Contact: Mékell Mikell – National Wildlife Foundation – June 15, 2011

Climate change is bringing new challenges to the Great Lakes region and changing the way communities think about conservation. The National Wildlife Federation and EcoAdapt are working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to reduce the vulnerability of the Great Lakes area by developing methods to ensure that coastal planning and restoration projects are “climate-smart.” Today, these conservation partners are releasing an innovative new guidance, Restoring the Great Lakes’ Coastal Future, which factors in regional climate change impacts and provides key recommendations to enhance the durability of Great Lakes restoration. 

 “Our region has 20 percent of the world’s freshwater reserves and a rich collection of fish and wildlife, all of which could be devastated by the impacts of climate change, “ said Melinda Koslow, regional campaign manager for the Great Lakes Regional Center for the National Wildlife Federation. “This guidance provides us with a powerful tool to plan for the future and protect our resources.” “What’s particularly exciting about this guidance is the focus on concrete action,” said Jennie Hoffman, Program Director for EcoAdapt. “It shows how we can use our understanding of climatic changes to strengthen our work in the Great Lakes.”

"Effective conservation requires consideration of climate change impacts on habitats.” said Pat Montanio, Director of the Office of Habitat Conservation at NOAA. “This guidance is a great tool to help ensure that coastal restoration projects in the Great Lakes will endure as the climate continues to change.”

 Applying a climate-smart restoration framework to future restoration projects in the Great Lakes region will greatly benefit people, wildlife, and the environment. You can view the Restoring the Great Lakes’ Coastal Future: Technical Guidance for the Design and Implementation of Climate-Smart Coastal Restoration Projects in the Great Lakes Region by visiting the National Wildlife Federation’s Global Warming page and clicking on Climate-Smart Conservation.