Management for sustainable use — global climate change and rangelands

Abstract

The IPCC Third Assessment Report confirms that the evidence for global climate change is now stronger than ever. While efforts to minimise climate change are vital, some degree of change is already inevitable. The key questions for rangelands are no longer whether climate change will occur, but how to adapt to it, and if possible, how to mitigate its negative impacts. The presentations in this session will move beyond the prediction of impacts, to the analysis of strategies at the farm scale and at national scale which could help to make rangelands and rangeland livelihoods sustainable even in the presence of climate change.