The National Park Service Confronting Climate Change by Dr. Raymond Sauvajot

Associate Dir., Natural Resource Stewardship & Science

Presentation will highlight climate change challenges facing national parks – while describing how NPS confronts these challenges focusing on: information, mitigation, adaptation, and communication.

Climate change profoundly affects the management, preservation, and operations of national parks by threating natural and cultural resources, sacred and iconic places, park infrastructure, and visitor experiences. Under accelerated warming caused by climate change, national parks will likely be noticeably changed in the decades to come. As part of the National Park Service (NPS) commitment to climate change response, the NPS Climate Change Response Strategy guides parks in understanding and using climate change science, developing adaptation options and strategies, and communicating about climate change. This presentation will highlight challenges facing national parks due to climate change – from more frequent and intense wildfires to sea level rise to high severity storms and prolonged drought – while describing how the NPS confronts these challenges through integrated focus areas of information, mitigation, adaptation, and communication. It is crucial to protect resources in parks, even as conditions change and pose novel threats to park ecosystems, facilities, and visitor experiences. Because climate change impacts are complex and wide ranging, the NPS pursues collaborative, inclusive solutions that provide the best possible future for parks and people.

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