3rd Quarter Northern Forests Climate Hub Accomplishments
Highlights from our work in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 (April-June).
Changing Hydrology, Changing Landscapes: A Rooted in Research Webinar Series
Heavy precipitation events in the Midwest and Northeast United States have increased in frequency and intensity over the past century. These hydrologic deviations are projected to continue with climate change and will substantially alter the landscapes we live in and value. The extreme rainfall and flash-flooding events experienced by communities have resulted in ecological, economic, and social consequences. The USDA Climate Hubs (Northeast, Northern Forests), the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, and the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science hosted a webinar series showcasing the best available science on hydrological shifts as well as land management actions to prepare for extreme rain and flooding in forests, cities, and agricultural lands. This webinar was attended by 692 individuals. Find recordings from the Changing Hydrology, Changing Landscapes: A Rooted in Research Webinar Series on the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station website.
Supporting State Forestry Agencies
State forestry agencies are navigating a rapidly changing landscape of data, tools, and expectations from the public regarding forest carbon management. The Northern Forests Climate Hub, USDA Forest Service State, Private, and Tribal Forestry, and Michigan State University Forest Carbon and Climate Program collaborated on a training series to support states on forest carbon management efforts. The training series expanded upon a 4-part webinar series organized earlier this year with the USDA Forest Service State, Private, and Tribal Forestry, entitled "State and Tribal Capacity Building on Forest Carbon," which informed and supported staff working in state and tribal agencies. A training in June featured presentations and discussion sessions of USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) forest carbon data, integrating forest carbon management and climate change adaptation, and carbon accounting for forest ecosystems and harvested wood products. A second workshop was held in July for state agency staff on advanced forest carbon science, policy, and management concepts. This workshop featured presentations and discussion sessions on integrating ancillary data into forest carbon assessments, considering co-benefits and trade-offs, engaging family forest owners, and communicating carbon stewardship, and economic trade-offs of multi-use management, wood utilization, and forest carbon.
Providing Technical Assistance to National Forests
National Forest staff are eager to incorporate climate and carbon considerations into real-world projects. The USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub worked directly with National Forests to increase staff literacy on carbon cycling and forest management concepts. Additional technical assistance on the use of the Adaptation Workbook as a tool to consider the impacts of climate change in planning was provided to regional National Forests.
Questions? Contact the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub staff