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Appendix B <br />Ecosystem Response to Climate Change: <br />North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) <br />Assessment of Effects and Adaptation Measures <br />The assessment of Climate- Sensitive Ecosystems in the Adaptation Sector of the broader DENR climate <br />change initiative is being led by the Natural Heritage Program, with input by scientific staff of other <br />conservation agencies. It addresses in detail the likely effects of climate change on North Carolinas <br />ecosystems and species, compares them to other threats, and recommends adaptive measures that could <br />reduce their impact. Effects are examined separately for each of 42 ecosystem types (see below). An example <br />for Northern Hardwoods is provided below. <br />To address the potential for complex or differential responses, effects are also considered for several finer levels <br />of biological organization under each ecosystem unit, including natural community types, habitat indicator <br />guilds, and a number of individual, potentially vulnerable, species. Essentially all of the state Wildlife <br />Action Plan focal species are covered, individually or in habitat indicator guilds. Effects of climate change <br />are identified by consistent categories and also described with more detailed text. Effects of climate change <br />are rated for the likelihood and magnitude of effect. Major threats to the ecological units other than climate <br />change are also identified and are rated in comparison to climate change. Information is stored in a database <br />format, which will allow sorting by categories of impact and by recommended actions, as well as output <br />of text content. After the database is initially populated, it will be distributed to conservation partners for <br />additional input, and will eventually be analyzed to identify the most significant effects of climate change to <br />focus on the most important interventions for adaptation. <br />Suggested citation for this project is: Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NC NHP). 2010. Ecosystem <br />Response to Climate Change: Assessment of Effects and Adaptation Strategies. <br />For more information contact the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program: <br />Linda Pearsall, linda.pearsalloncdenr.gov <br />Laura Gadd, Laura.Gaddoncdenr.gov <br />174 Appendix B <br />