Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Chugach National Forest and Kenai Peninsula

In 2012, the Chugach National Forest began writing a climate vulnerability assessment to support land management planning. A partnership was developed with other agencies, scientists, and resource management practitioners, resulting in a collaborative assessment project based on an all-lands perspective. Published by the USDA Forest Service in 2017, the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Chugach National Forest and Kenai Peninsula evaluates the effects of future climate change on a select set of ecological systems and ecosystem services in the Kenai Peninsula and Chugach National Forest.

The focus of the assessment was established during a multi-agency/organization workshop that established the goal to conduct a rigorous evaluation of a limited range of topics rather than produce a broad overview. The report explores the potential consequences of climate change for

• snowpack, glaciers, and winter recreation
• coastal landscapes and associated environments
• vegetation
• salmon
• a select set of wildlife species