Northern Great Plains [Chapter 25]

摘要: The Northern Great Plains region, which includes Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming (Figure 25.1), has a wealth of natural resources supporting economies, sense of place, and leisure activities. Climate change impacts on individuals and communities will differ, and it is critical to consider equity dimensions (Ch. 20). Economic dependence on crops, rangelands, and recreation makes residents with land-based livelihoods vulnerable to climate-related changes in weather, as well as flows of water, nutrients, and wildlife across the landscape. This region is largely rural, and its intact natural areas, farms, and wildlands serve as habitat for resident and migrating species, which are threatened by changing water scarcity. The region is an energy and food exporter and vulnerable to policy decisions and markets outside the region. Historical processes may lead to unequal distribution of harms, with Indigenous communities, service and energy workers, and rural residents more sensitive to impacts. Values related to place, community, and stewardship are strong. Residents of small towns express strong place attachment in comparison with their urban counterparts. The region’s population grew by 10% between 2008 and 2020. Ten metropolitan counties accounted for two-thirds of growth, while 75% of the region’s rural counties lost population. Among rural counties, energy-dependent and tourism-focused counties both grew by 14%, and farm-dependent communities experienced a 3% decline in population over the same period. An indication that more people are willing to move to the region due to climate conditions was …