Climate Change & West Virginia's Forests was organized by NIACS and the Environmental Research Center at WVU to enable natural resource professionals integrate climate change considerations into management and conservation. About 40 professionals attended the event in April, 2015, which:
- Provided information on the current and anticipated effects of climate change on West Virginia and its forests
- Described resources and tools that can be used to integrate climate change into resource conservation
- Outlined adaptation concepts and strategies in the context of sustainable forest management
- Identified actions that enhance the ability of forests and other ecosystems to adapt to changing conditions
Presentations
- Introduction (Patricia Butler, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science)
- Past Climate Trends (James Leonard, Marshall University)
- Global Circulation Models and Future Climate Projections (Alex Bryan, Northeast Climate Science Center)
- Climate Change Effects on Forest Ecosystems (Patricia Butler, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science)
- Climate Change Effects on Hydrology (Nicolas Zegre, West Virginia University)
- Climate Change Effects on Brook Trout and Stream Habitat (Todd Petty, West Virginia University)
- Adapting Forests to Climate Change (Danielle Shannon, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science)
- Real-world Examples of Forest Adaptation (Kent Karriker, Monongahela National Forest)
Adaptation examples from West Virginia are available below:
Patricia Leopold - Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science & Michigan Technological University, USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub
Patricia serves as coordinator for the Climate Change Response Framework projects in the Central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic regions. She has recently assisted the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to complete a vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan. Patricia continues to work with partners in both regions to incorporate climate change into planning and management.