Miistakis partners with Climate Change and Emission Management Corporation
The Climate Change and Emission Management (CCEMC) Corporation recently announced $7 million in funding for adaptation projects – identifying the Miistakis Institute for the Rockies as an important partner.
The CCEMC Corporation plans to fund three projects that will help Alberta adapt to climate change impacts. These are the first adaptation projects for the CCEMC, which has a mandate that includes funding efforts that improve the ability of the province to adapt to climate change.
The Miistakis Institute for the Rockies, a research institute affiliated with the Faculty of Environmental Design (EVDS), was identified as a key partner in one of the three projects, which earned $2.4 million of the funding.
The Biodiversity Management and Climate Change Adaptation project will identify practical actions to managing Alberta’s wild species of plants and animals as their environment is altered by climate change. This proactive invest in the knowledge and tools for effective biodiversity management under a changing climate will deliver significant benefits to Albertans and avoid crisis-driven interventions that are reactive, costly and often ineffective.
This collaborative project involves a team of biodiversity scientists and policy analysts from Miistakis, the University of Alberta, Alberta Innovates, the Government of Alberta, and the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. The team will assess the climate-related vulnerability of hundreds of species ranging from inconspicuous prairie flowers to familiar backyard birds, and create an action plan that addresses both vulnerabilities and opportunities.
“This is critical, timely, relevant research that underscores the value of the Miistakis Institute to EVDS and the University of Calgary,” says Michael Quinn, EVDS professor and director of research, and liaison for Miistakis. “Successful adaptation to climate change will be predicated on understanding the vulnerabilities and responses of Alberta’s biodiversity.”
Established in 1995, Miistakis undertakes and supports pure and applied research of ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains and surrounding region. Its research assists in the development and implementation of collaborative ecosystem management through close partnership with federal, provincial/state and municipal agencies, landowners, First Nations, conservation organizations and industry.
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