Voluntary Guidance for States to Incorporate Climate Change into State Wildlife Action Plans & Other Management Plans

This document provides voluntary guidance that can be used by state fish and wildlife agencies to better incorporate current and expected impacts of climate change into Wildlife Action Plans. The report presents steps for developing a wildlife adaptation strategy, the process for revising state Wildlife Action Plans, and tools to support the planning and implementation process, including vulnerability assessments and monitoring. Relevant case studies are included in each chapter.

While all states are required to update their Wildlife Action Plans by 2015, Congress is considering legislation to require all states to create a climate change adaptation strategy and incorporate that strategy into their Wildlife Action Plans. This document is intended to help states in that effort.