Influences of climate change on ecosystems in protected areas and their adaptation measures: Insights and case studies from abroad
2015
Ohsawa, T. (Dalhousie University (Canada). School for Resource and Environmental Studies)
The main objective of protected areas in Japan is to maintain biodiversity, landscapes, and multiple ecosystem functions. However, a number of studies have reported that climate change has had negative impacts on these forms of ecosystem protection. Both research and conservation programs in other countries have addressed the issue of climate change at the level of protected areas, and those efforts can inform conservation practices in Japanese protected areas. This article reviews such studies and relevant examples of the adaptation of ecosystems to climate change. More specifically, most protected areas have been established based on the premise that ecosystems are statically distributed, but this assumption may no longer be valid due to climate change. Therefore, flexible management of protected areas, including the creation of connections among multiple areas, is considered to be one important adaptation measure. On the other hand, the question of how to conserve species and ecosystems in existing protected areas presents another important challenge. Several approaches have recently emerged, such as climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA), expert consultation, scenario planning, and the Adaptation for Conservation Targets (ACT) framework. A non-static perspective on ecosystems may also change the value placed on some non-native species, as already seen in other countries. Thus, these new ideas may alter the values and directions of protected area management.
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