Interior Alaska DoD Training Land Wildlife Habitat Vulnerability to Permafrost Thaw, an Altered Fire Regime, and Hydrologic Changes
Abstract
Climate change and intensification of disturbance regimes are increasing the vulnerability of interior Alaska Department of Defense (DoD) training ranges to widespread landcover and hydrologic changes. This is expected to have profound impacts on wildlife habitats, conservation objectives, permitting requirements, and military training activities. The objective of this three-year research effort was to provide United States Army Alaska Garrison Fort Wainwright, Alaska (USAG-FWA) training land managers a scientific based geospatial framework to assess wildlife habitat distribution and trajectories of change and to identify vulnerable wildlife species whose habitats and resources are likely to decline in response to permafrost degradation, changing wildfire regimes, and hydrologic reorganization projected to 2100. We linked field measurements, data synthesis, repeat imagery analyses, remote sensing measurements, and model simulations focused on land cover dynamics and wildlife habitat characteristics to identify suites of wildlife species most vulnerable to climate change. From this, we created a robust database linking vegetation, soil, and environmental characteristics across interior Alaska training ranges. The framework used is designed to support decision making for conservation management and habitat monitoring, land use, infrastructure development, and adaptive management across the interior Alaska DoD cantonment and training land domain.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1223873
Entities
People
- Bruce G. Marcot
- Helene Genet
- M. T. Jorgenson
- Patricia Nelsen
- Thomas A. Douglas
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center