ABSTRACT
Anthropogenically induced climate change has been implicated in a myriad of coincident effects, including perturbations to temperature regimes and precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, sea level rise, and reformation of ecosystem composition, structure, and function (Alexander et al. 2013). Climate change will significantly alter many social-ecological systems (SES; i.e. a “bio-geo-physical unit and its associated social actors and institutions;” Glaser et al. 2008) and invariably lead to the formation of new systems with significant socioeconomic ramifications. In this chapter, we examine some strategies and techniques available to organizations seeking to protect natural heritage values from the effects of climate change and other wicked problems and suggest how conservation professionals can lead by example.
