Recommendations in light of climate change

Background/Question/Methods Endangered species face an uncertain future due to a variety of anthropogenic threats, including the impacts of climate change.  Despite this current and emerging threat, there are a variety of proactive conservation strategies that can be taken to reduce its impact on endangered species.  Fundamentally, there is a need to increase connectivity between habitats and increase the resilience of species to climate change by improving the overall health of populations and ecosystems.

Results/Conclusions This can be achieved by traditional methods such as reducing non-climate stressors on populations, which is one of the fundamental objectives of most recovery plans, or by establishing habitat corridors between current populations so species can move with shifting climates.  Additionally, conservation managers should continue and expand the incorporation of climate change into vulnerability assessments and recovery plans and increase the use of active, on-going adaptive management techniques.  If the climate changes as rapidly as some projections indicate, these methods may not be sufficient and some species could face extinction unless more extreme measures are taken.  More risky or controversial methods that could be considered are designation of protected areas outside the current ranges of species, assisted colonization, genetic rescue, and habitat engineering.