Protected Area Policies and Climate Change: The Case of the Prairie Ecozone, Saskatchewan

PARC PRAIRIE ADAPTATION RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE

SUMMARY DOCUMENT Summary edited by Derek Froese, John Vandall and Norm Henderson

John Vandall (Saskatchewan Environment) Norm Henderson (Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative) Jeff Thorpe (Saskatchewan Research Council)

No. 08-02

Grasslands National Park

This summary is based on the following larger document: Vandall, J., N. Henderson, and J. Thorpe. 2006. Suitability and adaptability of current protected area policies under different climate change scenarios: the case of the Prairie Ecozone, Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Research Council Publication 11755-1E06). The full report is viewable at: http://www.adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/ neo_archive_e.php PARC acknowledges the support of Natural Resources Canada, Saskatchewan Environment and the Saskatchewan Research Council for the above project. Heidi Kessler worked on the managers’ survey and policy review. Charlene Hudym prepared the final report. This Summary is available for download from the PARC website (www.parc.ca). PARC acknowledges the funding support of Saskatchewan Environment and Alberta Environment.

Saskatchewan’s Representative Areas Network (RAN)

Introduction This study focuses on the prairie ecozone, a highly fragmented landscape where protected areas are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We modeled the impacts of climate change through the application of climate scenarios and vegetation models on nineteen protected areas of the prairie ecozone in Saskatchewan. This was intended to assess the capacity of current protected areas policies to represent and sustain ecological health under future climate conditions. A review and assessment of protected area policy was conducted of Saskatchewan’s Representative Areas Network (RAN) and of each type of protected area. Policy recommendations for Saskatchewan’s protected areas to respond to climate change are proposed, including a template to review protected area policy in other jurisdictions. The policy recommendations are intended to support park and protected area planners and managers to respond to climate change now and in the near future.

Saskatchewan, through its Representative Areas Network (RAN) program, has established an extensive system of parks and protected areas across the province and is now nearing the RAN designation of 9% of its land base (Figure 1). The framework of the RAN is based on “enduring features,” that is the kind of features that change only gradually over time. Within its biodiversity action plan, Saskatchewan committed to expand the RAN to include 12% of the land and water within the province by 2009. The RAN is a unique assemblage of protected areas, as it encompasses over 15 types of land designations managed by the private sector, non-government organizations, federal agencies (including national parks) and provincial agencies (including provincial parks) (Table 1). The areas include highly protected areas (e.g. ecological reserves) as well as working landscapes such as community pastures that encompass some of the best remaining native prairie in the province. While biodiversity conservation is a primary objective of all protected areas within the RAN, the diversity of management regimes and lack of program regulations or standards means ecosystem management is a constant challenge, particularly under climate change.

Climate change has been identified as one of the key threats to prairie biodiversity (James et al. 2001). Two recent studies in Saskatchewan have examined the possible effects of climate change on prairie biodiversity (James et al. 2001) and island forests of the northern Great Plains (Henderson et al. 2002). At the national level, Scott et al. (2002) predicted through modeling that 50% of Canada’s National Parks will undergo significant vegetation changes with climate change and identified major policy challenges for Parks Canada. These studies suggest the need for major changes in protected area selection and management policies to respond to current and anticipated climatic changes. More intrusive forms of management, for instance, may be required to preserve some form of tree cover on prairie island forests (Henderson et al. 2002). The introduction of exotic tree species is one potential adaptation strategy to maintain a desired landscape and ecosystem function that we may need to consider.

As of 2005, a total of 10% of the Prairie Ecozone is encompassed within the RAN, with the vast majority (over 85%) occurring on lands available for agricultural production – primarily grazing. The remaining 15% is comprised of ecological reserves, national and provincial parks, and lands dedicated to wildlife protection.

Modeling Changes in Vegetation Zones One of the critical questions for protected area policy is the impact of climate change on the natural ecosystems that are being protected. In order to address this question, we analyzed the potential future changes in vegetation zonation in the Prairie Ecozone of Saskatchewan.

Protected Areas and Climate Change Climate change seriously threatens biodiversity. Since we are locked in to significant future climate change even if greenhouse gas emissions are severely reduced today, we need adaptation strategies. Most protected areas have been designed to represent and protect specific natural features, species and communities, but have not taken into account the potential changes to ecosystems that could be induced by climate change (Scott and Lemieux 2005). For example, establishing a network of protected areas to represent natural regions that includes vegetation type may be problematic. A key objective of protected area management is biodiversity conservation, yet some species may be eliminated from a given protected area as the climate becomes warmer or drier. Other species better adapted to warmer or drier climates may be prevented from immigrating to the protected area because of the absence of migration corridors.

The modeling method that best represents the current vegetation zones of the prairie region is Hogg’s (1994) Climatic Moisture Index (CMI). CMI, defined as annual precipitation minus annual potential evapotranspiration, indicates the level of moisture available to an ecosystem: the lower the CMI value, the drier the conditions. Hogg (1994) showed that moisture levels correlate well with the southern boundaries of the boreal forest and the aspen parkland, thereby defining the vegetation zones of the Prairies (Table 2). We can extend this work by looking at the major grassland types occurring in the Great Plains of the United States (Table 3 and Figure 2). Similar climates to those predicted by the climate change scenarios for the Canadian Prairies can presently be found in the central and northern Great Plains. Therefore the vegetation types that occur in those climates



Projection: Universal Transverse Mercator Datum: (NAD83CSRS98) Spheroid: GRS 1980 Date: November 23, 2005 Branch: Geomatics Services Section Saskatchewan Environment Source Data: Rhoracle1 and rhoracle2 Rochelle Joerissen (Ducks Unlimited data)

Figure 1: Saskatchewan Representative Areas Network within the Prairie Ecozone



Protected Area Type & Legislation Purpose Saskatchewan Environment Administered Land Protect natural and cultural resources, Park Lands under the Parks Act landscapes or features for future generations • Provincial Parks for their recreation and education. • Protected Areas • Protected areas are more for habitat • Park Land Reserves protection, not recreation and education. • Recreation Sites • Historic Sites (not included in total %) • Park Land Reserves are designations which set aside land for five years while discussions are undertaken to determine a permanent designation. Ecological Reserves under the Protect land for biodiversity and natural Ecological Reserves Act resource conservation. Fish and Wildlife Development Fund Protect wildlife and aquatic habitat through Lands under the Natural Resources Act land acquisition funded by hunters and fisherpersons. Wildlife Refuges under The Wildlife Act Protect, propagate, perpetuate, manage, control, regulate or enhance wildlife or its habitat in designated areas. Game Preserves under The Wildlife Act Protect, propagate, perpetuate, manage, control, regulate or enhance wildlife or its habitat in designated areas. Special Zones under The Lands Act Protect Crown Resource Lands without a legal designation. Other Provincially Administered Land Primarily to protect grazing land, but also Provincial Community Pastures under native prairie ecosystems. The Pastures Act, managed by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) Primarily to protect habitat for ungulates and Wildlife Habitat Protection Land under licensed hunting and angling opportunities. The Wildlife Habitat Protection Act, managed by SAF Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Protect waterfowl habitat. lands under The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Act Government of Canada/Federally Administered Land Parks Canada under The Canada Protect and present nationally significant National Parks Act examples of Canada's natural and cultural heritage and foster public understanding, • National Parks appreciation and enjoyment in ways that • National Historic Sites ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations. Migratory Bird Sanctuaries under the Protect staging waterfowl areas/colonial Migratory Birds Convention Act nesting birds. National Wildlife Areas under the Protect wildlife habitat. Canada Wildlife Act CFB Dundurn Protect native habitat. PFRA Community Pastures under the Primarily to protect grazing land, but also Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act native prairie ecosystems. Non-Government Agencies Ducks Unlimited Protect habitat for ducks and other waterfowl. Nature Conservancy of Canada Protect native habitat. Corporate Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Protect native habitat. Others Conservation Easements on private land Protect native habitat. under The Conservation Easements Act

Total %

3%

< 1% 2% < 1% 1% < 1%

10%

45% 1%

1%

2% 2% 1% 29% < 1% < 1% < 1% < 1%

Table 1: Protected Area Type, Purpose and Percentage of Representative Area Network (RAN) within Prairie Ecozone, Saskatchewan



July, 2006

Suitability and Adaptability of Current Protected Area Policies under Different Climate Change Scenarios: The Case of the Prairie Ecozone, Saskatchewan

CMI Vegetation zone were considered. The Desert>0Steppe type considered (Kuchler’s Grama-Galeta type) occurs Forest mainly in intermountain valleys in New Mexico. 0 to -150 mm Aspen Parkland -150 to -300 mm Mixed Prairie Table 6: Major zonal grassland types in and adjacent to the central and northern