Climate change creates serious risks for ecosystems and the benefits that they provide to people. Natural resource managers face the tremendous challenge of developing and implementing management actions that help ecosystems respond to climate change risks. But how do managers find current science and local climate change impacts; and where do we find practical, on-the-ground management options to help ecosystems adapt to changing conditions?
The USDA Southwest Climate Hub is collaborating with the City of Durango Parks and Recreation Department, Colorado State University, and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS) to facilitate an active, hands-on workshop to explore climate change impacts and potential adaptation actions for Durango’s community forests. This workshop will take into consideration what natural resource managers value about Durango’s community forests and how much risk they are willing to tolerate as we explore potential adaptive management strategies that build diversity and resilience into Durango’s community forest in the face of climate change.
This workshop will:
- Provide information on the current and anticipated effects of climate change on the City of Durango Community Forests;
- Describe resources and tools that can be used to integrate climate change into management;
- Outline adaptation concepts and strategies in the context of sustainable forest management; and
- Identify actions that enhance the ability of forests and other ecosystems to adapt to changing conditions.
This workshop is a structured process that uses information and tools developed through the NIACS Climate Change Response Framework, including Forest Adaptation Resources: Climate Change Tools and Approaches for Land Managers1. Real-world examples of adaptation projects will be featured, and participants will engage in a variety of interactive activities to identify climate change issues and potential adaptation actions.
The workshop will take place on Monday, December 2, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Durango Public Library. Questions and requests for updates can be directed to: Courtney Peterson, Colorado State University; Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.
1Swanston, 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 ed. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-GTR-87-2. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 161 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-87-2.