The Greatest Threat
“Theknow
“We
evidence
the science,
is sufficient
wethat
seewe
the
threat posed
should
move towards
by changes
the most
in our
climate, and
effective
possible
we know
stepsthe
to time
reduce
for
action isloading
carbon
now.” of the
atmosphere.”
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
R-California
Newt Gingrich
Former House Speaker
Alaska & North Dakota Commonalities

Wetlands & ponds*
 Waterfowl
 Critical Habitat
 Cold Water Fish
 Fish Sticks and other
Seafood
 Winters
 Robust Renewable Energy
Potential
 Small, innovative, pioneering
population
 Warming ground
 Important Senators*
Alaska Waterfowl
 Hatch dates have advanced 5 to 10
days since 1982 in all 5 species studied in
Yukon Delta NWR.
Cackling Hatchlings
 “Seal level rise, increased storm
frequency and intensity and wetland
drying will likely cause dramatic changes
in waterfowl communities.”
-- Julien Fischer, Scientist, USFWS
Brandt Geese
Aleutian Cackling Geese
White Front Goose on Nest
Wind Power
 Wind potential: 1.3 trillion kilowatt hours (100 times the amount of
electricity used in ND in 2000). Redefining Progress 2004
Conservation Tillage
Carbon Credits
 Farmers Union enrolled 833,000
acres in North Dakota (equivalent of
320,000 tons of carbon). Bismarck Tribune 4/07
 $1.50/acre for no till
 $2.50/acre for grass
 $4 to $12/acre for forestry
Chicago Climate Exchange
Waterfowl -- Scaup

Population of these diving ducks appears
“to be in peril” (Consensus Report 2006 [CR]).

Declined from over 7 million (in 1970s)
to 3.39 million (2005) (CR).
 Record low in 2006 -- 3.2 million (Ducks
Unlimited 2007).


70% breed in western boreal forest;
fastest rate of decline (94,000 birds
per year (1978 to 2005.)) “…declines
reflect breeding season events” (CR).
19% wetland loss in Yukon Flats
(1985-89 v. 2001-03)
 Where ponds lose 20% or more
surface, decline in scaup food sources
(i.e., amphipods, gastropods and
chironomid larvae) (Corcoran et. al 2007).
Hunting and Angling
“In 2001 and 2002, sportsmen and women spent more than
$468 million hunting and fishing in North Dakota. Gross
business volume, including direct and indirect hunting and
angling spending, was $1 billion, supporting than 13,000 jobs.”
National Wildlife Federation
Existing Impacts in North Dakota
“Across the Northern and Central
Great Plains, temperatures have
risen more than 2o F in the past
century… Over the last 100 years,
annual precipitation has decreased
by 10% in North Dakota.” (National
Assessment Synthesis Team 2000/2004)
 Temperatures in 2006, 3.94o
warmer than 30-year benchmark
 December 2006 – February 2007:
8.94o F warmer than baseline in
Fargo. (Fargo Forum 4/07)
Existing Impacts in North Dakota
“There was a dramatic warming of
the ground sometime after the
Industrial Revolution….. But it’s in
the last decade or two that
temperatures have increased at the
greatest rate.”
Dr. Will Gosnold of University of North
Dakota , analyzed 952 boreholes
Dr. Gosnald and Shannon
Heine recording readings at
one of the 952 boreholes sites
Future Impacts in North Dakota
Dr. Andrei Kirilenko – UND professor, study
Region could suffer from:
Increase in drought
The introduction of new, invasive species that could harm crop
yields
Reduction in insect species that are integral to ecosystem
Carbon Sequestration
Coal Gasification:
North Dakota to
Saskatchewan
 $10 million/year
 8,900 tons/day piped
 Other projects being
explored
Bismarck Tribune 4/07
What We Can Do
Government Actions
Senator Byron Dorgan
Energy Efficiency Promotion Act
 Sets aggressive national goals for reducing gasoline usage by 20
percent by 2017; 35 percent by 2025 and 45 percent by 2030.
 Expedites New Energy Efficiency Standards for Appliances
 Promotes Advanced Lighting Technologies
 Promotes Federal Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy
 Federal and state fleets of civilian vehicles are required to reduce
petroleum consumption by 30 percent by 2016.
“Efficiency in buildings,efficiency in appliances,
greater efficiency in automobiles by battery
technology and electric drive vehicles all of this
I think will be very helpful to our country and
especially to North Dakota.”
Be Heard
Global
Warming
Our
future is
at risk.
Be Heard
Write Your
Montana Senators
Please
Act Now
Alaska Conservation Solutions http://www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com
Ducks Unlimited at http://www.ducks.org/states/21/index.html
North Dakota Farmers Union http://www.ndfu.org/
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/
Plains CO2ReductionPartnership http://www.undeerc.org/PCOR/default.asp
US Department of Energy ~ North Dakota
http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/projectdatabase/stateprofiles/2004/North_Dakota.html
Dall Sheep
“…we’re going to have declining Dall sheep. We’re
losing their habitat” Dr. John Morton - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge


Dall sheep live exclusively in alpine tundra
Due to warmer temperatures, the treeline in
the Kenai Mountains has risen at a rate of
about 1 meter/year over the past 50 years.
Photo: Tim Craig, Wildlife Biologist BLM
Muskoxen

Population in northern Alaska and
Canada declined from approximately
700 to 400 (Pat Reynolds FWS 2007).
 Risk Factors
• Icing events
• Lower calf production
• Deeper snow
• Not highly mobile
• Increase in disease
e.g. nematode lungworm
(able to complete life
cycle in 1 years vs.
2 years) (Kutz et. al, 2004)
Brown Bears


Factors of Concern
– Diet Impairment: fish and berries (Kenai Brown Bears – fish 90% of
diet vs. black bears 10%)
– Hibernation disturbances for reproducing females (Jan-May)
• 2 months to implant
• Cub growth
• Flooding of dens (Sean Farley ADF&G 2007).
Reduction in productivity and survival rates
followed salmon decline in Kuskokwim
(additional research underway) (Steve Kovach FWS 2007).
Polar Bear in Peril
 Largest land or ice predator on
earth. Males weigh more than
1200 lbs, 12 ft. long and 50 in.
necks.
 Born in snow dens, weighing about
a pound and half
 Most mobile of all quadrupeds
some in excess of 600,00 km2
 Feed almost entirely on 2 species
of ice seals ringed (90%) and
bearded
 Evolved between 80,000 (fossil
record) and 200,000 (molecular
genetics) years ago (Steve Amstrup, 2007).
Statement of Conscience
ANTHC photo
“ We as Unitarian Universalists are called to join with
others to halt practices that fuel global
warming/climate change to instigate sustainable
alternatives and to mitigate the impending effects of
global warming/climate change with just and ethical
responses.”
Golovin, September 23, 2005.
photo courtesy of Toby
Anungazuk, Jr.
Extra Pictures