Conservation Planning in a Changing World

The Open Space Council has long been concerned that time is running out to protect the region’s remaining biodiversity.  Yet, the Bay Area has lacked a scientific vision for a network of protected lands that preserves biological diversity and allows conservation practitioners to evaluate a potential project’s contribution toward this goal. 

Enter the Upland Habitat Goals project.

The project, supported by numerous public and private grants, has employed a scientific approach to identify a network of conservation lands to preserve the ecological processes and functions required for species viability.  More information about the project is coming soon as we launch the online decision tool later this summer.  Stay tuned.

But what happens when climate change affects the lands, animals and vegetation that we're trying to protect?

Enter David Ackerly of UC Berkeley.

With support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, David and the Open Space Council just held a 3 day workshop on July 19-21 at Pepperwood Preserve to incorporate climate change projections into the Upland Habitat Goals.

The results?


23 top researchers in the field worked collaboratively to figure out ways to incorporate climate change modeling into land conservation efforts in the Bay Area. Using the Upland Habitat Goals GIS database the group is developing data, techniques, and processes to better prioritize our conservation lands considering climate change.

Thank you to all who participated and contributed their knowledge, time, and willingness to collaborate.  The Bay Area's future is brighter because of you.

We will be convening a meeting in early November for scientists, land managers, and decision makers where we'll review the data and give a tour of the online tool.  We'll share information about that meeting here on the blog and via email when we have it confirmed.