Bioinvasions in a Changing World: A Resource on Invasive Species - Climate Change Interactions for Conservation and Natural Resource Management

This report is targeted at a broad audience of people interested in invasive species, climate change and natural resource management. It is structured to first provide a brief overview of the connections between invasive species and climate change before looking specifically at how these communities approach conservation and natural resource management. This document addresses the broader framework of invasive species management and climate change adaptation as tools to enhance and protect ecosystems and their natural resources in the face of these drivers of change. It is important to note that from a climate change adaptation perspective, invasive species management is one readily available tool as managers consider how they want to resist change or facilitate transformation. The report will then delve into the tools available to assess and manage the risks associated with invasive species under changing climatic conditions. It will conclude with a review of existing institutions and networks relevant to these management questions, as well as a discussion of available resources and recommended next steps.

The review of tools and methods will be of interest to managers working at specific sites and to individuals making strategic decisions at larger geographic scales. Policy-makers and government agencies at the local, state and national levels may be interested in the issues related to institutional coordination and recommendations, while the scientific and research community may focus on the application of assessment tools. Finally, the public as a whole may benefit from the overall focus on how the drivers of climate change and invasive species intersect and the potential ramifications these will have on the natural world.