Resources

This booklet summarizes the benefits and challenges to investing effort and funding to support a nationwide commitment to a systematic network of wildlife crossing structures to increase driver and animal safety.

This report provides a synthesis of the impacts of road networks on social and ecological systems. It summarizes the ecological and social consequences of transportation development and offers proven methods to mitigate negative impacts on ecological and human systems.

This report compiles ideas and recommendations from a facilitated workshop in October 2014, where prominent wildlife crossing practitioners from the U.S. and Canada to consider the unique nature of wildlife crossing structures. Identifying ways to reduce costs in order to improve the feasibility of widespread implementation of wildlife crossings.

Climate change is impacting air quality, and evidence indicates that climate change is related to increased instances of asthma, respiratory allergies, and airway diseases. These health challenges, due to air quality, have already been on the rise within our Blackfeet community. Airborne allergens and contaminants are increasing, as are risks to indoor air quality. Rodent populations are also increasing, amplifying risk of exposure to the pathogens and allergens they carry and that are transmitted through the air. Our decisions and actions can influence the degree to which our community will experience these impacts to our health. Being proactive and making decisions now to safeguard health will help us be more resilient.

We are observing increasing cancer incidence amongst Native American communities.  Any loss of life within our community has a devastating impact. It is important to understand how climate change could increase cancer among Amskapi Pikuni community members. Our decisions and actions can influence the degree to which our community will or will not experience these impacts to our health. Being proactive and making decisions now to safeguard health will help us be more resilient.

Climate change is increasing the frequency of flooding, wildfires, drought, heat waves, cold waves, and heavy snows. Extreme weather events like these can result in injury, illness, and death. Health risks can occur during an event, and also in the processes of disaster preparation and clean-up.

Climate change is expected to alter the quantity, quality, and locations of the world’s food supply. It is expected to decrease the overall amount of food produced as temperatures rise and crop pests increase. Food production will likely decrease most in the tropics as it grows hotter, making farming more difficult. While growing seasons will lengthen closer to the poles, expansion of production there will not compensate for losses in productivity in the tropics. Food nutrient levels are expected to decrease, while contaminant levels in foods could increase.

Warming temperatures are increasing the frequency and severity of future extreme heat events. Without adaptation, this means we may see an increase in heat-related illnesses, hospital visits, and deaths. Rising temperatures can cause heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat stroke, and heart-related illnesses; heat can also be fatal. Our decisions and actions can influence the degree to which our community will experience these impacts to our health. Being proactive and making decisions now to safeguard health will help us be more resilient.

Climate change may increase risks of birth defects and early childhood exposure to substances that can impact development. Exposure to chemicals and heavy metals (for example, lead, mercury, and arsenic), whether through air, water, or food contamination, have been shown to impact human development at varying levels. Exposure to herbicides and pesticides can increase the risk of developmental changes, which is of particular concern since climate change is expected to increase weeds and pests. With harmful algal blooms expected to increase, pregnant women could have a greater risk of exposing a developing human to biotoxins.

Exposure to climate-related change and disasters can cause stress, grief, and a sense of loss, as well as clinical disorders like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Climate change can even contribute to suicidal behaviors. Direct and indirect impacts of climate change can strain social relationships and increase risk of substance abuse. It can impact everyday life and perceptions and experiences as people grapple with slow and sudden changes to our world, and even as people process the threat of change. Chronic stress can lead to other negative health effects like cardiovascular disease and worsening symptoms of diabetes.