September 2014
Michigan & Wisconsin
New assessment for northern Wisconsin and the western UP.

Vulnerability assessment published for northern Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula

NIACS recently published another forest ecosystem vulnerability assessment as a product of the Climate Change Response Framework, focusing on forests in northern Wisconsin and the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Over 40 managers and researchers contributed to the report, from a range of federal, state, tribal, non-profit, academic, and private organizations. Companion assessments in northern Minnesota and Michigan were released earlier this year, so forest managers and landowners across the Northwoods have access to the best available information on observed and projected impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. Contact Maria Janowiak for details.
Wisconsin
White pine seedling protected with a bud cap.

New cohort of Wisconsin DNR foresters consider climate impacts

 

New foresters with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources receive extensive training during their first year on the job. For the past two years, NIACS has helped out with this training process by delivering information and leading discussions on climate change impacts and adaptation. In August 2014, NIACS participated in the DNR's Ecological Considerations training, introducing climate change alongside other topics in the agenda such as high-conservation value forests, deer impacts, and natural disturbance regimes. We look forward to working with these new foresters in the future, and we hope to continue this collaboration with the Wisconsin DNR.  Contact Stephen Handler for more information.

Minnesota
Boardwalks at the SPRUCE experiment site. (Photo credit Oak Ridge National Lab.)
Large-scale peatland warming experiment getting ready for launch 

Peatland ecosystems occupy only 3% of the Earth's surface, but they hold more than 30% of the world's soil carbon. Many questions remain about how these vital carbon sinks will respond to future climate change. Researchers at the Forest Service Northern Research Station and Oak Ridge National Lab are collaborating on an ambitious new project to test how northern forested peatlands might respond to warming conditions and higher CO2 concentrations, called the SPRUCE experiment (Spruce-Peatland Response Under Climate and Environmental change). SPRUCE is expected to be fully operational in 2015. Stay tuned for future updates! 
Events
 
Shifting Seasons Summit
October 14-17 - Keshena, WI - Registration page 

The College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute is hosting the Shifting Seasons Summit to connect tribal natural resources staff and decision makers with federal agencies, researchers, and land managers.  The goal is to share knowledge and resources on climate change adaptation, and the agenda is packed with presentations, panel discussions, and focused training opportunities. The deadline to register is September 19!


 
Building Minnesota's Capacity for Climate Adaptation

November 6 - Minneapolis, MN - Registration page

This is the second annual conference focused on climate adaptation action in the Gopher State.  Learn about on-going work in a variety of fields, including human health, local governments, natural resources, and agriculture. Get more information here! 

 

Educational Opportunities
 

Graduate Certificate in Forest Carbon Science, Policy and Management, Michigan State University

This 1-year, online professional certificate program may be of interest to forestry professionals who are looking to gain knowledge and credentials required to plan, implement, manage, and evaluate forest carbon projects. Enrollment is open now for the Fall 2014 semester! Learn more here and contact Lauren Cooper for details. 

 

 

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

September 30 to October 2, 2014 - LaCrosse, WI - FREE

The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Landscape Conservation Cooperatives are offering a regionally specific course on climate change vulnerability assessments.  Conservation and resource management professionials are encouraged to attend.  Learn more here or contact Ashley Fortune Isham for details. 

Recommended Reading
 

This past May, the Third National Climate Assessment was published by the US Global Change Research Program.  This is the most comprehensive, authoritative, and transparent scientific report on climate impacts across the entire country ever released. Be sure to check out particular sections on Forestry and the Midwest! 

 

A practical approach for translating climate change adaptation principles into forest management actions

This Journal of Forestry article describes the structured approach to adaptation contained in Forest Adaptation Resources, and outlines several case studies of real-world projects that have used this approach. 

Feel free to contact Stephen Handler with any comments questions or suggestions for projects within the Northwoods Response Framework!
New Projects Button
Learn more about Adaptation Demonstration Projects in the Northwoods! 
 
niacs artwork