Table 4. Judgments of forest practitioners on the importance of adaptation options to conserve biological diversity in the Champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory for each of three scenarios: “current climate conditions,” “low scenario of future climate change by the 2050s,” and “high scenario of future climate change by the 2050s.” Scale of 1 to 10 (0 = no importance, 1 = low importance, 10 = high importance) or don’t know. Results shown are the average rank and standard deviation (s.d.) of participants who provided a ranking. The percentage of participants who agree or strongly agree with the statement “this management option is currently being practiced in the Yukon” is also provided. Adaptation options in bold are considered to be “no-regrets” (option is ranked 7 or higher across range of scenarios).
| |
| |
|
Adaptation Option |
Current Practice |
Current
Importance |
Importance Considering Projected Change 2050s
|
|
Low Scenario |
High Scenario |
|
(%) |
Average Rank
(s.d.) |
Average Rank
(s.d.) |
Average Rank
(s.d.) |
| |
|
Minimize fragmentation of habitat and maintain
connectivity |
60 |
7.1 (2.7) |
7.5 (2.6) |
7.8 (2.6) |
|
Maintain representative forest types across environmental
gradients in reserves |
46 |
6.4 (2.7) |
6.9 (2.8) |
7.0 (3.0) |
|
Protect primary forests (forests that are largely
undisturbed by human activities) |
37 |
6.0 (3.3) |
6.1 (3.4) |
6.5 (3.3) |
|
Protect climate refugia at multiple scales |
16 |
5.7 (3.5) |
6.6 (3.3) |
7.1 (3.4) |
|
Identify and protect functional groups and keystone species
|
47 |
6.7 (2.8) |
7.2 (2.4) |
7.8 (2.4) |
|
Maintain natural fire regimes |
60 |
5.9 (3.0) |
6.0 (3.2) |
6.4 (3.1) |
|
Provide buffer zones for adjustment of reserve
boundaries |
36 |
5.4 (3.5) |
5.7 (3.6) |
6.0 (3.7) |
|
Create artificial reserves or arboreta to preserve rare
species |
20 |
4.6 (2.8) |
5.3 (2.8) |
5.8 (2.8) |
|
Protect most highly threatened species ex situ
|
33 |
4.3 (3.2) |
5.2 (3.3) |
5.7 (3.4) |
|
Develop a gene management program to maintain diverse gene
pools |
10 |
5.5 (2.8) |
6.5 (2.8) |
7.1 (2.9) |
|
Allow forests to regenerate naturally following
disturbance |
90 |
5.1 (3.2) |
4.9 (3.1) |
5.1 (3.4) |
|
Control invasive species |
13 |
5.9 (3.0) |
6.5 (3.0) |
7.2 (3.2) |
|
Practice low-intensity forestry and prevent conversion to
plantations |
50 |
5.6 (3.2) |
5.9 (3.2) |
6.1 (3.5) |
|
Assist changes in the distribution of species by introducing
them to new areas |
33 |
3.6 (2.6) |
4.7 (2.9) |
5.7 (3.2) |
|
| |
|