Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Association of State Wetland Managers – March 2011

This white paper, Reducing Climate Change Impacts and Promoting Fish and Wildlife: Findings and Recommendations for Biological Carbons Storage and Sequestering is intended to reflect the current thinking of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) membership in regard to how carbon sequestration can proceed in ways that are most compatible with the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats.  The paper will provide an overview of how biological carbon storage and sequestration can proceed in concert with fish and wildlife sustainability in forests, wetlands, and grasslands. It is a product of the AFWA Forestry Working Group, the AFWA Biofuels Working Group, the AFWA Climate Change Committee, and the ASWM, and is meant to provide a concise, easy to read briefing for AFWA members, ASWM members, legislators, and policy makers. It will describe the storage and sequestration ability of these habitats and how current practices such as wetland draining, afforestation of grasslands, and development of natural areas not only threaten existing carbon stores but also put pressure on the stability of fish and wildlife populations that are native to these habitats. Each section will also offer specific recommendations for science, management, and policy for carbon storage and sequestration.  Literature that is cited is simply intended to provide some background for readers and is by no means an exhaustive resource list. For full white paper, click here.