Casco Bay Estuary Partnership Workshop 18 November 2010 Portland, Maine

Transcription

1 Appendix A

2 Contents 1. Workshop Agenda 2. Participant List 3. Western Foothills Land Trust Case Study 4. Example of Potential Climate Change impacts: Effects on Trails

3 Workshop Agenda Casco Bay Estuary Partnership Workshop 18 November 2010 Portland, Maine Objectives Examine the potential impacts of climate change on land trusts. Foster discussion that will assist land trusts in incorporating climate change considerations into the planning process. Gather information from the meeting to support a report to the wider Maine land trust community with findings on: o o o Component Welcome and introductions Speaker presentation Speaker presentation Speaker presentation Discussion Climate adaptation issues of concern to land trusts Information needs to support land trust climate adaptation planning Tools to support planning efforts (flow charts, critical questions, ecological goals) Presenter/ Leader Curtis Bohlen and Anne Choate Peter Slovinsky, Maine Geological Survey Steve Walker, Beginning with Habitat Andy Whitman from Manomet Agenda Short Description of Topics to Cover Welcome to participants and overview of workshop agenda, speakers, purpose and expected outcomes of workshop. Presentation on sea level, coastal geology, regional climate change research. Presentation on impact of climate change on Maine habitat, Beginning with Habitat activities. Presentation on climate change science, impacts of climate change on land conservation priorities. Implications of climate science for land trust planning efforts Time 11-11:10 am 11:10-11:30 11:30-11:50 11:50 am- 12:10 pm 12:10-12:25 Lunch 12:25 1:15 1

4 Agenda, Continued Component Presenter/ Leader Short Description of Topics to Cover Time Adaptation planning exercise Anne Choate Presentation of adaptation frameworks leading into a group "mock planning process" using Western Foothills Land Trust as a case study. 1:15-3:15 Key areas that will be covered: Stewardship Land conservation priorities Land trusts & the community Organizational development Break 3:15-3:30 Discussion of lessons from adaptation planning exercise Anne Choate Breakouts or group discussion to capture lessons derived from the case study exercise. 3:30-4:15 Summary and wrap up CBEP Summary of key points that emerged, immediate next steps. 4:15-4:30 2

5 Participant List Name Donna Bissett Curtis Bohlen Jessica Burton Ralph Carmona Anne Choate Reed Coles Nan Cummings Lee Dassler Sophie DeMaio Amanda Devine Katy Maher Peter Slovinsky Jamel Torres Angela Twitchell Carrie Walia Steve Walker Andy Whitman Warren Whitney Affiliation Maine Land Trust Network Casco Bay Estuary Partnership Portland North Land Trust Collaborative Public utility ICF International Harpswell Heritage Land Trust Portland Trails Western Foothills Land Trust Portland North Land Trust Collaborative Maine Coast Heritage Trust ICF International Maine Geological Survey Casco Bay Estuary Partnership Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust Loon Echo Land Trust Beginning with Habitat Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences Maine Land Trust Network 3

6 Western Foothills Land Trust Case Study 4

7 Western Foothills Land Trust A Case Study: Planning for Climate Change

8 Introduction Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) has assembled this case study to provide background materials to participants in an upcoming workshop designed to explore how the land trust community of Maine can incorporate planning for climate change into their work. Many land trusts are aware of anthropogenic climate change and would like to incorporate consideration of climate into their planning, but staff and board members of many land trusts are uncertain where to begin. Western Foothills Land Trust (WFLT) and the regional Upland Headwaters Alliance will serve as focal points for our discussion of climate change adaptation planning on November 18 th. We chose to assemble a case study based on an actual land trust as a way to provide a realistic look at the challenges faced by Maine land trusts that choose to incorporate consideration of climate change into their work. We do not intend this case study to preclude participants from raising issues of concern to their own land trusts, but instead to provide a specific framework for examining common issues. CBEP and the Maine Land Trust Network (MLTN) would like to express our sincere thanks to WFLT for their willingness to serve as the Case Study organization. We would especially like to thank Lee Dassler, Executive Director of WFLT, for her assistance gathering the necessary information to assemble this case study. Structure of the Case Study The case study provides some general background information on the WFLT and the regional Upland Headwaters Alliance and presents some more specific details about one particular parcel of land purchased by the WFLT in 2007: the 150 acre parcel known as Robert s Farm Preserve. In preliminary discussions, we have identified four main areas of land trust practice likely to be influenced by climate change: 1. Stewardship Practices 2. Land Conservation Priorities 6

9 3. Land Trusts and the Community 4. Organizational Development For each of these areas, we have assembled some provocative questions to consider as we begin to collectively explore how the land trust community of Maine can incorporate planning for climate change into their work. General Background WFLT was founded in The WFLT mission statement indicates that it is. "Committed to the conservation and preservation of native ecosystems, watersheds, farm and forest lands, and scenic landscapes in Western Maine Implicit in the WFLT mission are a number of goals such as protection of biodiversity, support for local agriculture, and providing recreational opportunities. Approaches for achieving these goals may need to be revisited in the face of climate change. Like many land trusts in Maine, WFLT has limited staff capacity (i.e., a single parttime Executive Director). Many of WFLT's policies and procedures are informal rather than written or formally adopted by the Board. This pattern is likely to be common in Maine, where many land trusts operate with little staff support and want the majority of their resources to go towards on-the-ground conservation. While land trust accreditation has begun to force changes in this pattern, WFLT's practices are not uncommon in the state. Tools and approaches that can support planning for climate change at WFLT should be broadly applicable across the State. For many land trusts, successful past projects reflect opportunity as much as planning. The result is a mixed conservation portfolio rather than a carefully constructed reserve system. Few land trusts will be in a position in the future to ignore opportunity, so a balance needs to be struck between detailed planning and ability to be responsive to the community. 7

10 Map of Western Foothills Land Trust s Protected Lands 2010 Regional Partnerships Considering the regional context provides a larger spatial context for WFLT conservation priorities. For example, it may be useful for WFLT to view their protected lands as part of a conservation network that could address larger regional goals, such as protection of forest resilience via establishment of protected corridors along elevation or latitudinal gradients. WFLT is part the Upland Headwaters Alliance, a regional alliance of land trusts. The Alliance protects lands and waters essential to preserving the 8

11 contiguous ecosystem of our common region. Working with its member trusts and other partners, the Alliance focuses on opportunities across its region that are most effectively addressed through joint action, while maintaining the autonomy of each trust. It encourages public awareness of the natural environment of the region, identifies projects and activities that extend beyond the reach of individual land trusts and other entities, and undertakes action programs to protect land and waterways and promote balance between growth and conservation. Map of Upland Headwaters Alliance 9

12 The Crooked River Initiative (an initiative of the Alliance and other partners) brings attention to the role of land conservation in protecting water quality and aquatic ecosystems. The Portland Water District, CBEP, and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences are all working in the Crooked River Watershed in part because of the relationship between land use and water quality. Sebago Lake is the primary drinking water source for the Portland Metropolitan area. Certain lands especially steep slopes and areas close to existing water courses are of especially high value from a water quality perspective. The importance of those lands for water quality protection is not likely to diminish in the context of projected climate change. What is not yet clear is the extent to which protection of lands identified as being of high value for water quality supports other conservation goals likely to be important in the face of future climate change. For example, in many anthropogenic landscapes, riparian forests not only support clean water and healthy aquatic ecosystems, they provide migration and movement corridors for migratory birds, forest interior specialists and large carnivores. Riparian corridors thus support clean water as well as biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Robert s Farm Preserve The Robert s Farm Preserve is a 150 acre parcel of land located approximately two miles from downtown Norway, Maine. The Roberts Preserve is being managed to provide a four season public amenity for recreation, eco-tourism and bird watching by members of the surrounding communities of the greater western Maine foothills. Recreational trails on the Preserve are used for walking, running, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. The site is a potential home for cross country and Nordic ski teams from Maine School District #17. The site also includes a wheelchair-accessible trail, and is intended to become an outdoor classroom for area schools. 10

13 Map of Robert s Farm Preserve Photo credit: Jamel Torres 11

14 1. Stewardship WFLT is committed to ecologically sound stewardship of native ecosystems, farm and forestlands, and scenic landscapes in the greater Oxford Hills area of western Maine. Like many land trusts throughout the state, WFLT has not yet incorporated climate change into their management practices and has few written policies for stewardship. What are the implications for existing holdings? o How to protect the continued community value of protected lands? o How to ensure continuing ecological value (even if the ecological characteristics of the site change) Will monitoring practices on existing easements need to be altered in light of climate change? How could climate change or associated demographic changes affect public use of fee holdings? Increased demand? Altered seasonal timing of use? Are there stewardship/management practices that would help mitigate the effects of climate change? How will climate change affect boots-on-the-ground management, such as vegetation management (including invasive species) and restoration? How will climate change affect maintenance of recreational facilities like trails, parking areas, etc.? Photo credit: Jamel Torres 12

15 2. Land Conservation Priorities Land conservation can facilitate biodiversity protection in the face of climate change. A few specific ideas from the literature include: o Establish corridors to facilitate ecosystems shifts in response to warmer temperatures o Protect resilience by ensuring connectivity among habitat patches o Support good management of surrounding lands to maximize biodiversity value of core protected lands (manage "the matrix", to use the conservation buzzword). o Increase diversity of ecosystem types protected as part of the conservation "portfolio". Are there practical ways for WFLT (or other land trusts) to work toward support of ecosystem "resilience"? Should land trusts work to protect today's regionally important ecological communities such as northern hardwood forest or red maple swamps that are likely to see significant changes in species composition in coming decades? What is the appropriate unit of conservation in a changing world species, communities, or biophysical environments in which future ecosystems can develop? How will the recreational value of lands be affected by climate change? o How will climate affect demand for passive recreation? o How will changes in energy and transportation costs affect the types of recreational activities people enjoy? Should changing risks from invasive species affect conservation priorities? Warmer winters are expected to increase survival of forest pests such as the emerald ash borer and the hemlock wooly adelgid. Does that increase or decrease the value of protecting hemlock forests? 3. Land Trusts and the Community WFLT has become increasingly interested in how land conservation can enrich the local community by providing educational resources, recreational opportunities, and support for the local economy. The developing management plans for the Robert s Farm Preserve, which include consideration of use of the property by area schools, are a reflection of that interest. The Preserve offers 13

16 significant community outreach and educational opportunities. These opportunities include: Services to the community o An open-air classroom for area schools o Four season recreational opportunities o Cross Country ski/running trails for local schools o A potential to establish community gardens A location for hosting community events, such as o Maple sugaring o Trail design workshops o Annual trail maintenance workdays o Climate change adaptation workshops? Collectively, the availability of these resources has the potential to promote a healthier community Other work being undertaken by WFLT, such as the Crooked River Initiative, suggests that the land trust in the future may also be interested in the ecosystem services provided to the community by protected lands, such as water quality protection to carbon sequestration. Today, WFLT offers limited programming for the general public, and has no direct involvement in environmental education. However, many land trusts do get involved with educational or recreational programming. Climate change, in part because of its controversial politics, may pose challenges for land trusts that decide to offer programming or information to the local community. Should the land trust incorporate discussion of climate change and related questions into environmental education programs, on signage at protected land, or in other public venues? o Does WFLT have an interest in providing information on climate change to the local community? o Would discussion of climate change lead community members to reduce their trust in or willingness to cooperate with WFLT on the land conservation efforts that are the core of WFLT's mission? o Are there ways such as discussing changing timing of slow melt that can raise the issue, but not raise community ire? How can land trusts help safeguard quality of life for local residents and visitors as the climate changes? 14

17 What other services can land trusts provide that are not being offered by others? (e.g., land for affordable housing, which may be in higher demand if climate change triggers demographic shifts). What role can land trusts play in educating others about likely impacts of climate change? o Does the land trust lead the community on climate change or not? If not, who does? o Can or should land trusts work to engage the community in climate change related activities or events? 4. Organizational Development Land trust boards are obligated to ensure the long term financial and organizational viability of the organizations they lead. Yet it is not yet clear how climate change will affect financial and managerial needs of land trusts in the future. How could climate change affect the ability of WFLT to raise funds? o demographic changes, and changes in the landscape within WFLT service area could impoverish or enrich the local community o Increasingly strident political discourse about the science of climate change may affect the willingness of some to donate funds to an organization that makes no secret of its belief in anthropogenic climate change. How will climate change affect the willingness of landowners to cooperate with WFLT in future? o Climate changes will affect ownership patterns in Maine forest lands in unpredictable ways. o Shifting climates may alter the demand for second homes in western Maine, shifting the economic calculus of those considering establishing conservation easements on their land. Does WFLT have the leaders it will need to plan for and respond to climate change? o Does climate change affect who wishes to serve on the organizations board or the types of expertise it would be beneficial to have present around the Board table? o How will climate change affect the skills needed by staff? 15

18 Does WFLT have to consider setting aside more money to fund future stewardship activities? o More intense storms and higher risk of drought projected for the future may increase stewardship costs. o Uncertainty associated with climate change increases uncertainty of stewardship costs. Should land trusts support efforts aimed at climate change mitigation or adaptation? If so, how? How can land trusts day-to-day operations be made more sustainable? How can you get the Board on board (selling the notion that climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies aren t drifting from your mission)? 16

19 Example of Potential Climate Change Impacts: Effects on Trails Changes in precipitation consistent with current climate change projections for the region may cause significant damage to trails. The design of multi-use recreational trails, especially on hillsides, may need to consider potential climate change impacts in the planning stages. Appropriate trail siting and design could reduce trail erosion, downstream water quality impacts, and maintenance cost (e.g., repairing bridges, boardwalks and damaged pathways). Trails may need to incorporate larger culverts, sturdier or taller bridges and more numerous water diverters. Above is a photograph of a trail at Robert s Farm Preserve. The trail is obviously muddy, perhaps after a significant rain event. The WFLT may want to consider the following types of questions in the future: What trail design techniques could be used when considering more frequent extreme rainfall events or altered timing of snow melt in the spring? Should WFLT design trails for future unknown weather conditions? Photo credit: Jamel Torres 17