Natural Resource Management and Conservation
Incorporating climate change into restoration activities
Salt production has occurred in San Francisco Bay since the 1800s and a large percentage of wetland loss in the south bay was due to tidal lands levied for salt ponds. Since 2003, there have been significant efforts to develop a restoration plan to restore and enhance the wetlands to historic tidal marsh conditions, and provide wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, flood protection, and water quality improvement. The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is the largest tidal restoration project on the West Coast that will transform 15,100 acres to a mosaic of tidal wetlands and managed pond habitats. In addition, the restored tidal wetland system will provide a critical natural buffer against the effects of climate change such as sea level rise, coastal flooding, and erosion. This project involves incorporating climate change into restoration planning and policies, and utilizing adaptive management strategies.
Why is it a good example?
- Implements restoration efforts in multiple phases; lessons learned from each phase will be used to inform future phases
- Demonstrates adaptive management in climate-smart restoration
Identifying and protecting vulnerable habitats
The State of Maryland has more than 3,000 miles of coastline, the majority of which is experiencing naturally occurring subsidence. These low-lying coastal areas make Maryland particularly vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise. The state pioneered a mapping tool called “GreenPrint” to assess the relative ecological importance of every land parcel in the state and to help managers prioritize land acquisition and restoration plans. In 2008, the Maryland Climate Action Plan recommended that a new layer of information be added to the GreenPrint tool that indicated climate change vulnerability. The Department of Natural Resources is developing criteria that systematically evaluate a system’s vulnerability to climate change. Once complete, the updated tool will allow managers to identify areas of forest, wetland, and shoreline that are suitable for long-term climate adaptation. This project, Integrating Climate Change Adaptation Strategies into Maryland’s Coastal Land Conservation Targeting, involves incorporating future conditions into planning and policies and enhancing technological resources to support action.
Why is it a good example?
- Mandated by management or law: 2008 Climate Action Plan recommendation to establish new criteria for land acquisition based on climate change.