Resources:
Adaptation


What is adaptation?
Adaptation: Adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. (IPCC, Climate Change 2007).

More simply, adaptation is taking action to minimize the impacts of actual or expected climate change. It is reducing the vulnerability of people and places to the effects of climate change. It is also embracing positive consequences of climate change.

Some examples:

Shore protection to prevent rising sea-level from flooding coastal land

Relocation of native villages from coast of Alaska

Water management-water conservation, planning for alternative water resources

Restoring ecosystems and building ecological resilience

Altered agricultural practices- new planting and harvesting dates; growing different crops better suited to new climate


Go the Planning page in the Resources to find websites and documents that may help your tribe with climate change planning.





Adaptation Strategies



Pacific Northwest

  • Trying to Stem the Tide
    Goskagit.com article about impacts of climate change, and adaptation planning by Swinomish Indian Tribe, Aug. 4, 2009. @2009 Skagit Publishing
    www.goskagit.com/home/article/trying_to_stem_the_tide/

  • Swinomish Climate Change Initiative
    Website about Swinomish Indian Tribal Community's project to assess local impacts, identify vulnerabilities, and prioritize planning areas and actions to address the possible effects of climate change. The ultimate goal is to develop a community action plan that will also be shared as a model to assist other tribal governments and jurisdictions with implementing strategic climate change planning policies and actions within their local communities.
    www.swinomish-nsn.gov/departments/planning/climate_change/climate_main.html



Southwest and Great Basin



Relocation of Alaska Native Villages





©2002 Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals & Northern Arizona University
Last updated: November 20, 2009