Washington, D.C (July 29, 2010) – 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.
The Case Studies section contains a wealth of examples from practitioners in North America and around the world and includes projects, profiles, and links to material that can help start, or inform, other adaptation initiatives.
A Virtual Library offers vetted resources such as journal articles, presentations, reports, book chapters, and grey literature. CAKE is the first website where such materials are gathered in one central location, organized for ease of discovery.
The Community section provides a discussion forum for the field of adaptation and features an expert advice column ("Adaptation Mavens") as well as a calendar of events, and an announcement board. Users will have access to moderated and open discussion groups and can even invite participation from both scientists and policy makers.
The Directory contains a list of adaptation professionals and organizations practicing on-the-ground climate change adaptation. Users can see who is working on what and who is facing similar challenges.
Last, the Tools section refers CAKE visitors to online resources helpful for adaptation planning and implementation. It includes links to an overview of tools like SLAMM, Climate Wizard, and PRECIS, among others.
"CAKE, with its detailed case studies, vetted virtual library, and directory of people working on adaptation is an essential tool to develop the knowledge and strategies that will enable people and nature to adapt to climate change," said Steven McCormick, president and trustee of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
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.
For additional information, please contact Jaime Jennings at 202-232-7933 x44 or at jjennings@islandpress.org.
Founded in 1984, Island Press works to stimulate, shape, and communicate the information that is essential for solving environmental problems. Today, with more than 800 titles and some 40 new releases each year, it is the nation's leading publisher of books on environmental issues. But Island Press does more than publish books. It advances environmental science by nurturing the exchange of ideas across disciplines and sectors, and by helping to create a multidisciplinary literature on environmental problems and solutions. The knowledge created is spread far beyond the range of a limited marketplace through sophisticated communications initiatives that reach journalists, academics, policymakers, practitioners and the general public. Through these efforts, Island Press is driving change by moving ideas from the printed page to public discourse and practice. Island Press's emphasis is, and will continue to be, on transforming objective information into understanding and action. For more information and further updates be sure to check out our blogs and podcasts at www.islandpress.org.