a multitude of ways, some of which are known, others anticipated,
and still others unknown. These climatic variations will likely cause multiple and cas-
cading effects to ecosystem structures, functions, and compositions, and bring into
question how best to approach ecological restoration planning and implementation.
For example, regional-scale coastal restoration efforts in places are more difficult due
to these changes, although they will be more important than ever. In this chapter we
discuss how planners, restorationists, and others will have to work together in an at-
mosphere of adaptive management in order to meet ecological and social demands in
the face of climate change. We start with an example from the state of Washington,
where collaborative efforts are under way to maintain and restore the natural capital
and functional landscape of the Puget Sound basin.
Climate Change and Planning for Restoration in the Puget Sound Basin
In 2007, the Washington State Legislature created the Puget Sound Partnership
(PSP), a collaboration-minded state agency with the mission of restoring Puget Sound
by 2020. The PSP coordinates actions across local, state, and federal agencies to re-
store ecosystem structures and functions, and has developed the Action Agenda to pri-
oritize and implement the most cost-effective projects (PSP 2008). As defined by the
PSP (2009a, 7), “The Puget Sound ecosystem spans the terrestrial, freshwater aquatic,
and marine systems in the area from the crest of the Cascades and Olympic moun-
tains, down through the Puget lowlands, and into the estuarine and marine inland wa-
ters of Washington state. The Puget Sound ecosystem is the southern portion of a
larger system that extends into Canadian lands and waters: the Puget Sound-Georgia
Basin ecosystem.” This large ecosystem is currently experiencing declines in ecologi-
cal function, water quality, habitat availability, and wildlife populations (PSP 2009b).
The PSP has three top priorities:
• Protect intact ecosystem processes, structures, and functions that sustain Puget
Sound
