GEOSCIENCE MAPPING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING: LANDSCAPE HAZARD MAPS AS A TOOL FOR COMMUNITIES IN YUKON, CANADA

The mounting effects of climate change on Northern communities have been widely recognized in both the scientific and traditional knowledge communities. This is of particular concern in Yukon, where there is a high prevalence of warm permafrost and permafrost disappearance has already been documented. In order for Yukon’s communities to develop strategies to respond and adapt to the impacts of climate warming on permafrost, it is important to identify and characterize vulnerability and sensitivity to environmental change.

Landscape hazard classification maps, which create simplified representations of biophysical vulnerability, have emerged as useful tools in the assessment of landscape-scale vulnerability to climate change. They integrate science into decision-making by amalgamating and classifying geoscience data to create an easily-interpretable ranked representation of current and future hazard potential.

Since 2010, the Yukon Geological Survey has been working with the Northern Climate ExChange (part of the Yukon Research Centre at Yukon College) to develop landscape hazards classification maps that identify and characterize existing and potential geologic and landscape-related hazards in Yukon communities (e.g., landslide risk, permafrost stability, flood frequency). To date, we have completed hazard maps for four communities, with an additional four underway. Examples of community-focused geological mapping will be presented, highlighting climate- and development-related hazard assessments and including other biophysical threats such as flooding and forest fires.

While hazards mapping is not unique in the North, our approach places emphasis on locally-defined areas of importance identified by decision-makers, practitioners and residents of study communities, including areas identified for future community development or of current hazard-related concern. The creation of a landscape hazards map for Yukon communities represents a direct response to the region’s needs, reflecting recognition that careful planning in response to potential future climate change impacts is a wise and resilient approach to sustainability.