Current Research

As a Climate Change Specialist at the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science, my primary project is to coordinate the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework. Most of my work occurs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, building partnerships, coordinating vulnerability assessments, planning outreach and education events, and working with land managers on real-world adaptation demonstration projects. I work on topics such as silviculture and forestry, wildlife management, and indigenous perspectives on climate adaptation. In all aspects of my work, the focus is to help people put climate information into practice. I work with a wide array of partners, including National Forests, state agencies, tribes, conservation organizations, private landowners, and consulting foresters.

Why This Research is Important

Climate change is going to have profound impacts on the forests in the Great Lakes region in the coming decades. New data and modeling approaches are continually expanding our understanding of what these changes might be. Forest managers need to be informed of the threats that climate change will pose to forest ecosystems, as well as management strategies that can help forests adapt to a changed climate. The Climate Change Response Framework is a new model to connect climate science to forest management, which will hopefully serve as a model for climate change adaptation and mitigation both regionally and nationally.

Education

• University of Montana, M.S. Resource Conservation (emphasis in International Conservation and Development)
• Gustavus Adolphus College, B.A. Biology

Professional Organizations

• American Society of Adaptation Professionals, Member (2013 - Current)
• Society of American Foresters (SAF), Member (2012 - Current)
• Society of Conservation Biology, Member (2008 - 2013)
• Society for Conservation Biology, Ecological Footprint Committee, Chair (2010 - 2012)

Featured Publications & Products

• Handler, Stephen; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Emily; Scheller, Robert M.; Wythers, Kirk R.; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Eagle, Amy Clark; Cohen, Joshua G.; Corner, Rich; Reich, Peter B.; Baker, Tim; Chhin, Sophan; Clark, Eric; Fehringer, David; Fosgitt, Jon; Gries, James; Hall, Christine; Hall, Kimberly R.; Heyd, Robert; Hoving, Christopher L.; Ibáñez, Ines; Kuhr, Don; Matthews, Stephen; Muladore, Jennifer; Nadelhoffer, Knute; Neumann, David; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Sands, Matt; Swaty, Randy; Wonch, Leiloni; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Johnson, Gary; Johnson, Lucinda; Neitzel, David; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Michigan forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Handler, Stephen; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Iverson, Louis; Peters, Emily; Scheller, Robert M.; Wythers, Kirk R.; Brandt, Leslie; Butler, Patricia; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Barrett, Kelly; Kolka, Randy; McQuiston, Casey; Palik, Brian; Reich, Peter B.; Turner, Clarence; White, Mark; Adams, Cheryl; D'Amato, Anthony; Hagell, Suzanne; Johnson, Patricia; Johnson, Rosemary; Larson, Mike; Matthews, Stephen; Montgomery, Rebecca; Olson, Steve; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Rajala, Jack; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Fehringer, David; Hoving, Christopher L.; Johnson, Gary; Johnson, Lucinda; Neitzel, David; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Minnesota forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Ziigwanikwe, (Bresette, Katy); Caldwell, Chris ; Chapman, Eric ; Opichi, (Clark, Robin); Croll, Rob ; Gauthier, Gregory J., Jr.; Grignon, Jeff ; Handler, Stephen ; Gidigaa bizhiw, (Jondreau, Jerry); Kaspar, Tyler ; Nisogaabo Ikwe, (Montano, Melonee); Moore, Tansey ; Moran, Patricia ; Minogiizhigookwe Nelis, Emily ; Panci, Hannah ; Schmitt, Kristen ; Smith, Sara ; Stone, Kim ; Swanston, Chris . 2019. Dibaginjigaadeg Anishinaabe Ezhitwaad: A Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu.

Publications

• Schmitt, Kristen M.; Ontl, Todd A.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia R.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Peterson, Courtney L.; Swanston, Christopher W. 2021. Beyond Planning Tools: Experiential Learning in Climate Adaptation Planning and Practices.
• LEDee, Olivia E.; Handler, Stephen D.; Hoving, Christopher L.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Zuckerberg, Benjamin . 2021. Preparing Wildlife for Climate Change: How Far Have We Come.
• Swanston, Christopher W.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia R.; Hall, Kimberly R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Merriam, Kyle ; Meyer, Marc ; Molinari, Nicole ; Schmitt, Kristen ; Shannon, P. Danielle; Smith, Jennifer B.; Wuenschel, Amarina ; Ostoja, Steven M. 2020. Adaptation strategies and approaches for California forest ecosystems.
• Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Christopher W.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Handler, Stephen D.; Schmitt, Kristen M.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia R.; Ontl, Todd . 2019. Adaptation strategies and approaches for forested watersheds.
• O'Toole, Daniel ; Brandt, Leslie A.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Schmitt, Kristen M.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Leopold, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Ontl, Todd A.; Swanston, Christopher W. 2019. Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Outdoor Recreation.
• Ontl, Todd ; Janowiak, Maria ; Swanston, Christopher ; Daley, Jad ; Handler, Stephen ; Cornett, Meredith ; Hagenbuch, Steve ; Handrick, Cathy ; Mccarthy, Liza ; Patch, Nancy . 2019. Forest Management for Carbon Sequestration and Climate Adaptation.
• Butler-Leopold, Patricia ; Brandt, Leslie A.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, Patricia D.; Anonymous, Anonymous; Swanston, Chris W. 2019. Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities of oak ecosystems.
• Ontl, Todd A.; Swanston, Chris; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; D’Amato, Anthony W.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, P. Danielle. 2018. Adaptation pathways: ecoregion and land ownership influences on climate adaptation decision-making in forest management.
• Richard, Robert P.; Potvin, Lynette R.; Kane, Evan S.; Handler, Stephen D.; Smith, Patrick J.; Peterson, Don. 2018. Biochar and wood ash amendments for forestry in the Lake States: field report and initial results.
• Butler-Leopold, Patricia R.; Iverson, Louis R.; Thompson, Frank R.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Christopher W.; Bearer, Scott ; Bryan, Alexander M.; Clark, Kenneth L.; Czarnecki, Greg ; DeSenze, Philip ; Dijak, William D.; Fraser, Jacob S.; Gugger, Paul F.; Hille, Andrea ; Hynicka, Justin ; Jantz, Claire A.; Kelly, Matthew C.; Krause, Katrina M.; La Puma, Inga Parker; Landau, Deborah ; Lathrop, Richard G.; Leites, Laura P.; Madlinger, Evan ; Matthews, Stephen N.; Ozbay, Gulnihal ; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha ; Schmit, David A.; Shephard, Collin ; Shirer, Rebecca ; Skowronski, Nicholas S.; Steele, Al ; Stout, Susan ; Thomas-Van Gundy, Melissa ; Thompson, John ; Turcotte, Richard M.; Weinstein, David A.; Yáñez, Alfonso . 2018. Mid-Atlantic forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Dijak, William D.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew P.; Prasad, Anantha; Fraser, Jacob S.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Burbank, Diane; Campbell, John; Cogbill, Charles; Duveneck, Matthew J.; Emery, Marla R.; Fisichelli, Nicholas; Foster, Jane; Hushaw, Jennifer; Kenefic, Laura; Mahaffey, Amanda; Morelli, Toni Lyn; Reo, Nicholas J.; Schaberg, Paul G.; Simmons, K. Rogers; Weiskittel, Aaron; Wilmot, Sandy; Hollinger, David; Lane, Erin; Rustad, Lindsey; Templer, Pamela H. 2018. New England and northern New York forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the New England Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Swanston, Chris; Brandt, Leslie A.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Handler, Stephen D.; Butler-Leopold, Patricia; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Ontl, Todd A.; Shannon, P. Danielle. 2018. Vulnerability of forests of the Midwest and Northeast United States to climate change.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; Iverson, Louis R.; Fosgitt, Jon; Handler, Stephen D.; Dallman, Matt; Thomasma, Scott; Hutnik, Brad; Swanston, Christopher W. 2017. Assessing stand-level climate change risk using forest inventory data and species distribution models.
• Brandt, Leslie A.; Derby Lewis, Abigail; Scott, Lydia; Darling, Lindsay; Fahey, Robert T.; Iverson, Louis; Nowak, David J.; Bodine, Allison R.; Bell, Andrew; Still, Shannon; Butler, Patricia R.; Dierich, Andrea; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Miesbauer, Jason W.; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Shannon, P. Danielle; Stotz, Douglas; Swanston, Christopher W. 2017. Chicago Wilderness region urban forest vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Urban Forestry Climate Change Response Framework Chicago Wilderness pilot project.
• Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Christopher W. 2017. Integrating Science and Management to Assess Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability to Climate Change.
• Swanston, Christopher W.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Derby Lewis, Abigail; Hall, Kimberly; Fahey, Robert T.; Scott, Lydia; Kerber, Angela; Miesbauer, Jason W.; Darling, Lindsay; Parker, Linda; St. Pierre, Matt. 2016. Forest Adaptation Resources: climate change tools and approaches for land managers, 2nd edition.
• Butler, Patricia R.; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Brandt, Leslie; Handler, Stephen; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Karriker, Kent; Bartig, Jarel; Connolly, Stephanie; Dijak, William; Bearer, Scott; Blatt, Steve; Brandon, Andrea; Byers, Elizabeth; Coon, Cheryl; Culbreth, Tim; Daly, Jad; Dorsey, Wade; Ede, David; Euler, Chris; Gillies, Neil; Hix, David M.; Johnson, Catherine; Lyte, Latasha; Matthews, Stephen; McCarthy, Dawn; Minney, Dave; Murphy, Daniel; O’Dea, Claire; Orwan, Rachel; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Randall, Cotton; Reed, Jason; Sandeno, Cynthia; Schuler, Tom; Sneddon, Lesley; Stanley, Bill; Steele, Al; Stout, Susan; Swaty, Randy; Teets, Jason; Tomon, Tim; Vanderhorst, Jim; Whatley, John; Zegre, Nicholas. 2015. Central Appalachians forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Central Appalachians Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Butler, Patricia R.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Handler, Stephen D.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Shannon, Patricia D.; Swanston, Chris W. 2014. A framework for assessing climate change vulnerability and identifying adaptation responses in the central hardwoods region.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; Swanston, Christopher W.; Nagel, Linda M.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Iverson, Louis R.; Matthews, Stephen N.; Prasad, Anantha; Peters, Matthew P. 2014. A practical approach for translating climate change adaptation principles into forest management actions.
• Brandt, Leslie; He, Hong; Iverson, Louis; Thompson, Frank R.; Butler, Patricia; Handler, Stephen; Janowiak, Maria; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Albrecht, Matthew; Blume-Weaver, Richard; Deizman, Paul; DePuy, John; Dijak, William D.; Dinkel, Gary; Fei, Songlin; Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Leahy, Michael; Matthews, Stephen; Nelson, Paul; Oberle, Brad; Perez, Judi; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Schneiderman, Jeffrey E.; Shuey, John; Smith, Adam B.; Studyvin, Charles; Tirpak, John M.; Walk, Jeffery W.; Wang, Wen J.; Watts, Laura; Weigel, Dale; Westin, Steve. 2014. Central Hardwoods ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Central Hardwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Handler, Stephen D.; Swanston, Chris W.; Butler, Patricia R.; Brandt, Leslie A.; Janowiak, Maria K.; Powers, Matthew D.; Shannon, P. Danielle. 2014. Climate change vulnerabilities within the forestry sector for the Midwestern United States.
• Janowiak, Maria K.; Iverson, Louis R.; Mladenoff, David J.; Peters, Emily; Wythers, Kirk R.; Xi, Weimin; Brandt, Leslie A.; Butler, Patricia R.; Handler, Stephen D.; Shannon, P. Danielle; Swanston, Chris; Parker, Linda R.; Amman, Amy J.; Bogaczyk, Brian; Handler, Christine; Lesch, Ellen; Reich, Peter B.; Matthews, Stephen; Peters, Matthew; Prasad, Anantha; Khanal, Sami; Liu, Feng; Bal, Tara; Bronson, Dustin; Burton, Andrew; Ferris, Jim; Fosgitt, Jon; Hagan, Shawn; Johnston, Erin; Kane, Evan; Matula, Colleen; O'Connor, Ryan; Higgins, Dale; St. Pierre, Matt; Daley, Jad; Davenport, Mae; Emery, Marla R.; Fehringer, David; Hoving, Christopher L.; Johnson, Gary; Neitzel, David; Notaro, Michael; Rissman, Adena; Rittenhouse, Chadwick; Ziel, Robert. 2014. Forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment and synthesis for northern Wisconsin and western Upper Michigan: a report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework project.
• Peterson, David L.; Wolken, J.M.; Hollingsworth, Teresa; Giardina, Christian; Littell, J.S.; Joyce, Linda; Swanston, Chris; Handler, Stephen; Rustad, Lindsey; McNulty, Steve. 2014. Regional Highlights of Climate Change.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
NRS-2019-107	Dibaginjigaadeg Anishinaabe Ezhitwaad: A Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu USDA Forest Service researchers helped to create a new resource that incorporates indigenous perspectives and traditional ecological knowledge i ...	2019
NRS-2016-134	Resources Help Land Managers Adapt to a Changing Climate An adaptation planning tool developed by the Forest Service and its partners has helped generate more than 185 examples of climate change adapta ...	2016