Weathering Climate Change by Protecting Lands, Wildlife
The Effects of Global Climate Change

By Laura Bavaro

From the far reaches of the Arctic to our very own backyard, climate change is altering the natural world. Evidence is mounting that climate warming is having a sizeable effect on wildlife and their habitats in the northeast – the delicate natural balance that has existed for centuries is becoming out of sync.

The Nature Conservancy is working to help slow the pace, severity and magnitude of global climate change and lessen its catastrophic effect on our way of life and the places we love.

One way we are doing this is by purchasing land for conservation purposes. The Nature Conservancy has helped protect over 150,000 acres of valuable lands on Long Island. Because of the unavoidable effects of climate change, it is time to protect even more open space, especially along coastal areas and in wetlands. We are calling for the protection of an additional 25,000 acres of natural areas under our Long Island’s Last Stand initiative.

How else can we inoculate our environment against climate change? A healthy natural world is one with high biological diversity. The more diverse the genetic pool, the better the chance that some individuals will be suited for new climate conditions. Maintaining high biodiversity is our best climate change adaptation strategy for Long Island’s already protected open spaces. The loss of biological diversity makes an area more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The Nature Conservancy is working every day to ensure that our waters, forests, grasslands and wetlands stay healthy. We are giving nature a helping hand by restoring some of the natural processes that used to occur on our landscapes, including bringing the restorative properties of fire back to Long Island’s forests and grasslands. Prescribed fires (also known as controlled burns) help to ensure that these landscapes and the wildlife therein remain healthy.

Fire is a natural process that occurs across our landscapes. It creates habitat, releases seeds and nutrients, stimulates growth and enables our forest and grasslands to thrive. Fire is required in order for grasslands to remain grasslands and to keep the “pine” in Pine Barrens.

The formerly extensive woodlands and shrublands in the pine barrens have dwindled steadily. There are thought to be less than 8,000 acres of grasslands and old fields remaining on Long Island’s public lands. Many of Long Island’s most rare, threatened, and endangered species are dependent on these grasslands, woodlands, and shrublands. With the loss of these landscapes comes the loss of biodiversity, possibly reducing the remaining ecosystems’ ability to withstand climate change.

Another way we are working to ensure a healthy environment is to manage natural habitats for invasive plants. Once established, invasive plants and animals deteriorate the health of our natural habitats, consequently reducing the ability of the system to endure the unavoidable effects of climate change. Invasive plants crowd out native plant species and cost millions of dollars to our agricultural industry, overtake water bodies and severely limit recreational opportunities.

Chaired by the Nature Conservancy, the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (LIISMA) is an association of more than 50 public and private land managers working together to prevent the spread of invasive plant species.
From managing for invasive plants, to putting more fire on the landscape, to buying land, we can take proactive steps to prepare for the far-reaching effects of global climate change. These are just some of the tactics The Nature Conservancy is using to secure a healthy environment for generations to come. By preparing now, we can help nature to continue to do its job – and we can continue to enjoy a healthy, thriving and beautiful Long Island.

Laura Bavaro is The Nature Conservancy’s terrestrial team leader. She is responsible for working with federal, state, county and municipal agencies on the management of Long Island’s forests, grasslands and fresh water systems. As team leader she provides direction for protecting ecosystems from invasive plant species, habitat loss and degradation. She also oversees both the Pine Barrens and the Montauk Peninsula site programs.