North Carolina
Climate Change Ecosystem Assessment

Introduction

As part of DENR's climate change adaptation strategy, the Natural Heritage Program, with input from other conservation agencies, is evaluating the likely effects of climate change on North Carolina’s ecosystems and species.

The hierarchical analysis has defined 42 groups of ecosystems that share certain ecological characteristics and are likely to respond to climate change in similar ways. Nested within these Ecosystem Groups are Natural Communities and Landscape/Habitat Indicator Guilds, which comprise groups of plant and animal species associated with finer categories of habitats. Nested within each of these habitat groups are individual species or, in some cases, subspecies or distinctive populations.

The draft reports are being reviewed by experts, whose input may be incorporated to improve the assessments. We expect to continue making improvements to our assessments and recommendations as new predictions about the effects of climate change become available or as empirical evidence of the effects begins to accumulate. PDF with details

NHP Vulnerability Assessment - slideshow presentation

Glossary

Ecosystem Groups:
Click on link below to download a report.