A new website offers way forward for climate change adaptation

EurekAlert: While pundits write obituaries for the 2010 climate bill, the repercussions of climate changes are already being felt across the world. We are losing species and ecosystems are unraveling in ways that managers have never before seen.

We need new tools and strategies to deal with these changes. In that effort, Island Press and EcoAdapt are proud to announce the launch of their new Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) at www.cakex.org. It is an innovative and comprehensive website to enable practitioners to manage the natural environment in the face of climate change.

"Despite the attention now focused on mitigating global warming, the reality is that some level of it is inevitable," said Island Press President, Charles Savitt. "Unfortunately, the field of climate adaptation is still in its infancy. That's where CAKE plays a critical role."

By providing foundational knowledge on adaptation, as well as new research and innovative work from the field, CAKE enables scientists and practitioners to define and build the field of adaptation. With five core resources that include case studies, a virtual library, directory, a community section, and data tools, CAKE aims to arm conservation professionals, scientists, policymakers, and others with a new, multidisciplinary approach for managing systems in the face of rapid change.

…CAKE offers a way forward in dealing with the impacts of climate change and is an invaluable tool for learning about and sharing ideas and experiences. It will allow everyone from the conservation biologist or a resource manager, an environmental advocate or a planner to network and discuss ideas in a community with common goals, learn new information, and receive access to new tools and sources of information….