Resilience to climate change: translating principles into practice
Morecroft, M.D., Crick, H.Q.P., Duffield, S.J. and Macgregor, N.A. (2012), Resilience to climate change: translating principles into practice. Journal of Applied Ecology, 49: 547-551. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2012.02136.x
Summary
Ecological resilience is an important topic in theoretical and applied ecology. However, it has been difficult to pin down a meaning and to put resiliency concepts into practice. There are two widely used definitions: 1) the amount of disturbance that an ecosystem can absorb without major structural changes and 2) the return time to a previous stable state. Whichever definition is used, an important concept is that when the resilience of a system is exceeded, irreversible changes may occur leading to new stable states, i.e., a ‘new normal’. The authors stress the need for a larger evidence base but emphasize that incomplete evidence does not support inaction. Managers should consider ‘no regrets’ measures: actions that have few risks of adverse impacts but may result in potential benefits. Actions facilitating transformation are generally riskier, however, given medium- or worst-case long-term temperature predictions we may need to be more open to transformational approaches in the future. Ecological resilience is an important topic in theoretical and applied ecology. However, it has been difficult to pin down a meaning and to put resiliency concepts into practice. There are two widely used definitions: 1) the amount of disturbance that an ecosystem can absorb without major structural changes and 2) the return time to a previous stable state. Whichever definition is used, an important concept is that when the resilience of a system is exceeded, irreversible changes may occur leading to new stable states, i.e., a ‘new normal’. The authors stress the need for a larger evidence base but emphasize that incomplete evidence does not support inaction. Managers should consider ‘no regrets’ measures: actions that have few risks of adverse impacts but may result in potential benefits. Actions facilitating transformation are generally riskier, however, given medium- or worst-case long-term temperature predictions we may need to be more open to transformational approaches in the future.
Take home points
The resilience-acceptance-transformation spectrum is a useful framework for thinking about how to allocate resources at site and landscape spatial scales.
A stronger evidence base for specific climate change actions is needed, but lack of evidence base is not a good reason for inaction. Techniques with evidence-based support include protecting refugia, reducing other pressures, and restoring food webs.
Increasing connectivity is frequently encouraged, but there is debate around whether rare species with low dispersal ability can benefit from more connectivity, whereas invasive species can take advantage of enhanced connectivity.
Management implications
Consider the spatial scale and overall conservation goals.
Community-level characteristics may remain intact even if some species disappear. For example, increasing recruitment of already-present tree species that are more climate change adapted may allow a forest cover to persist, even if some tree species are lost.
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