Climate Change and Protected Areas:

should we be concerned?

Floyd Homer

19th October, 2002

projected climate change impacts on the caribbean

- sealevel rise - storm frequency & intensity - precipitation change - drought - elevated temperature

projected senarios by 2050

Variable Low High

Sea level ↑ .08m ↑ .88m

Storms 7-10/yr 7-10/yr

Bad Hurricanes 2/yr 4/yr

Rain ↓ 1.5% ↑ 13.1%

Wind speed ↑ 5% ↑ 10-15%

Temperature ↑ 1.4 deg.C ↑ 2.0 deg.C

implications for protected areas management - 1

- monitoring coral health and distribution wetland size and function habitat modification

implications for protected areas management - 2

- habitat destruction recovery restoration alternate use

implications for protected areas management - 3

- site selection & design habitat change & species shifts invasive species

implications for protected areas management - 4

- resources procurement financing expertise allocation

compounding factors

- earth movements - land use - habitat degradation - inadequate enforcement - poor protected areas

management practices

practical considerations - implementation of existing policy - discharge of national obligations

under existing international/regional agreements

- effective management of protected areas

Thank You

questions, comments, or multiples thereof?