National Approaches to Acquisition and Decision Making: NOAA's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program

NOAA’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) was created to protect lands with significant ecological, conservation, recreational, historic and aesthetic values within coastal areas.  Participating states and territories identify the priority lands and values within the state or territory to be protected through the program, the geographic scope for their efforts (e.g. within their coastal watersheds, or a smaller area), and, wherever possible, the areas where those priority lands can be found on the landscape.   NOAA, in consultation with participating states, is beginning to consider how climate change will affect these priority habitats on a broad scale and at the property level, and whether it will be necessary to incorporate additional areas as “future habitats” when thinking about adaptation of coastlines, habitats and the species that depend on them.  This presentation will highlight recent discussions on the approach being considered by NOAA, and feedback we have received from states, to evaluate strategic conservation priorities and program investments in light of climate change.