The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub offered the Urban Forested Watersheds Forest Adaptation Planning and Practices training as an online course for managers of urban watersheds (7, 1.5 hour sessions). This unique opportunity provided hands-on training in considering climate change information and identifying adaptation actions for natural resources management professionals whose focus is on maintaining and enhancing hydrology of urban watersheds using forests and other green infrastructure. Participants received coaching and feedback on their own real-world climate adaptation project.
Course objectives:
- Integrate climate change considerations into real-world projects for forest management and conservation
- Identify local climate change impacts, challenges, and opportunities
- Develop specific actions to adapt to changing conditions
- Create your own “climate-informed” projects
- Better communicate with stakeholders
- Access post-training support from NIACS staff during project planning and implementation
This online course used the Adaptation Workbook to create custom adaptation plans.
Leslie Brandt - Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science & US Forest Service
Leslie serves as coordinator for the Urban Forestry Climate Change Response Framework. She has led trainings for the general public and urban forestry professionals on climate change impacts and adaptation in the Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, Philadelphia, and Twin Cities regions. She also coordinates the Central Hardwoods Climate Change Response Framework in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri and is currently involved in a climate assessment for the state of Indiana.
Danielle Shannon - Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science & Michigan Technological University, USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub
Danielle is the coordinator of the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub. Danielle helps land managers cope with, and adapt to the challenges of climate change; and is responsible for expanding the suite of adaptation resources at NIACS into the field of forest hydrology and the management of forested watersheds. Most recently, Danielle and her colleagues are leading efforts to help wetland managers adapt to climate change in the Midwest and Northeast.