What FWC is Doing
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) is Florida's lead state agency in addressing the
impacts of climate change on fish and wildlife. The FWC began its
work on climate change when it hosted the summit "Florida's
Wildlife: On the front line of climate change," in October
2008.
Impacts on Fish and Wildlife
Two things will greatly impact Florida's wildlife
communities: warmer temperatures on land and in water, and changes
in seasonal rainfall patterns. Warming and altered rainfall
patterns will in turn alter species distributions, life cycles and
species interactions (e.g., predator-prey relationships).
read
more
Adapting to Climate Change
Florida is home to an incredible diversity of
native fish and wildlife including 386 species of birds, 86 species
of mammals, 90 species of reptiles, 136 species of fish and 56
species of amphibians. Rising temperatures and sea level likely
will change the makeup of entire ecosystems, forcing wildlife to
shift their ranges or adapt. Adaptation involves managing the
impacts of climate change already set in motion.
read more
What You Can Do
Scientists now know that climate change is being
caused in part by human activity particularly emissions from
driving our cars, operating our power plants, heating and cooling
our homes and other activities that involve combustion of fossil
fuels. Reducing the amount of fossil fuels we use and the carbon
released into the atmosphere is a responsibility we all share. Your
everyday actions can make a difference in reducing emissions and
your carbon footprint. Here are a few actions to get you
started.
read more
Persons with Disabilities