Climate Change and Climate Adaptation Training for Grasslands Conservation Practitioners
North American grasslands are a regional priority of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The South Central CASC, in partnership with the US FWS Science Applications Program, the Northwest CASC, the North Central CASC, and the Midwest CASC, implemented a training series for grasslands conservation practitioners that begin in May 2022 with a series of webinars and culminated in an in-person workshop in January 2023. Through this training series, we introduce practitioners to the science of climate change, explore the impacts, and discuss adaptation options available.
Following is an outline of materials and recordings from this training series for review and continued use by practitioners.
The primary focus for this training is the shortgrass, tallgrass, and mixed-grass prairies of Interior Regions (IR) 5 and 7. However, much of the training is relevant across the grassland habitats in the U.S. (IR 1 –7) and Canada and may even be relevant to other grassland habitats in the Western U.S. (IR 8-10).
Virtual Trainings and Webinars
Introduction to the Basics of Climate Change
Provided as an online course designed for grasslands managers May 16-27, 2022, with a live group activity held on May 27th.
Click here to access course video recordings.
Overview of Climate Change Impacts to Grasslands Ecology
Webinar held June 13, 2022.
Click here to access the recording.
Understanding and Using Future Projections for Landcover Changes
Webinar held July 20th 2022.
Click here to access the recording.
Understanding and Using Future Projections for Trust Species
Webinar held August 31st 2022.
Click here to access the recording.
In-person Climate Adaptation Workshop
This event was held in January 2023. A list of speakers’ bios can be found here.
How to Use the Climate Toolbox
Imtiaz Rangwala and Katherine Hegewisch
Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments
Benjamin Zukerberg
Supplemental material:
Vulnerability Assessment Supplemental Worksheet
Menu of Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Grasslands
Courtney Peterson and Stephen Handler
Supplemental material:
Management Goals and Objectives Adaptation Workbook
Integrating Climate Change into Management Plans Adaptation Workbook
Adaptation Workbook Worksheets
Grasslands Adaptation Menu: Strategies, Approaches, and Example Tactics
Grasslands Adaptation Menu: Strategies and Approaches only
Using Grassland Carbon to Finance Real Estate Conservation
Brad Cory
Scenario-based climate change adaptation that strategically resists, accepts, and directs human-caused ecological trajectories in grasslands
Gregor Schuurman, Ph.D.
Role Playing Activity: Planning for the Future
Emma Kuster
COLLABORATORS:
Elise Elliot-Smith, USGS Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC), Training Specialist, eelliott-smith@usgs.gov (Main Point of Contact)
Sean Finn, FWS IR5/7 Science Applications, Science Coordinator, sean_finn@fws.gov, 208-426-2697
Emma Kuster, University of Oklahoma and South Central CASC, Assistant University Director, emmakuster@ou.edu
Dr. Christy Miller Hesed, University of Colorado and North Central CASC, Research Coordinator, christine.hesed@colorado.edu
Dr. John Carlson, FWS IR5/7 Science Applications, Grasslands Conservation Coordinator, john_carlson@fws.gov
Press related to this event can be found here.