Fire and Environmental Research Applications Team

Adapting to Climate Change in National Forests: A Workshop for Resource Managers

Objectives

• To provide the scientific foundation and tools for preparing adaptation strategies on national forests.
• Communicate scientific knowledge and principles needed for adaptation to climate change.
• Share recent experiences and approaches for adaptation on national forests and other public lands.
• Promote science-management partnerships, and motivate adaptation efforts and collaboration among agencies.
• Solicit feedback on needs and priorities to assist future implementation of adaptation strategies.

FAQs

1. Who are the target participants?
2. Was the workshop developed as a follow-up to the short course available on-line?
3. Because this is aimed at NFS, were NFS managers or leadership at the regional or WO level involved in review of the workshop, in relation to possible policy implications?
4. Is it focused primarily on western forests (as per the 3 case study forests) or does it also address adaptation in the eastern US?
5. What do you see as the next step in terms of training/education of NFS staff?
6. Where can I find general information on this project?

1. Who are the target participants?

National forest resource managers are the primary target. Regional Foresters were requested to nominate people from their Regions to attend the workshop, and we also invited folks from several national forests and regional offices where climate change activities have been prominent. We will also have some scientists and some representatives from other agencies.

2. Was the workshop developed as a follow-up to the short course available on-line?

The workshop will complement the short course and the Climate Change Resource Center website, both of which we developed. At the workshop, we will reinforce the educational value of these resources. The short course will hopefully be useful as an educational tool in the next few years.

3. Since this is aimed at National Forest Systems (NFS), were NFS managers or leadership at the regional or WO level involved in review of the workshop, in relation to possible policy implications?

Jim Morrison (R1) is on our planning committee. Bob Davis (R3), Scott Fitzwilliams (Supv., White River NF), and Kathy O'Halloran (Olympic NF) have provided leadership and feedback on our project for the past two years. Dave Cleaves (WO R&D) has been supportive and provided ideas.

4. Is it focused primarily on western forests (as per the 3 case study forests) or does it also address adaptation in the eastern US?

All of our work was funded for the Western forests. However, the information and tools are nearly all relevant to national forests anywhere. The workshop and adaptation guidebook will include the case-study work at the Chequamegon-Nicolet. Participants from R8 and R9 have been invited, and although our original work was West-focused, input from folks at the workshop will hopefully assist with the transition to potential national applications. In fact, we intend to send the outline for the guidebook to workshop participants before the meeting, so we can get early feedback.

5. What do you see as the next step in terms of training/education of NFS staff?

We want to use good science, have consistency, and customize information to biogeographic regions. Logistically, it would probably be best to do education by Regions -- a group of scientists and managers could facilitate this. We have been doing this forest by forest, but that is not very practical, so perhaps it could be done by groups of forests with common resources and objectives. The online short course would be an important component of this and should improve efficiency and reduct costs.

6. Where can I find general information on this project?

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/fera/research/climate/adaptationtoolkit.shtml