The Application of Adaptive Management Strategies and the Enhanced Resilience of Farms, Ranches, Forests, and Rangelands to Climate Change

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of climate change on the environment and how farms, ranches, forests, and rangelands can improve their resilience to it. Climate change is a problem in society, and its rising severity has ramifications within every aspect of life. Its impacts include higher temperatures, intensified drought, rising sea levels, and increased storm severity. This decreases crop yields, worsens species survival, and ultimately intensifies poverty and displacement. Awareness about understanding climate change has resulted in the development of many adaptive management strategies to overcome it. Each strategy is only applicable to certain problems and areas, and has its unique benefits and setbacks. This research paper examines the most effective adaptive management strategies by using a variety of peer-reviewed journals, credible articles, and data that are less than ten years old. The results of this research conclude that assisted migration, the rotation of livestock grazing and planted crops, and sustainable farm design efficiently improve the resiliency of farms, ranches, forests, and rangelands to climate change. Assisted migration is a strategy where qualified people move plants and animals from endangered environments to a new environment that is expected to be less impacted. Rotating crops and livestock grazing involves systematically moving crops and livestock to different areas so soil and nutrients aren’t used up. Sustainable farm design encourages the construction of irrigation systems, natural features like shelterbelts, climate-resistant buildings, and efficient farming structures. Concerns regarding these strategies include the time, energy, and money needed to implement them. There is also uncertainty regarding climate change and how it can be mitigated. By examining these strategies, this review strives to identify adaptive management strategies that efficiently improve climate change resilience within farms, ranches, forests, and rangelands. It is written with a primary focus on biodiversity and sustainable farming practices, ensuring that suggested solutions are tailored to realistically align with environmental and food production needs. What management strategies can humans implement to improve agriculture’s resistance to climate change?