Once you have identified the climate change impacts on your project area, consider how these impacts could influence your goals and objectives.
Four questions can be useful to help you evaluate your project goals and objectives in the context of climate change:
- What new or different challenges need to be addressed as a result of climate change and related stressors?
- What new opportunities might be available as a result of anticipated changes?
- Are your management practices enough to overcome the challenges and meet your management goals and objectives?
- Do any of your goals or objectives need to change?
| Management Objective | Challenge from Climate Change | Opportunity from Climate Change | Feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Have no more than 20% of a family, 10% of a genus and 5% of a species across all street trees | Climate change may reduce habitat suitability for some species on the planting list | New species from one hardiness zone south can be considered for planting | Medium |
| Increase a neighborhood or city’s tree equity score from 20 to 40 points | Trees planted by residents in private yards may experience variable precipitation and dry conditions, making it more difficult for residents to care for trees | A warming climate may allow for a broader range of species to be introduced to the city’s forest, increasing diversity | Medium |
| Reduce area covered by invasive buckthorn from 10% to no more than 5% | Buckthorn may leaf out earlier with warmer spring temperatures. Carbon dioxide may enhance growth rates | New native species may be able to out-compete buckthorn | Low |
| Maintain existing and develop new walking trails | Recreational and visitor demands may increase as people go to parks to escape the heat Increased costs associated with hazard tree removal can limit ability to create new trails | New trails provide an opportunity to design trails in a manner that reduces impacts from extreme weather while promoting positive nature experiences | Medium |