Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative (PICCC)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In response to the need to address climate change impacts in Hawai'i, HCA is facilitating the establishment of the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative (PICCC).  The HCA's long-established conservation leadership role provides a solid foundation for the PICCC to rapidly engage conservation managers, researchers, and the broader community in Hawai'i and the Pacific Island region.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ka'ena Point Natural Area Reserve, Hawai'i.  Terrestrial systems are at risk from sea level rise, habitat loss, shifting habitat conditions, and expansion of invasive species and diseases.
 
The PICCC will provide a range of scientific and technical tools to help managers in Hawai'i, the Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and other island groups make informed decisions for landscape-scale conservation.  These tools will help managers reach explicit conservation objectives for native species and habitats in the face of climate change and ongoing threats such as fire, land conservation, and invasive species.
 
Click the map for a closer look at the geographic area of the PICCC.
 
 

PICCC Members to Date:
Hawai'i Conservation Alliance
Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources
Hawai'i Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Hawai'i Wetland Joint Ventures
Kamehameha Schools
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Park Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Pacific Science Association
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
The Nature Conservancy
U.S. Army Garrison Hawai'i Natural Resources Program
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
University of Hawai'i
The PICCC steering committee is comprised of HCA members and other key organizations, forming a cooperative partnership of Federal, State, private, indigenous, and non-governmental conservation organizations and academic institutions.
Download:
 
PICCC Factsheet
 


 
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Functions of the PICCC
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Develop models that predict how natural resources and processes may respond to climate change.
The focus of modeling will be:
•  Ecosystem-modifying invasive species
•  Rare native species
•  Common species that structure ecosystems
•  Natural habitats such as bogs, coral reefs, or forests
•  Critical ecological processes (such as nutrient or hydrological cycles)
 
 
Assess management options using models and historical data, and collectively determine priority conservation strategies.
To make the link between modeling and management, the PICCC will asses the vulnerability of targeted species and ecosystems, and assist partners in choosing among potential management strategies based on their likelihood for success.
 
 
Validate ecological models and management actions through research and coordinated monitoring.
Experiments will be needed to clarify how native species respond to novel conditions.  Strategic monitoring of responses to climate change and management actions will help refine models and decision-making in an adaptive management process.
 
 
Provide a forum for continuous exchange, feedback, and understanding among stakeholders, researches, land managers, and communities.
As a true partnership, the PICCC will serve the needs of its members, and will act as a hub of information, projections, and conservation design for any group or individual interested in conserving biodiversity in the Pacific Islands.  Open public access to PICCC products will promote understanding and support of changes in conservation strategy.
 
 
 
 
PICCC Structure 
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Accomplishing the functions of the PICCC will require clear guidance and a dedicated staff.  The PICCC partners will collectively determine the structure of the PICCC, the breadth of its activities, and the priority projects to be addressed by the staff.
 
HCA and its partners are supporting several key positions:
  • Cooperative coordinator (USFWS)
  • Science coordinator (USFWS)
  • Species modeler (USFWS)
  • Landscape modeler (USFWS)
  • GIS/data products specialist (USFWS-short term)
  • Cultural resources planner (NPS)
  • Hydrologist (USGS)
  • Traditional knowledge expert (HCA)
  • Administrative support (USFWS)
 
 
PICCC Products
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The PICCC will provide unique support for effective conservation in Hawai'i and other Pacific Islands.  We will be working on a number of key products, including:
 
  • Mapping potential ranges of native species and invasive species under future temperature and precipitation projections.
  • Pushing vulnerability assessments for rare species, native ecosystems, and keystone species.
  • Developing web-based decision support tools for managers and the public.
  • Predicting future potential community composition within protected areas under different climate scenarios.
  • Identifying potential corridors linking present and future habitat.
  • Recommending conservation and acquisition priorities based on future climate and sea level.
  • Developing adaptation strategies to protect biodiversity and cultural heritage across the Pacific.
 
 
 
 
 
Contact Us
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For more information, contact:
 
Jeff Burgett
Interim PICCC Coordinator
(808) 792-9400
Deanna Spooner
Executive Director, Hawai'i Conservation Alliance
(808) 586-0916