The draft of the National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is available for review and comment until March 5. A collaborative effort among federal, state, and tribal partners with input from many other diverse groups from across the nation, the strategy proposes a unified approach for reducing the negative impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants, and the natural systems upon which they depend.

Hunters and anglers may be first to notice fish and wildlife responses to climate change. Photo: AFWA

Seeking to establish a nation-wide framework for conserving fish, wildlife and ecosystem functions in a changing climate, the draft document

• summarizes the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on various ecosystems
• sets seven goals for immediate and future actions to protect natural resources
• suggests ways that government, conservation organizations and private stakeholders can integrate and implement the strategy

Public workshops will be held at several locations around the country as well as on line to promote discussion of the draft strategy. Comments may be submitted on line.