2007 Summaries of Wildlife Research Findings - Minnesota State ...

• Dedicate 1 new FTE position at the Program level in the Section of Wildlife or the Division
of Fish and Wildlife to lead and coordinate climate change efforts. This person should chair
a standing committee to address climate change issues and develop strategic approaches for
responding to climate change impacts.
• Address funding needs through reallocation of existing appropriations or new state/federal
appropriations and grants.
• Support a review and update of Minnesota’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
in terms of climate changes.
4.3.2.2. Research and Policy
• Link monitoring programs to specific management decisions or scientific hypotheses
(Yoccoz et al. 2001, Inkley et al. 2004:20). Interest in and ideas for monitoring will likely
exceed the available resources. It will be imperative, therefore, to carefully identify and
prioritize monitoring needs based on the potential impact on future decisions and
management activities.
• Identify species, communities, and ecosystems that are most vulnerable to climate change or
are the best indicators of climate change effects (Noss 2001), identify ecological thresholds
at which significant climate-induced changes may be particularly abrupt (Halpin 1997), and
identify species and communities that may migrate into Minnesota.
• Expand the focus of habitat management evaluation biologists in Wildlife Research to
include consideration of carbon sequestration and energy footprint for land management
practices.
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• Support the development and use of models to provide local projections of expected changes.
• Develop new tools and approaches for determining the appropriate type and amount of
resource management efforts. For example, a decision tree may help staff determine the best
management practices for systems in transition.
4.3.2.3. Operations and Programs
• Continue to acquire and manage land for wildlife purposes as part of the Outdoor Recreation
System to “protect those lands and waters which have a high potential for wildlife
production” as directed by Minnesota Statute 86A.