Adaptation involves modifying and adjusting to ongoing effects of climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change . This approach includes management actions that help reduce the negative impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. 

Adaptation forms the core of our response to climate change and is the centerpiece of our strategic plan. An adaptive response to climate change involves: 

  • Conservating habitats within sustainable swaths of healthy, interconnected lands and waters, including, when feasible, relocating populations of species to more habitable locations based on changing conditions over time. 

  • Conserving the most climate-vulnerable species through resource management actions such as identifying priority water needs, addressing habitat fragmentation, managing genetics, or reducing non-climate stressors such as invasive species invasive species
    An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

    Learn more about invasive species     . 

  • Installing infrastructure, such as embankments and bridges that can helps protect against flooding and sea-level rise and retrofitting facilities to better withstand more frequent severe weather.  

  • Implementing strategies for facilities and communities exposed to encroaching and expanding hazards (such as sea-level rise, flooding, fire) and changing environmental conditions. 

  • Leveraging resources to increase economic investments and climate resiliency in underserved and vulnerable communities. Climate resiliency is the level of ability for a community to prepare for and respond to hazardous events, like floods, wildfires, drought, heatwaves, and severe storms.  

Read stories about how the Service is adapting to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change at our Stories from the Field library collection