The federal government issued its draft strategy on how to manage wildlife, fish, and plants to better cope with climate change.  The effort was requested by Congress in 2010 and is open for public comment until March 5 - go to the website to comment.

A quick read indicates that the course Wetlands Watch is on is the right one:  advocating for local government long-range plans to include sea level rise risks.  Our Coastal Campaign, now in its fifth year, seeks to protect wetlands and the coastal ecosystem from sea level rise by limiting development pressure on the shoreline.

The report cites as a key effort, "Reducing and mitigating the ongoing habitat degradation associated with human development such as pollution and loss of open space is critical and requires collaboration with land use planners."

We are trying to do that, working with local governments and citizens groups and - though we have had setbacks - we will continue.  Luckily, our state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries started in 2008 to develop a Virginia strategy on climate change impacts.

Be sure to read and comment upon the federal strategy.  We'll let you know how to take action locally to make this national strategy a reality.