vignettes fluence of perspectives, ed. C. Meine, 23–36. Madison, sin–Madison, Aquatic Sciences Center, at betzc@aqua. WI: Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. wisc.edu; Tim Asplund, Statewide Aquatic Ecologist/Lim- nologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, at Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts. 2011. [email protected]; or Jim Hurley, Environmental Wisconsin’s changing climate: Impacts and adaptation. Health Division Director, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wis- State Laboratory of Hygiene, at [email protected]. consin-Madison and the Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI. Contributors For More Information This vignette was prepared by Carolyn Rumery Betz, Uni- versity of Wisconsin–Madison; Tim Asplund, Wisconsin De- For more information, visit http://wicci.wisc.edu/ or con- partment of Natural Resources; and Jim Hurley, University of tact Carolyn Betz, Science Writer, University of Wiscon- Wisconsin–Madison.

A Climate Change Action Plan for the Florida Reef System

The Florida Reef System is the third-largest coral reef ecosys- tries via outreach and adaptation planning, and (3) execute tem in the world, spanning more than 556 km (300 nauti- targeted research. It outlines a coordinated response to cal mi) from Martin County, Florida, on the Atlantic coast, climate change–related threats, including efforts by state, south through the Keys, to the Dry Tortugas (Figure 1). It in- federal, and local partners working across political, social, cludes a rich diversity of sensitive coral habitats ranging from and jurisdictional boundaries. Built on well-established prin- hardbottom, nearshore patch reefs to ciples for helping corals resist, tol- reef flats to deep and outlier reefs, as erate, and recover from negative well as associated seagrass, beach, impacts, the plan describes actions and mangrove habitat. For decades, that reef managers can undertake, overfishing, land-based pollution, in collaboration with stakeholders and direct habitat degradation from and other partners, to minimize the human activities—along with climate- damage and associated impacts related threats, such as extreme wa- caused by climate change on reefs ter temperatures and ocean acidifi- and reef-dependent industries, such cation—have threatened this system as tourism and fishing. (Figure 2). The plan includes a range of de- The Florida Reef Resilience Program tailed recommended actions ad- (FRRP), established in 2004 in re- dressing outreach, social resilience, sponse to these threats, brings to- research, and management which, gether diverse interests, expertise, if implemented, should increase the and management authorities. The overall resilience of the entire Flori- FRRP evolved organically across dis- da reef system. Top actions include Figure 1. The extent of the Florida Reef ciplines, user groups, and resource System with respect to Florida’s reef man- the following: management entities that leveraged agement jurisdictions. Map courtesy of The • Continue and expand the FRRP resources and focused efforts on the Nature Conservancy. disturbance response monitoring. emerging challenges. A steering com- • Implement a marine zoning plan that incorporates resil- mittee representing fishing, diving, science, management, ience and connectivity between reefs. and the environmental community spearheaded the develop- • Include sea level rise adaptation and mitigation planning ment of a holistic five-year plan: theClimate Change Action in local land use comprehensive plans. Plan for the Florida Reef System 2010–2015. • Evaluate and revise existing monitoring programs to op- The plan is designed to accomplish three main goals (1) timize their effectiveness in the context of climate change increase reef resilience through active management, (2) re- • Decrease negative user impacts. duce impacts from reef-dependent communities and indus- • Target outreach across sectors.

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(A) (B) (C)

Figure 2. Florida coral reefs in good condition (A) and bleached (B, C). Photos courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (A) and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (B, C).

• Forecast and project impacts to dependent communities to For More Information help develop a response plan. For more information, please visit http://www.frrp.org or • Increase understanding in the region regarding potential contact EcoAdapt at [email protected] or The Nature climate change impacts on coral reefs. Conservancy at [email protected]. • Ensure a long-term water quality monitoring program throughout the entire reef tract. Contributor • Map areas of high and low resilience to prioritize invest- This vignette was prepared by Alex Score, EcoAdapt, Alex. ment of management effort. [email protected]. This plan, building on the concept of resilience to help a region cope with the reality of climate change, is the first of its kind in Florida and may act as a catalyst to spur cli- mate adaptation up the Florida peninsula, throughout the SPATTERDOCK SPONSOR Caribbean, and beyond. The plan and its process are be- Employee-owned Since 1988 ing actively disseminated via presentations at regional and international trainings, science and policy meetings, and via online knowledge-sharing sites such as the Climate Adapta- tion Knowledge Exchange (see related vignette, this issue). The FRRP concept and framework can be used by water- shed or other professionals faced with complex challenges that span jurisdictions, management authorities, and interest groups and in cases for which meaningful solutions rely on collaboration and the targeting of limited resources. It is par- WATERSHED PLANNING ticularly appropriate when integrated, multisector action is needed in an environment of little legislative or governmental guidance and leadership. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The plan was released in June 2010; the FRRP will over- see its implementation, and The Nature Conservancy will STORMWATER provide primary coordination. Core FRRP partners include MANAGEMENT the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Na- tional Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, and Australia’s ECOLOGICAL Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority along with several RESTORATION other agencies, universities, and organizations, including: EcoAdapt, University of South Florida, University of Miami, www.kci.com Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Flor- ida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative, Florida Institute of Technology, Knowledge • Creativity • Innovation Mote Marine Laboratory, Nova Southeastern University, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

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