Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands?

In this article we test the notion that adaptation to climate change in grazed rangelands requires little more effort than current approaches to risk management because the inherent climate variability that characterizes rangelands provides a management environment that is preadapted to climate chan...

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Main Authors: Ash, Andrew J., Thornton, Philip K., Stokes, C., Togtohyn, C.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25138
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author Ash, Andrew J.
Thornton, Philip K.
Stokes, C.
Togtohyn, C.
author_browse Ash, Andrew J.
Stokes, C.
Thornton, Philip K.
Togtohyn, C.
author_facet Ash, Andrew J.
Thornton, Philip K.
Stokes, C.
Togtohyn, C.
author_sort Ash, Andrew J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In this article we test the notion that adaptation to climate change in grazed rangelands requires little more effort than current approaches to risk management because the inherent climate variability that characterizes rangelands provides a management environment that is preadapted to climate change. We also examine the alternative hypothesis that rangeland ecosystems and the people they support are highly vulnerable to climate change. Past climate is likely to become an increasingly poor predictor of the future, so there is a risk in relying on adaptation approaches developed solely in response to existing variability. We find incremental, autonomous adaptation will be sufficient to deal with most of the challenges provided by the gradual expression of climate change in the next decade or two. However, projections of greater climate change in the future means that the responses required are qualitatively as well as quantitatively different and are beyond the existing suite of adaptation strategies and coping range. The proactive adaptation responses required go well beyond incremental on-farm or local actions. New policies will be needed to deal with transformational changes associated with land tenure issues and challenges of some displacement and migration of people in vulnerable parts of rangelands. Even where appropriate adaptation actions can be framed, issues of when to act and how much to act in a proactive way remain a challenge for research, management, and policy. Whether incremental or transformational involving system changes, a diversity of adaptation options will be required in different rangeland regions to enhance social and ecological resilience.
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spelling CGSpace251382024-04-25T06:02:00Z Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands? Ash, Andrew J. Thornton, Philip K. Stokes, C. Togtohyn, C. rangelands climate migration adaptation In this article we test the notion that adaptation to climate change in grazed rangelands requires little more effort than current approaches to risk management because the inherent climate variability that characterizes rangelands provides a management environment that is preadapted to climate change. We also examine the alternative hypothesis that rangeland ecosystems and the people they support are highly vulnerable to climate change. Past climate is likely to become an increasingly poor predictor of the future, so there is a risk in relying on adaptation approaches developed solely in response to existing variability. We find incremental, autonomous adaptation will be sufficient to deal with most of the challenges provided by the gradual expression of climate change in the next decade or two. However, projections of greater climate change in the future means that the responses required are qualitatively as well as quantitatively different and are beyond the existing suite of adaptation strategies and coping range. The proactive adaptation responses required go well beyond incremental on-farm or local actions. New policies will be needed to deal with transformational changes associated with land tenure issues and challenges of some displacement and migration of people in vulnerable parts of rangelands. Even where appropriate adaptation actions can be framed, issues of when to act and how much to act in a proactive way remain a challenge for research, management, and policy. Whether incremental or transformational involving system changes, a diversity of adaptation options will be required in different rangeland regions to enhance social and ecological resilience. 2012-11 2013-01-29T22:25:36Z 2013-01-29T22:25:36Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25138 en Open Access Elsevier Ash A, Thornton P, Stokes C, Togtohyn C. 2012. Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands? Rangeland Ecology & Management 65(6): 563-568.
spellingShingle rangelands
climate
migration
adaptation
Ash, Andrew J.
Thornton, Philip K.
Stokes, C.
Togtohyn, C.
Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands?
title Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands?
title_full Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands?
title_fullStr Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands?
title_full_unstemmed Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands?
title_short Is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands?
title_sort is proactive adaptation to climate change necessary in grazed rangelands
topic rangelands
climate
migration
adaptation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25138
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