Assessments

standing water over fieldThe USDA Climate Hubs published a series of regional vulnerability assessments to provide their stakeholders with a baseline “snapshot” of current climate vulnerabilities, along with specific adaptive management strategies to increase the resilience of working lands in each region. They also include regional greenhouse gas profiles, which identify opportunities to reduce emissions and increase carbon sequestration. Each document also gives an overview of how partner USDA agencies are being affected by and addressing changing climate conditions.

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Example of the northern mixed-grass prairie in central North Dakota with cattle grazing in the background.

The Northern Plains Grasslands Vulnerability Assessment synthesizes the scientific literature about the vulnerability of the northern mixed-grass prairie to climate variability and change. A major ecosystem in the North American Great Plains, the mixed-grass prairie plays an…

Northern Plains Grasslands Vulnerability Assessment

Soil, land, and water conservation districts across the Midwest and Northern forests region are beginning to integrate climate change into near and long-term planning. This process will look different for each organization, and the result of this effort will reflect the focus…

Resources for County Soil and Water Conservation Districts

maple leaf on clover

Forests may look very different in the future as a result of climate change. Many of the northern tree species that provide economic and cultural benefits are adapted to cold climates and will be under greater stress as the climate warms and conditions become less favorable.…

Tree species and climate change

Covers of brochures

The USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS) have partnered with the regional partners to develop a series of brochures designed to help private landowners consider climate change in the context of their woods. The brochures…

Forest Climate and Action Scorecards

Cover of Austin Urban Forest Climate Vulnerability Assessment report

The USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science have partnered with the Southern Plains Climate Hub and the City of Austin, Texas to assess the vulnerability of Austin’s urban forests and natural areas to climate change. How are urban…

Vulnerability Assessment of Austin’s Urban Forest and Natural Areas

Relative fraction of aggregated absolute indemnities from 2001 to 2016 for the top ten causes of loss by Climate Hub region and across the nation

Federal crop insurance provides a financial safety net for farmers against insured perils such as drought, heat, and freeze. In 2016 over $100 billion dollars of crops were insured through the Federal crop insurance program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk…

Spatio-temporal analysis of Federal crop insurance cause of loss data: A roadmap for research and outreach efforts

Lambs in spring

  Project Area John and Jessica Small operate Small Acres Family Farm on the edge of the Muscatatuck Plateau and the Dearborn Upland region, within Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 114A. The topography of this region ranges from nearly level to very steep glaciated uplands,…

Small Acres Family Farm, Southeastern Indiana

Burning undergrowth in ponderosa pine forest

Decision-makers need better methods for identifying critical ecosystem vulnerabilities to changing climate and fire regimes. Climate-wildfire-vegetation interactions are complex and hinder classification and projection necessary for development of management strategies. The…

FireCLIME Vulnerability Assessment Tool

Forestry log camp

Some content excerpted from "Carbon and Land Management" on the USFS Climate Change Resource Center and the USFS report Considering Forest and Grassland Carbon in Land Management (WO-GTR-95).   Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change by capturing carbon…

Forest Carbon and Land Management

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