Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Gunnison Basin is a first attempt at identifying ecosystems and species of the Gunnison Basin, Colorado that are likely to be affected by climate change and why they are at risk. Climate projections suggest that the natural environment, ecosystems, and species of the Gunnison Basin will change significantly over the coming decades. The results indicate that many of the natural features of the Basin (50% of ecosystems and 74% of species of conservation concern) are susceptible to loss, degradation or other changes associated with warming temperatures. This report provides a foundation for the Gunnison Climate Working Group’s next step: developing social-ecological adaptation strategies to help resilience of species, ecosystems and people in the Gunnison Basin in the face of a changing climate.
Citation:
Neely, B., R. Rondeau, J. Sanderson, C. Ague, B. Kuhn, J. Siemers, L. Grunau, J. Robertson, P. McCarthy, J. Barsugli, T. Schulz, and C. Knapp. Editors. 2011. Gunnison Basin: Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Gunnison Climate Working Group by The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Western Water Assessment, University of Colorado, Boulder and University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Project of the Southwest Climate Change Initiative.