The Rio Grande Basin Adaptation Planning and Practices Online (APPO) Course runs from October 5 and finishes November 16, 2021. The course is designed to help participants integrate climate change information into real-world management projects. After completing this course, participants will be able to:
This course follows a five-step process to develop climate change adaptation projects using the online Adaptation Workbook (www.adaptationworkbook.org). The course format will include individual or group work time to complete a single step of the adaptation workbook, followed by a group discussion and lecture to review completed steps and to prepare for the next step.
The Rio Grande Basin APPO will convene weekly with a presentation (30-45 minutes) that covers each step of the Adaptation Workbook. Participants will then work in teams (with facilitators) to discuss work completed on the step introduced the previous week.
Connection details Weekly meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:30 pm Mountain Time. You will have received Zoom Meeting Room details when you registered. If you have not received these details or need any other help in connecting, please contact Caiti Steele.
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To be prepared for the first meeting on October 5, participants are encouraged to set up an account on the Adaptation Workbook website. Instructions for creating an account are available in this document Setting up Your Account and Course Project for the Rio Grande Basin APPO. For group projects: a single account should be shared among multiple users for group projects because it is not possible for multiple users to share different projects with one another.
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Topics:
- Icebreaker and introductions
- Course objectives, instructors, and agenda
- Introduction to the Adaptation Workbook online tool
- Developing an adaptation project: Defining project goals and objectives
- What you need to know for Step 1
- Discussion Session: Introduce your project to a small group
Assignment 1: Due Monday at 1:00 pm before the next lecture.- Read Forest Adaptation Resources, 2nd edition, in particular the Introduction (pgs. 1-9) and the Adaptation Workbook, (Chapter 5, pgs. 74-89).
- Complete step 1 of the Adaptation Workbook.
- Complete the Homework section following Step 1.
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Topics:
- Considering climate change impacts and vulnerabilities in your projects
- Resources for understanding climate change impacts and climate vulnerability
- What you need to know for Step 2
- Discussion: Step 2 - Climate Change Impacts
Assignment 2: Due Monday at 1:00 pm before the next lecture.- Set aside 3-4 hours for completion since this is a more involved step.
- Complete Step 2 of the Adaptation Workbook: Assess climate impacts and vulnerabilities.
- Complete Homework 2 at the end of Step 2.
- Review regional climate impacts by reading a climate report for your specific geographic area.
- Explore regional climate impacts.
- The Fourth National Climate Assessment Chapter 25: Southwest.
- Selected climate and vulnerability resources for the Southwest.
Check-in with instructors - each project team or individual will be contacted by a course instructor
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Topics:
- Climate change impacts in the Rio Grande Basin - Dagmar Llewellyn, Bureau of Reclamation
- Continue Discussion: Step 2 - Climate Change Impacts
- Identifying management challenges and opportunities for your project
- Re-considering and revising management goals/objectives in light of climate challenges
- What you need to know for Step 3
Assignment 3: Due Monday at 1:00 pm before the next lecture.- Set aside 2-4 hours for completion, as time will vary based upon your project.
- Complete Step 3 of the Adaptation Workbook: Evaluate objectives considering climate impacts.
- Complete Homework 3 at the end of Step 3.
- Review the list of Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for your focus area (agriculture, forests, urban, or forested watersheds). Details on menus for other focus areas (several are in development) are available here.
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Topics:
- Discussion: Recap Step 3 (Challenges and Opportunities)
- Adaptation concepts: resisting change, enhancing resilience, and facilitating transitions
- Developing specific actions for climate-change adaptation
- What you need to know for Step 4
Assignment 4: Due Monday at 1:00 pm before the next lecture.- Set aside 3-4 hours for completion, as this is a more involved step.
- View a presentation describing Adaptation Concepts, available here (19 minutes long). *Required*
- Optional videos: Adaptation Resources for Agriculture, Overview of various menus.
- Complete Homework 4 at the end of Step 4.
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Topics:
- Discussion: Recapping Step 4 (Adaptation Actions)
- Tools for measuring effectiveness of implemented adaptation actions
- Capitalizing on existing data, inventory or monitoring processes/partnerships
- What you need to know for Step 5
Assignment 5: Due Monday at 1:00 pm before the next lecture.- Set aside 2-3 hours for completion. Time will vary based upon your project.
- Complete Step 5 of the Adaptation Workbook: Monitor effectiveness of implemented actions.
- Complete Homework 5 at the end of Step 5.
- Optional reading on monitoring: Janowiak et al. 2017. Assessing Stand-Level Climate Change Risk Using Forest Inventory Data and Species Distribution Models.
Check-in with instructors - each project team or individual will be contacted by a course instructor
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Topics:
- Completing the Adaptation Workbook
- Tips for talking about climate change with colleagues, partners, and clients
- Discussion: Recapping Step 5 (Monitoring) and sharing climate communication ideas
Assignment 6: Due Monday at 1:00 pm before the next lecture.- Set aside 3-4 hours for completion of this assignment, or potentially more if you have to return to some previous steps.
- Finish up any loose ends in the Adaptation Workbook.
- Complete Homework 6 within the Adaptation Workbook.
- Summarize your project to share with the course participants as well as your colleagues and partners in a PowerPoint presentation Templates are available here.
- Sign up for a presentation time during next week’s lecture (sign up sheet will be provided).
- Optional reading on climate change communication:
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Topics:
- Participant adaptation project presentations
- Next steps for moving toward implementation
- How we can help you in the future?
- Course evaluations