http://www.MyFWC.com/

Florida's Wildlife: On the Frontline of Climate Change

October 1-3, 2008   •  Rosen PLAZA, Orlando

Wednesday, October 1
8:00am

Registration Opens


9:00-10:00am
Refreshments with Exhibitors - Ballroom Foyer

10:00-10:45am

Welcome - Ballrooms C & D

  • Chuck Collins, Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Summit Facilitator
  • Nick Wiley, Assistant Executive Director, FWC
  • Kenneth Wright, Commissioner, FWC

10:45-12:00pm

Climate Change Impacts

  • Climate Science and Reports from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
    • Virginia Burkett, Senior Climate Change Scientist, Global Change Research, USGS (7.8M)
  • Florida, Current and Anticipated Changes and Uncertainties
    • Thomas Crisman, Patel Professor of Environment, Patel Center for Global Solutions at University of South Florida(4.6M)
  • Florida's Wildlife and Their Changing Community
    • Thomas Eason, Conservation Initiatives Coordinator, Habitat and Species Conservation, FWC(2.4M)

12:00-1:30pm
Lunch (included) - Ballroom B

1:30-3:30pm

Biodiversity: Species on the Frontline

  • Characteristics of Terrestrial Climate Sensitive Species (necessity of adaptive land corridors)
    • Reed Noss, Davis-Shine Professor of Conservation Biology, University of Central Florida(7.2M)
  • Managing Terrestrial Exotic Species
    • Scott Hardin, Exotic Species Coordinator, Habitat and Species Conservation, FWC(8M)
    • Greg Jubinsky, Program Manager, Invasive Plant Management, FWC  (4.8M)
  • Future of Agriculture: Conflicts and Opportunities
    • Keith Ingram, Coordinator, Southeast Climate Consortium & Scientist, UF/IFAS, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
  • Ocean Effects
    • Hal Wanless, Professor/Chair of Department of Geological Sciences, University of Miami(4.0M)
  • Characteristics of Marine Climate Sensitive Species (marine, coral reefs and fish habitat)
    • Robert van Woesik, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology(3.7M)
Moderator: Len Berry, Director, Center for Environmental Studies at Florida Atlantic University

3:30-3:45pm
Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

3:45-5:15pm

Policies and Communication

Panel discussion on policy issues related to habitat and species management, human needs, hunting, fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation; linking climate change initiatives with the conservation community; congressional climate change and cap and trade legislation; communication issues: increase awareness of climate change impacts and our capacity to respond, including education & outreach (intra-agency, inter-agency, general public)

Panelists:

  • Tim Breault, Director, Habitat and Species Conservation, FWC
  • John Cooper, Senior Advisor to the Bipartisan Policy Center
  • John Kostyack, Executive Director, Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming, National Wildlife Federation(694K)
  • Margo Stahl, Refuge Manager, Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
  • Dan Walker, Assistant Director For Environment, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy(694K)
Moderator: Stacy Small, Conservation Scientist, Environmental Defense

5:15-7:00pm
Welcome Reception and Poster Session (included) - Ballroom Foyer



Thursday, October 2
7:30-8:30am
Light Breakfast with Exhibitors - Ballroom Foyer

8:30-9:15am

Wildlife Response to Climate Change and the Management Challenge to Help Species Adapt,   Jean Brennan(11M),
Defenders of Wildlife Senior Climate Change Scientist and
Recognized Member Recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Award to the IPCC

Introduction to Workshops, Chuck Collins, FWC

Workshop Goals:
  • Provide relevant information for FWC managers and policy makers about the possible effects of climate change and potential adaptation actions.
  • Develop a fish and wildlife message (communication, public outreach, awareness, and talking points) for Florida with respect to impacts of climate change. This includes a change from static view of climate to incorporating dynamic climate considerations into management decisions.


9:30-5:00pm

6 Concurrent Workshops with FWC Leaders - Salons, 2nd Floor
Your contribution in one of these six workshops will guide FWC management and policy makers as they develop guidelines in their Climate Change Strategy Document.


Marine, Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems -Salons 3 and 4
 (Summary)

Gil McRae, Director of Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Consider species life histories; habitat changes; species health; changing food base; species populations; changes in weather patterns (rainfall, drought, water temperature, sea level rise)

What research and monitoring is needed to proactively guide policy, management, and socioeconomic decision making for FWC?


Inland Aquatic and Semi-aquatic Ecosystems - Salon 2
 (Summary)

Darrell Scovell, Director of Freshwater Fisheries Management

Consider species life histories; habitat changes; species health; changing food base; species populations; changes in weather patterns (rainfall, drought, water temperature, sea level rise).
What research and monitoring is needed to proactively guide policy, management, and socioeconomic decision making for FWC?

What types of adaptation strategies can be employed by FWC, in terms of habitat enhancement; outreach; planning (identifying priorities and policy recommendations).


Hunting and Fishing - Salon 7
 (Summary)

Diane Eggeman, Director of Hunting and Game Management & Mark Robson, Director of Marine Fisheries

What does climate change mean to hunting and fishing in Florida?

ID waterfowl, freshwater fish, saltwater fish, upland birds, large game animals, small game animals. Consider species life histories; habitat changes; species health; changing food base; species populations; changes in weather patterns (rainfall, drought, water temperature, sea level rise, air temperature)

Analyze habitats and species most at risk, which provide important recreational opportunities and economic benefit to Florida. What will the potential economic impacts be if we fail to act?

What types of adaptation strategies can be employed by FWC in terms of wildife-human interface; law enforcement; outreach; planning (identifying priorities and policy recommendations)?

Incorporate solutions to ensure ecosystem resilience and actions to enhance species adaptation.


Native Terrestrial Species, Communities, and Ecosystems - Salon 6
 (Summary)

Tim Breault, Director, Habitat and Species Conservation

What will climate change mean to our native terrestrial species, communities, and ecosystems?

Consider species life histories; habitat changes; species health; changing food base; species populations; changes in weather patterns (rainfall, drought, water temperature, sea level rise).

What actions need to be taken to minimize climate change impacts in order to maintain and restore biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, including invasive and exotic species control, fire management, and dry land salinity management; wildlife corridors (habitat fragmentation - finding migratory pathways/corridors for species?

What types of adaptation strategies can be employed by FWC in terms of habitat enhancement; habitat preservation; exotic species control; human dimensions; partnering; outreach; planning (identifying priorities and policy recommendations)?


Invasive Organisms on Biodiversity in Future Climates - Salon 8
 (Summary)

Greg Holder, Regional Director, Southwest

What will climate change mean in terms of invasive organisms on biodiversity in the future?

Identify native flora and fauna and analyze potential impacts from invasive species as a result of climate change.

What types of adaptation strategies can be employed by FWC in terms of prescribed burning; human dimensions ; outreach; planning (identifying priorities and policy recommendations)?

How can we partner with other agencies to prevent the spread of invasive organisms?


Natural Resource Management and Land-use Planning Salon 5
 (Summary)

Jerrie Lindsey, Director, Office of Recreation Services

What will climate change mean to natural resource and land-use planning?

What are the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in the decision making and planning processes?

What types of adaptation strategies can be employed by the FWC for habitat enhancement; habitat preservation; wildlife corridors (habitat fragmentation - finding migratory pathways/corridors for species); planning (identifying priorities and policy recommendations)?

What research and monitoring is needed to proactively guide policy, management, and socioeconomic decision making for the FWC?

Are there regional issues and impacts to multiple agencies that are intertwined with wildlife? If so, how can we partner with other agencies to adapt climate change in terms of rural land stewardship; mitigation banks; creating larger connected blocks of land.


12:00-1:30pm
Lunch (included) - Ballroom B



Friday, October 3
7:30-8:30am
Light breakfast with Exhibitors - Ballroom Foyer

8:30-11:30am

Reports on Workshops from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Ballrooms C and D

  • Gil McRae, Director of Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
  • Darrell Scovell, Director of Freshwater Fisheries Management
  • Diane Eggeman, Director of Hunting and Game Management & Mark Robson, Director of Marine Fisheries
  • Tim Breault, Director, Habitat and Species Conservation
  • Greg Holder, Regional Director, Southwest
  • Jerrie Lindsey, Director, Office of Recreation Services


10:00-10:30am
Refreshment Break with Exhibitors

11:30-12:00pm

FWC's Directive for Florida's Wildlife from Tim Breault, Director, HSC
Adjourn