Forecasting Energy Development Scenarios to Aid in Conservation Design

Rapid increases in development of both renewable and traditional hydrocarbon energy resources seem certain and will probably affect up to 20 percent of the major terrestrial ecosystems in the western United States (chap.2; McDonald et al.2009). Growing concerns over the potential social and biological impacts of climate change, with related calls to reduce carbon emissions, have intensified demands to develop renewable energy resources (Brooke2008). Nevertheless, fossil fuels will continue as a primary source of energy, with ramifications for the western United States, where a substantial portion of domestic onshore hydrocarbon resources are found (chap.2). Exploitation of a wider portion of our domestic energy resources will increase the likelihood of conflicts between energy development and conservation and necessitate more proactive approaches to environmental mitigation (chap.9).