Forest management in a changing climate: building the environmental information base for southwest Yukon

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of a project that synthesized available information on climate change for the southwest Yukon. This was done as a first step in a longer-term process of evaluating climate impacts, assessing risks to ecosystem and community values, and developing scenarios for adaptation. The overall intent of the work was to support informed forest management decision-making for the Champagne-Aishihik Traditional Territory (CATT) in the light of climate change. The objectives of this stage of the project were to: compile and improve access to existing baseline information needed to support informed management decisions in the face of climate change; to make this information available using several communication tools for various target audiences; and to create an opportunity for scientists, government; and local residents to share observations and concerns on climate change as related to the management of forest resources within the study region. Key words: climate change, impacts, adaptation, sustainable forest management, southwest Yukon, Dendroctonus rufipennis, spruce bark beetle, Yukon Territory, champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory