
Conservation of Climate Change Refugia
Overview
The field of climate adaptation is still getting established, and guidelines and examples for how to manage for climate change on-the-ground are still rare. The concept of climate change refugia, areas buffered from climate change that enable persistence of valued resources, is being discussed as a potential adaptation option in the face of anthropogenic climate change. This project seeks to provide practical guidance for how to operationalize this concept and to work with stakeholders to help prioritize actions to conserve climate change refugia. In addition, I use the tools of ecological and climate modeling and historical field data to test predictions of climate change refugia in the Sierra Nevada of California.
Many resource managers and conservation organizations are looking to help their ecosystems, habitats and species adapt to climate change. Climate change refugia can allow species to persist in the face of warming and changing precipitation regimes. Managers are eager to learn how to implement these ideas. Preliminary results of mapped meadow refugia and connectivity in the Sierra Nevada match with wildlife population persistence and genetic diversity data.
Tools and Products

Publications
Presentations
Additional Resources
Report: "Climate Change Refugia." USDA Forest Service Climate Change Resource Center. 2018
Resource: The Refugia Research Coalition Portal for the Northwest and Northeast
News
Undark, Climate Refugia: Safe Havens for Vulnerable Species, January 7, 2019.
Nature, Help to shape policy with your science August 28, 2018
Science Daily Coldwater streams may provide refuge against changing climate July 24, 2018
Mountain Views, Mapping Climate Change Refugia in the Sierra Nevada, page 7 (guest editorial, page 2), December, 2018.
NE CSC News Announcing the Northeast Refugia Research Coalition, July 21, 2017
New England Public Radio Conservationists Try To Thwart Cliamte Change By Planting in Cold Spots June 21, 2017
NE CSC Regional Science Meeting Refugia Session Output List May 17, 2017
NE CSC News New Publication: Mapping Meadows of Climate “Refugia” in the Sierra Nevada May 8, 2017
Wildlife Conservation Society Magazine Steps to managing climate change refugia for wildlife August 24, 2016
New England Public Radio Researchers At UMass Look For The Places That Climate Change Forgot, August 23, 2016
Gazette UMass researchers looking for places safe from climate change August 15, 2016
Lab Manager Managing Climate Change Refugia to Protect Wildlife August 11, 2016
Phys.Org Managing climate change refugia to protect wildlife August 10, 2016
Science Daily Managing Climate Change Refugia to Protect Wildlife August 10, 2016
Terra Daily Managing climate change refugia to protect wildlife August 10, 2016
NE CSC News New Publication: Managing Climate Change Refugia to Protect Wildlife August 10, 2016
UMass Press Release Managing Climate Change Refugia to Protect Wildlife August 10, 2016