Climate Change in the Crown of the Continent:
Identifying Multi-Jurisdictional Strategies
December 1-3, 2008
Whitefish, Montana
Sponsors/Organizers: RM-CESU, University of Montana, Colorado State University, USFS-Rocky Mountain Research Station, USGS-Fort Collins Science Center, and NPS-NRPC
|
Workshop Goal:
To build capacity and improve coordination of climate change management and adaptation efforts among management agencies in the Crown of the Continent region.
Workshop Objectives:
- Share expertise and science related to climate change and its impacts in the Crown of the Continent region
- Identify key challenges and considerations for coordinating trans-boundary and multi-agency collaboration
- Provide a multidisciplinary, systems-based lens for integrated understanding and action regarding climate change impacts on the landscape.
- Set the stage for continued collaboration in developing, implementing and sustaining climate change management strategies.
|
| |
| |
| Workshop Schedule: |
|
5:00 – 5:30 pm |
Workshop Opening:S
Welcome & Introductions
Goals & Objectives of Workshop
Agenda & Logistics
Led by: Perry Brown, University of Montana |
| 5:30 – 6:30 |
Montana Trout and Drought: Montana climate change impacts on national PBS Newshour
Keynote Address: Climate Change Impacts in the Crown of the Continent
Speaker: Steve Running, Professor/ Director Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, University of Montana, IPCC Assessment Report Co-Author |
| 6:30 – 7:30 |
Welcome dinner
|
Tuesday, December 2 |
|
8:30 – 8:45 |
Welcome & Plan for the Day
Led by: Perry Brown, University of Montana
|
8:45 – 9:45 |
Panel 1: Climate Change & Ecosystem Dynamics
Led by: Kathy Tonnessen, National Park Service, Rocky Mountains CESU
Panelists:
- Climate Change in the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem, What do we have to worry about and what do we still need to know?, Dan Fagre, Research Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
- Forests and Fire: Role of Climate Change, Natural Disturbance and Timber Management, Bob Keane, Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory
- Wildlife Responses to Climate Change: Adapt, Move, or Die. Scott Mills, Professor of Wildlife Population Ecology, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana
|
9:45- 10:30 |
Group Discussion of Climate Change and Ecosystem Dynamics
Led by: Kathy Tonnessen
|
| 10:30 – 10:45 |
Break
|
| 10:45 – 12:00 |
Situation Mapping Activity: In small groups develop “mental model maps” of inter-relationships between climate change impacts, ecosystems dynamics, management priorities, management processes, and key stakeholders
Led by: Ashley Cobb, Colorado State University
Small Group Facilitators: Perry Brown, Ali Dimond, Ashley Cobb, & Lisa Gerloff
Small Group Situation Maps
|
| 12:00 – 1:00 |
Lunch (provided)
|
1:00 – 2:00 |
Panel 2: Human Dimensions of Climate Change
Led by: Perry Brown, University of Montana
Panelists:
- How Climate Change Risk Perceptions Influence Responses to Climate Change Adaptation, Sammy Zahran, Professor of Sociology, Colorado State University
- Resident Responses to Climate Change and Ecological Change in the Northern Rockies: Implications for Management Adaptation Strategies and Interventions, Laurie Yung, Assistant Professor, College of Forestry and Conservation and Director Wilderness Institute, University of Montana
- Impacts of Climate Change on Recreation and Tourism in the Northern Rockies, Alison Dimond, PhD Student College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana
|
2:00 – 2:45 |
Discussion of Human Dimensions
Led by: Perry Brown
- Presenters will provide questions to start discussion
|
| 2:45 – 3:00 |
Break |
3:00 – 4:00 |
Strategies Part I: Discussion of concerns and challenges based on pre-workshop surveys
Led by: Perry Brown & Ali Dimond, University of Montana
|
| 4:00-5:00 |
Wrap-up Discussion
Led by: Perry Brown, University of Montana
Discussion Points:
- How did the presentations help to inform and focus the situation maps?
- What information presented today will be useful for your agency and organizational decision-making?
- Insights from posters?
- Plan for the next day.
|
| 5:00 – 7:00 pm |
Wine & Cheese Reception and Poster Session
Led by: Leigh Welling and Kathy Tonnessen
|
Wednesday, December 3 |
| 8:00 – 8:15 |
Panel 3: Adaptation & Planning Strategies for Cross-Agency Collaboration
Led by: Jill Baron & Linda Joyce
Panelists:
- Thinking Differently: adaptation options for public lands managers, Jill Baron, Research Ecologist, US Geological Survey and Colorado State University
- Scenario Planning: A Tool for Managing Resources in an Era of Uncertainty, Leigh Welling, Climate Change Coordinator, National Park Service
- Adaptation and Natural Resource Management Strategies, Linda Joyce, Research Leader and RPA Climate Change Specialist USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station
- The Status of Protected Areas and Climate Change Adaptation in Canada, Chris Lemieux, Research Associate, Parks Research Forum of Ontario and Canadian Council on Ecological Areas
|
9:15 – 10:30 |
Discussion Adaptation Strategies Part I:
Led by Linda Joyce
- Adaptation actions currently in action, being planned or being considered
|
10:30 – 10:45 |
Break |
| 10:45-12:00 |
Discussion of Adaptation Strategies Part II:
Led by Jill Baron
- Small Group Discussions:
- Groups will be formed based on current, planned, and considered adaptation strategies identified in Part I
- Discuss adaptation strategies, develop at least one cross agency management idea, discuss action steps to implement other adaptation strategies
- Full Group Discussion
- Report out on small group discussions
|
| 12:00 – 1:00 |
Lunch (provided) |
1:00 – 2:30 |
Strategies Part II:
Led by: Perry Brown, University of Montana
Small Group Facilitators: Perry Brown, Ali Dimond, Ashley Cobb, & Lisa Gerloff
- Revisit Situation Maps to integrate ecosystem impacts, human dimensions, and potential adaptation strategies in small groups
- Participants will work in break-out sessions to coordinate ideas and develop preliminary strategies
Small Group Reports – groups each have 15 minutes to present their plan to the larger group.
|
| 2:30 – 3:00 |
Conclusions and Wrap Up
Led by: Perry Brown, University of Montana
|
| Pre-Workshop Reading/More Resources |
Pre workshop reading links:
CCSP Adaptation report
This Synthesis and Assessment Report describes adaptation options for several land management organizations -- National Parks, National Forests, Fish and Wildlife Refuges, and Wild and Scenic River. The citation is:
CCSP, 2008: Preliminary review of adaptation options for climate-sensitive ecosystems and resources. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. [Julius, SH, JM West (eds.), JS Baron, B Griffith, LA Joyce, P Kareiva, BD Keller, MA Palmer, CH Peterson, and JM Scott (Authors)]. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA, 873 pp.http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-4/final-report/
The Climate Change Resource Center (CCRC) is a reference Web site for resource managers and decisionmakers who need information and tools to address climate change in planning and project implementation on lands in the West. Changing climates have already catalyzed changes in environments throughout the West, and future effects are expected to be greater.
Although future scenarios are daunting, managers can do much to promote adaptation to climate change and encourage reduction of human effects on climate.
The CCRC addresses the manager's question "What can I do about climate change?" by providing information about basic climate sciences and compiling knowledge resources and support for adaptation and mitigation strategies. The site offers educational information, including basic science modules that explain climate and climate impacts, decision-support models, maps, simulations, case studies, and toolkits. The site is a joint project of the three western Forest Service Research Stations Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNW), Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW), Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS), and the Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center.
http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/
Connie Millar, Ecological Applications paper:
http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/millar/psw_2007_millar029.pdf
Chris Lemieux Ontario Parks adaptation report http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/geography/faculty/danielscott/publications.htm (first report link in the list).
More Resources:
Dan Fagre, USGS, web site on Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems
http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/global.htm
Native fish fact sheet on Northern Rocky Mountains
http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/files/norock/products/Fish_Climate_02_Info08.pdf |