Managers charged with protecting natural resources are grappling with difficult decisions regarding when and how to direct ecological transformation. Many are anxious about unexpected consequences of actions intended to direct change, and avoid considering it as a serious management option. In this talk, we will discuss a case study from Acadia National Park, where we (park managers and partners) are actively planning, experimenting, and engaging stakeholders to help decide when and how to direct ecological transformation. Recent research suggests that active management will likely be necessary to direct changes in Acadia’s ecosystems to allow native species from southern locations to establish and not be displaced by nonnative invasive species. We are planning for plausible climate futures, associated disturbances that could cause rapid shifts in community composition, and possible management responses. We are also testing techniques for climate-smart vegetation restoration and have established experimental gardens to test potential species for managed relocation. And we are engaging the public and traditional stakeholders in this work through citizen science and conversations about how to understand and manage ecosystem “health” as ecosystems change.
Results/Conclusions
Scenario planning suggests that disturbances--such as storms, drought, and pest outbreaks—will likely speed changes in ecosystems and community composition under a variety of climate scenarios for Acadia National Park. Anticipating these changes, we have worked with colleagues to develop an initial framework for considering risk from managed relocation. Our experimental gardens testing managed relocation have identified species that may be best able to germinate and survive in parts of Acadia National Park, and species that would not be appropriate to use in management because their rapid growth may negatively impact native species. We also identified factors--such as water availability, winter survival, and seed predation--that are likely to limit or facilitate the establishment of relocated species. Through experience, we have refined our framework for engaging the public and traditional stakeholders in discussions about management and ecosystem health in a rapidly changing environment.