Adaptation Examples

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Lake Simcoe Watershed Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning

The Lake Simcoe Protection Plan contains a dedicated climate change policy that commits the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, in collaboration with other ministries, organizations and communities to develop a climate change adaptation strategy for the Lake Simcoe Watershed.

With this direction, MNR and MOE co-led an ecosystem-focussed climate change vulnerability assessment for the Lake Simcoe Watershed. The process involved engaging experts, assessing current and future vulnerabilities of selected natural resources and infrastructure assets. The project also involved generating adaptation recommendations to support development of the Lake Simcoe watershed climate change adaptation strategy.

A panel of scientist and practitioners were engaged to complete vulnerability assessments.

Lake Simcoe

• Hydrology;
• Aquatic habitat;
• Wildlife;
• Insects;
• Species-at-risk;
• Invasive species;
• Vegetation cover;
• Natural heritage areas;
• Agriculture;
• Tourism and recreation; and
• Infrastructure.

Scientists completed vulnerability assessments by examining indicators to assess vulnerabilities based on future climate projections. Indicators were chosen that were most appropriate for the theme being examined, such as impacts of warmer temperatures on vegetation along the waterway, coldwater fish habitat, wetland water levels, tourism activities (e.g., skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing), and the composition of tree species in the forest. Each team of scientists prepared a background discussion paper describing methods and results. In addition, they provided a list of three primary consequences of climate change for their theme or sector; these were communicated to a forum of climate change experts at a workshop.

A Policy Delphi process was used to create a list of adaptation options with input from scientists and other practitioners. The first round of surveys asked questions organized according to 7 general categories of action: legislation and policy, strategic planning, land-use and/or resource management planning, management and operations, monitoring, research, and education. A suite of adaptation options were then evaluated in the second-round survey for their perceived priority and feasibility.

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Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Options for the Northeast Clay Belt

In 2011, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and partners are conducting sponsored a vulnerability assessments for natural resources in the Clay Belt of northeastern Ontario (Ecodistict 3E-1) (Clay Belt) that has a special emphasis on forestry. The Clay Belt encompasses 41, 287 km2 and 4.2% of the province. It is a river-dominated landscape in the Hudson Bay Watershed with coniferous and mixed forests of black spruce, jack pine, trembling aspen and white birch.

A multi-step vulnerability assessment and adaptation framework was used to explore how ecosystems within the Clay Belt may be vulnerable to change. Overall study methods are described and the results of the vulnerability assessments and adaptation options scoping process are summarized in a case study report.

Stakeholders and partners were engaged early in the process to identify potential adaptation options for natural, managed, and social systems in the Clay Belt. These included municipal and local organizations such as Chamber of Commerce and community networks, Aboriginal communities, councils and organizations, industry representatives, academia, and provincial, national and international agencies.

A panel of scientist and practitioners were engaged to complete the vulnerability assessments. Overall study methods, results, and the adaptation options scoping process are summarized in a case study report.

To learn more about the results of the vulnerability assessments, read:

Clay Belt

• Aquatic habitat;
• Wildlife - Ungulates;
• Wildlife – furbearers;
• Forest productivity and composition;
• Socio-economics;
• Wildlife - waterfow;
• Peatlands;
• Paludification;
• Forest fire;
• Forest windthrow; and
• Hydrology.

Results are currently being published for some of the themes. Collectively, these assessments can inform decision-making, enhance scientific understanding of how natural assets respond to climate change and help resource management organizations establish research and monitoring needs and priorities.

Through a participatory process involving project partners, communities, and stakeholders, potential adaptation options will bewere scoped and prioritized, taking in to accountconsidering economic feasibility, social acceptability, and ecological suitability.

Explore over 200 potential adaptation options for managing forests, wildlife, aquatics and other natural resources in a changing climate in the Northern Ontario Boreal Climate Change Adaptation Portfolio. PDF 105Kb

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